Toby Rowland Crowned ESPN’s Best National Play-by-Play Announcer of the Year
In a night brimming with sports broadcasting’s brightest stars, one voice rose above them all. Toby Roww, whose electrifying delivery and knack for painting vivid pictures with words have captivated audiences nationwide, was officially crowned ESPN’s Best National Play-by-Play Announcer of the Year at the network’s annual awards gala in New York City.
The award, regarded as one of the most prestigious honors in sports media, recognizes not just technical skill, but the ability to capture the raw emotion, rhythm, and drama of live sports. For Roww, it was the culmination of years spent honing his craft, from small-market radio booths to the national spotlight.
“This isn’t just my award—it belongs to every fan who’s ever let me into their living rooms, cars, or earbuds,” Roww said in his acceptance speech, visibly moved. “Play-by-play is about more than calling a game—it’s about telling a story in real time, and I’m grateful for every story I’ve been entrusted to tell.”
Known for his crisp pacing, infectious enthusiasm, and signature calls that seem to leap through the speakers, Roww has become a household name in the sports world. His work over the past year included high-stakes college football clashes, edge-of-your-seat NBA playoff games, and one particularly unforgettable ninth-inning home run call that went viral across social media.
ESPN executives praised Roww for his consistency, versatility, and the way he brings “a cinematic lens to the living soundtrack of sports.”
“Toby has an innate sense for the moment,” said Karen Mitchell, ESPN’s Senior VP of Talent and Production. “He knows when to let the crowd breathe, when to hit the gas, and when to deliver that one perfect line fans will remember forever.”
Industry insiders note that Roww’s victory is significant in an era where streaming, multiple camera angles, and real-time social commentary have changed how audiences experience sports. In this evolving landscape, his ability to make a listener feel the game remains unmatched.
The honor cements Roww’s place among broadcasting greats and further raises the bar for what fans can expect when they tune in. But for Roww himself, the goal remains the same as it was when he first stepped behind a microphone: “Make every game sound like the most important one in the world—because to someone out there, it is.”
