ESPN has reportedly parted ways with longtime anchor and play-by-play man Karl Ravech after more than three decades with the network.
Ravech, 61, joined ESPN in 1993 and became one of the main voices of the company’s baseball coverage. A regular on SportsCenter and Baseball Tonight, Ravech also worked the Little League World Series, College World Series and numerous college basketball games.
He most recently called the Philadelphia Phillies vs. Los Angeles Dodgers game on Monday, July 20.
“Over the past several months, we’ve made significant progress integrating the NFL assets that we acquired into ESPN,” ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro wrote in a letter to employees, obtained by Us on Tuesday, July 21. “Throughout this process, we have taken the time to carefully evaluate our collective teams, resources and organizational structure to best position us for the future. As a result, we had to make some difficult decisions about job impacts that we will be communicating today.”
Pitaro continued, “While most of the job impacts are tied to the acquisition, we will also notify colleagues in other parts of the company today that their positions have been impacted. We are committed to treating employees with compassion and respect and to providing support as they navigate this transition.”
The memo did not mention any employees by name.
Ravech’s dismissal comes one day after ESPN laid off Ryan Clark, with The Athletic reporting that the NFL analyst learned the news in the middle of a live broadcast.
“He did not finish the program,” The Athletic’s Andrew Marchand reported on Monday. “ESPN was expected to inform him tomorrow morning when it is anticipated the network [will] inform more employees of the layoffs.”
In addition to Ravech and Clark, 46, Tom Pelissero, Cam Newton, David Lloyd, Stephania Bell, Bart Scott and Charles Davis have also lost their jobs, per The Athletic.
Clark, 46, broke his silence about his layoff on Tuesday, sharing a video via Instagram of himself at the gym.
“Proof of Life…Before the madness of yesterday, I woke up, got in my Tundra, drove to Planet Fitness, and got to work,” he wrote. “The rest of the day was eventful, but the journey continues. My peace is with God, and my humility comes from within. I’ll continue to build myself so the world can never strip me of what’s real. Get moving today y’all! 🙏🏾.”
Clark later took to X, where he expressed his support for the others who lost their jobs.
“Sending prayers and love to all those laid off today by ESPN,” he wrote. “So many of you have poured your life into that company, & I know how you’re feeling right now. My hope is as this door closes another opens for you all. God bless!”
