Who is Brandon Gaudin? ‘Madden’ game announcer to replace Chip Caray on Braves TV broadcasts
That voice sounds familiar, but I just can’t place it… some Atlanta Braves fans might say to themselves as they watch their beloved team kick off the 2023 MLB campaign.
Football fans have become accustomed to hearing Brandon Gaudin’s voice announcing their matches in the popular Madden video game series. Now Braves fans will be able to hear his voice too.
Bally Sports South announced Thursday that Gaudin will provide play-by-play voice for Bally Sports South and Bally Sports Southeast on the Braves’ calls, replacing Chip Caray, who has left to do the play-by-play Vote for Cardinals to become games.
“Today is the realization of a childhood dream,” Gaudin said, per Bally Sports. “I get to stand behind the mic for the team I adored as a kid and the team that nurtured my love of sports and broadcasting. I am grateful to both the Braves and Bally Sports for this incredible opportunity, I can’t wait to work alongside this team and talented broadcast team.”
Here’s what you need to know about Gaudin and why he’s set to be the voice of Braves action in 2023 now.
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Who is Brandon Gaudin?
Gaudin has been around the broadcasting world for a while. Gaudin graduated from Butler in 2006 and began work as a broadcaster for the Orem Owlz, the Angels’ rookie advanced team.
He later became the play-by-play voice for his alma mater’s men’s basketball team before becoming the voice of Georgia Tech Athletics in 2013. He worked there until 2016 when he was hired by the Big Ten Network and began calling games in various sports for Fox Sports. In 2016, he was also announced as the next voice in the Madden video game franchise.
On Twitter, Gaudin shared a thread about what becoming the voice of the Braves means to him and shared his story as a fan of the team. He described how the first professional sporting event he competed in was Game 5 of the 1991 World Series and how he was inspired by the TBS show The Braves of Skip Caray (Chip Caray’s father), Don Sutton, Joe Simpson and Pete Van Wieren became fascinated.
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Gaudin said he wrote a letter to Skip Caray when he was 13 and checked his mailbox daily for a reply from him, and he said he finally got a reply a few months later and met him in 1998.
“I’ve lived in Atlanta since 2013. It has become my home. Now the term ‘home’ has an even greater meaning. I look forward to further embedding myself in this great city,” Gaudin wrote. “I also know the story of the chair I’m allowed to sit on now. I didn’t miss that. I will do my best to maintain the high standard that has been set. I am grateful to be able to sit here alongside such a talented and personable group of colleagues.”
Gaudin noted that he will continue to work with the Big Ten Network and Fox Sports while continuing in his new role at Bally Sports South.
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How Brandon Gaudin got picked for Madden
Back in January 2015, EA Sports began searching for new voices to replace Jim Nantz and Phil Simms.
In a podcast discussing the decision, EA Sports producer Christian McLeod said the developers looked for four things when evaluating the video game’s votes: team accessibility, team chemistry, ability to teach football fundamentals, and readiness/ Availability to include new comments throughout the year.
After a long search, EA Sports selected Gaudin and Charles Davis as play-by-play and color commentary voices, respectively.
“We want to do justice to the game, with the increasing amount of time we have to devote to it, and really earn the respect of those who play the game over the years to come,” Gaudin said on the podcast.