Last year, I was honored with an invitation to call a Major League Baseball game in London, England, on ESPN. The game featured my old team, the Philadelphia Phillies against the New York Mets.
In recent years, my primary role at ESPN has been calling weekend games on radio. But every now and then, special events present the opportunity to cross over into television. This was one of those moments.
The broadcasting experience alone was thrilling. As part of the fan fest activities, fellow broadcaster Tim Kurkjian, ESPN producer Joe McCoy, and I took part in a home run derby for media personalities in Trafalgar Square. We also attended the Mets and Phillies pregame workout at London Stadium, the host venue for the series, and home pitch of the West Ham United F.C. But what made the trip unforgettable was the chance to reconnect with family living in the UK. My Dad was originally from Trinidad and Tobago, once a British territory. His two brothers, my uncles, spent many years living in England. One eventually moved to the United States and the other returned to Trinidad. Two of my cousins from that side of the family moved back to the UK.
It felt prophetic that baseball would be the vehicle to bring me back to them. One of my cousins had long believed in her heart that baseball would somehow find a way to reunite us in what had become a second homeland. And, sure enough, it did.
As we prepared for the game, I dove into the usual research about player backgrounds, statistics, and matchups, but there was much more to uncover. I had the chance to talk with players, coaches, and staff about their experiences in England. Those conversations became natural icebreakers during practices and pregame sessions, giving us a richer sense of place and connection to the moment.
