You're sitting on the couch, the October air is finally crisp, and that iconic Fox MLB theme music starts blaring. It's a vibe. But for a lot of fans, the voices coming through the speakers are just as important as the guys on the dirt. Whether you love them or spend the whole game yelling at your TV because you think they’re biased, the announcers for the World Series define how we remember the biggest moments in baseball history.
Think about it. Kirk Gibson’s limp-off home run wouldn't be the same without Vin Scully’s "the impossible has happened." Or Joe Carter’s walk-off in ’93 without "Touch 'em all, Joe!"
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Honestly, the roster of announcers for the World Series has seen a massive shift lately. We’ve moved out of the Joe Buck era—which lasted forever—and into a new age led by Joe Davis. If you’ve watched a playoff game recently, you know the vibe is different. It’s younger. It’s a bit more analytical. But the drama? That’s still there.
The Current Voices: Who is in the Booth Right Now?
As we head into the 2026 season, the hierarchy at Fox Sports is pretty much set in stone. They’ve got the rights to the Fall Classic through 2028, so get used to this crew.
Joe Davis is the lead play-by-play man. He took over the "A-team" spot in 2022, and he’s been killing it. He’s also the local voice for the Los Angeles Dodgers, which actually causes a lot of drama whenever the Dodgers make a deep run. Fans of other teams—especially the Blue Jays and Yankees lately—tend to get a little salty, thinking he’s rooting for his "day job" team. But if you listen closely, the guy just loves high-stakes baseball. He’s got that big-game voice that feels formal but doesn't feel like he's reading from a script.
Then you have John Smoltz. Love him or hate him, "Smolty" is the main analyst. He’s a Hall of Famer, so he knows the pitching side of the game better than almost anyone alive. Sometimes he gets a little "old man yells at cloud" about how the modern game is played (the strikeouts, the lack of bunting, the pitch counts), but he sees things happening three pitches before they actually happen.
The Fox booth usually rounds out with:
- Ken Rosenthal: The guy with the bowties. He’s the premier dugout reporter.
- Tom Verducci: He doubles as a reporter and a backup analyst. He’s basically a walking baseball encyclopedia.
Why Does Everyone Think the Announcers are Biased?
It’s the oldest tradition in baseball. If your team is losing, the announcers for the World Series must be rooting for the other guys. It's basically a law of nature at this point.
When Joe Davis called the Dodgers' recent championship runs, social media was a dumpster fire of "homer" accusations. People forget that back in the day, it was totally normal for a local announcer to join the national broadcast. Lindsey Nelson did it for the Mets in the 60s and 70s.
The reality? These guys are professionals. Joe Davis isn't checking his Dodgers fandom at the door; he's just doing his job. If Shohei Ohtani hits a 450-foot blast, he’s going to scream. If Aaron Judge robs a home run, he’s going to scream. That's the gig.
Smoltz gets the same flak. Yankees fans think he hates the Yankees. Braves fans think he’s too hard on the Braves because he played there. It’s sort of a "you can’t win" situation for national broadcasters.
The Radio Alternative: ESPN’s Heavy Hitters
Not everyone wants to watch the TV feed. Sometimes you’re stuck in the car, or maybe you just prefer the "theatre of the mind."
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Jon "Boog" Sciambi has become the definitive voice of World Series radio on ESPN. He’s got a great rapport with Eduardo Pérez and Jessica Mendoza. Boog is fantastic because he brings a ton of energy without making it feel like he’s performing for a Tony Award.
Radio is a different beast. You have to describe the jersey colors, the shadows on the mound, and exactly where the shortstop is shaded. This crew does it better than anyone since the legendary Jack Buck.
The 2026 Shakeup: New Players in the Game
While Fox still owns the World Series, the landscape of baseball broadcasting just got hit by a meteor.
Starting in 2026, NBC and Peacock are back in the MLB business. They aren't doing the World Series yet—Fox still has that on lock—but NBC is taking over "Sunday Night Baseball" and the entire Wild Card round. This is huge because it brings back names like Noah Eagle and potentially some big-time former players into the postseason rotation.
We’re also seeing Netflix jump into the pool. They’re streaming the 2026 World Baseball Classic and special "Opening Night" games. While they won't have the announcers for the World Series this year, the competition for talent is getting fierce. Fox has to keep their A-team happy because everyone else is hiring.
A Quick History of the Booth
If you’re a history buff, you know the World Series mic has been held by some absolute titans.
- The Vin Scully Era: He called 25 World Series. Think about that. He was the voice of the Fall Classic before color TV was even a thing for most people.
- The Joe Buck/Tim McCarver Duo: They were together for 18 years. For an entire generation of fans, baseball was the sound of Joe Buck’s voice.
- The NBC Years: Before Fox took over exclusively, guys like Bob Costas and Al Michaels were the staples.
Who’s Next? The Rising Stars
There is a lot of talk about Adam Wainwright joining the top-tier ranks. He’s been doing playoff games for Fox as a "No. 2" analyst, and honestly? Fans love him. He’s funny, he’s fresh off the field, and he doesn't sound cynical like some of the older guys.
Some people are even calling for Fox to move Wainwright into the World Series booth alongside Joe Davis, maybe making it a three-man crew. It would definitely change the energy.
How to Handle the "Mute" Button
Look, if you truly can't stand the national announcers for the World Series, you've got options these days.
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Technology is amazing. Most MLB apps or high-end soundbars allow you to sync the local radio feed (like the legendary John Sterling or whoever your team's guy is) with the TV picture. It takes a little bit of pausing and unpausing to get the timing right, but it's a game-changer if you want that "home team" feel.
Actionable Takeaways for the Next Big Game
Next time you’re watching the Fall Classic, try these three things to get more out of the broadcast:
- Listen for the "Crowd Mic": Modern Fox broadcasts are incredible at capturing the stadium noise. If there's a big hit, notice how Joe Davis often stops talking for 30 seconds. That’s intentional. He’s letting the stadium tell the story.
- Check the Pregame Show: The Fox studio crew—Kevin Burkhardt, Alex Rodriguez, David Ortiz, and Derek Jeter—is basically a comedy show that happens to talk about baseball. It’s worth the 30 minutes before first pitch.
- Follow the Reporters: Ken Rosenthal and Tom Verducci often tweet out injury updates or lineup changes minutes before they say them on air. If you want to be the "smart one" in your group chat, keep their X (Twitter) feeds open.
The voices in the booth will always be a point of contention. It's part of being a fan. But whether it's Joe Davis's theatrical calls or John Smoltz's deep dives into slider grip, the announcers for the World Series are the narrators of our October memories.
The best thing you can do? Just lean into the drama. Baseball is meant to be loud, and these guys are there to make sure you don't miss a single heartbeat of it.