Carrie Gillaspie Interviews Brewers Announcer Jeff Levering

January 26, 2021

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Milwaukee Brewers Announcer — Jeff Levering / Photo submitted by Carrie Gillaspie

Meet Brewer’s Play-By-Play Announcer Jeff Levering

OnFocus – OnFocus contributor and local media personality Carrie Lippert-Gillaspie, featured Milwaukee Brewers play by play announcer Jeff Levering on her podcast, Candidly Speaking earlier this week.

Candidly Speaking · 092 | Getting Out There & Doing the Work with Milwaukee Brewers Play by Play Announcer Jeff Levering

Carrie and Jeff met back in 2013 while they were both working for the Triple-A affiliate of the Boston Red Sox in Pawtucket, Rhode Island.

Levering grew up a California guy, and played Division 3 college baseball at Chapman University in Southern California. His collegiate baseball days had him playing some of the local Wisconsin University teams, like UW-Oshkosh, and UW-Stevens Point.

After his college career finished, he decided to go all in with pursuing a career in broadcasting, starting as an intern at Fox Sport West in Southern California, and then scoring his first paid gig in play by play with a baseball team in Rancho Cucamonga, California.

He then spent two years as the radio voice and manager of public relations for the Double-A Springfield Cardinals in Springfield, Missouri, before landing the role of lead broadcaster for the Triple-A Pawtucket Red Sox.

In 2015 he made his way to the Milwaukee Brewers where he took the role as the 3rd broadcaster, covering the road games that veteran play by play announcer Bob Uecker didn’t make.

Today, Levering enters his 6th season calling games on the Brewers Radio Network, now being the number 2 broadcaster behind Uecker.

During the offseason, Levering calls college football games on FOX and serves as a play by play announcer for college basketball games on FOX Sports and the Big Ten Network.

In this interview…

Jeff tells us what he was like as a child growing up in Sacramento, California, his career playing college baseball and deciding to pursue play by play. Carrie and Jeff discuss how journalism has changed with the rise of social media, and the importance of not only scoring great internships, but being willing to do the work to get the experience. Jeff tells us about getting his first paid gig in play by play, navigating having a family and kids in the chaotic baseball world, the many stops in the minor leagues on his way to the Big Leagues.

Carrie reminisces on her first impression meeting Jeff in Pawtucket and his impressive Wisconsin knowledge, and the two talk about how much they both loved Pawtucket and New England, and compare and contrast the midwest to the northeast. Jeff tells us about finding out he got the job with the Brewers during a dinner with Bob Uecker when Bob accidentally let the good news slip, and what it’s like now being able to call Bob not only a co-worker but a friend.

Carrie is curious how Jeff stays motivated when he’s already achieved so much at such a young age, and Jeff gives his advice to others who want to do what he does.