While many fans may not recognize his face, Michael Araujo's voice has been a consistent presence at Angels games since 2013. This Sunday, Araujo will conclude his 14th season as the team’s public address announcer, having overseen more home games than prominent players like Mike Trout during his tenure.
Davin Maske, the Angels’ director of entertainment and production and Araujo’s boss, affirmed Araujo's remarkable consistency, stating that he does not recall any major mistakes from the announcer. This precision has made Araujo’s voice a reliable backdrop for hundreds of games.
Araujo, who also lends his voice to the Galaxy soccer team and has announced numerous international soccer matches, considers the Angels’ role his dream job. His wife, Kathryn Casey, confirmed his passion, noting that it is more than just employment for him; he is a dedicated fan. Araujo himself, a former season-ticket holder, said the Angels were his team growing up. Last month, he surpassed 1,000 games as the team’s PA announcer.
Historically, the late John Ramsey set a high standard for public address announcers in Southern California, known for his booming, authoritative baritone for multiple L.A. sports teams. Araujo acknowledges this legacy but stated he does not try to emulate that style. Instead, Araujo’s delivery is characterized by a distinct, enthusiastic lilt, which he maintains even through challenging team seasons.
Maske highlighted Araujo's ability to maintain excitement and traditionalism in baseball, a sport that can be repetitive. Araujo's position behind home plate is open to the crowd, allowing him to feed off the energy of the fans rather than being isolated. His personal mission, he said, is to remain invaluable to the organization.
The path to this dream job was unexpected. Araujo, 54, a teacher at an alternative-education high school in La Puente, began with the Galaxy in 1996, eventually filling in as an announcer during emergencies. He became the permanent voice for the Galaxy in 2002. His opportunity with the Angels arose from similar circumstances following the death of former announcer David Courtney in 2012. Araujo successfully auditioned in spring training the following year, securing the position.
PA announcing is not a high-paying role, with most major league announcers earning between $100-$500 per game. Casey refers to it as "fun money" that they use for travel. In addition to announcing batters and reading commercial copy, Araujo also handles play-by-play for the cartoon races displayed on the scoreboard.
On game days, Araujo arrives at the ballpark approximately two and a half hours before the first pitch. He wears an Angels cap and jersey, rotating through different styles based on whether the team won the previous game. His tools include a microphone and a laptop, which hosts his custom-built software for tracking lineups and pronunciation guides. Despite his voice being his livelihood, Araujo stated he has few ritualistic habits beyond carrying cough drops and avoiding carbonated drinks.
Araujo is one of three Latino PA announcers in Major League Baseball. He reflected on this during Hispanic Heritage Month, expressing hope that it serves as an inspiration for students and young people that "bigger things are possible."
Raised middle class in La Verne by a sheriff’s deputy father and a nurse mother who often spoke Spanish at home, Araujo believes in the importance of being both heard and seen in his role.
