PHILADELPHIA -- Joe Davis wasn't like other kids.

Growing up in Potterville, Mich., Davis loved watching sports but was drawn to the announcers, in particular Gary Thorne on ESPN for NHL broadcasts in the mid-1990s. When he played video games on his Sega Genesis console, Davis called the action. When his football coach father, Paul, brought liner home and painted a field in the backyard and a basketball court in the basement, Davis did play-by-play for imaginary contests.

"I half-joked that my parents must have thought I was crazy because I'd be out there tackling myself, punching myself on the helmet while announcing it at the same time," Davis said.

Nearly three decades later, Davis will call his first World Series alongside Hall of Famer John Smoltz on FOX beginning this Friday, something he has dreamed about since he was that kid multitasking in the backyard. Fans are encouraged to share their memories on Twitter with the hashtag #MyFirstWorldSeries and tag @FOXSportsPR as part of the occasion.

"I know it sounds like hyperbole to say living your dream," Davis said. "Watching the World Series on FOX, very, very quickly dreaming of doing big games and having one of the big chairs that are so few for the crown events across sports, very early on that was a dream of mine. I always say, 'If you made me choose one event back when I was a teenager, I would have said Game 7 of the World Series.'"

The 34-year-old Davis' journey has been both an unconventional and fast-rising one. He attended Beloit College in Wisconsin, which is not a broadcasting school. But that allowed him to gain reps without much competition. Part of the recruiting pitch for Davis, who became a four-year letter winner on the football team, was his ability to call women's and men's basketball doubleheaders once the football season was over. Since there was no phone line to the baseball stadium, he couldn't announce those games; instead, he took his recorder and did mock broadcasts.

His first professional gig was with the Schaumburg Flyers of the independent Northern League, serving as the team’s play-by-play voice and media relations director his last summer of college in 2009. He worked from 8 a.m. until midnight broadcasting and making sales calls. Davis then did 140 games in 150 days, most of the time solo, with the Double-A Montgomery Biscuits in '10. One night he might scream his head off, the next play it even like Pat Summerall. It was during this time that Davis began to find his voice behind the mic, exploring what his style might be.

In July 2012, a 24-year-old Davis joined ESPN for college baseball, basketball, football, hockey and softball games. He also appeared in spot duty for MLB contests on ESPN Radio. Davis then moved to FOX Sports in '14 as a play-by-play announcer for college football, college basketball and MLB coverage. He was hired by the Dodgers to call road games for SportsNet LA, beginning with the '16 season, and assumed a full-time role in '17 by succeeding late Hall of Famer Vin Scully.

Now, Davis takes over for another legend, Joe Buck, who called the previous 24 World Series. Prior to becoming FOX Sports' lead play-by-play announcer, Davis called select regular-season matchups. He had been in the booth for FOX Sports’ Division Series coverage since 2017 and called a Championship Series game alongside Smoltz during the '19 and '20 MLB postseasons.

"I don't know what it's like to replace those two icons," said Smoltz, who will be broadcasting his seventh Fall Classic. "There's only going to be one in the world that's done it, and it's Joe Davis, and he's pretty young to boot. Joe Davis is stepping in in kind of the prime now of his broadcasting career, and young enough to be a voice for a long time."

Over the years, Davis learned from mentors across networks. His preparation involves more than just devouring all of the information on the teams; he also maintains his voice much like a pitcher would with his arm. A play-by-play broadcaster's job is to make the analyst shine, in this case fellow Michigander Smoltz. The more time they have spent together in the booth, the easier it has been to develop their rhythm.

Davis' goal is to match the moment while not making it about himself, fully embracing the environment that will be talked about forever. Look no further than his call of Phillies superstar Bryce Harper's epic go-ahead homer in the NLCS Game 5 clincher at Citizens Bank Park.

Hits it in the air, left-center field...
Back it goes...
Harper, the swing of his life!

"To do all that and to be where he's at, is a byproduct of his hard work and willingness, and desire to be great," Smoltz said. "We think of athletes only in that term, and in that world, but broadcasters have the same criteria to be what I think to be a great broadcaster."

When the Fall Classic begins, Davis plans to keep score like he always does and have his scorecard as a keepsake to go in his office. The scorecard will join ones from his first game with the Flyers, the Biscuits and the Dodgers.

"I think it's going to be special," Davis said. "It hasn't really hit me or fazed me. ... I'll definitely take a second to appreciate it in the moment, but I think where I'll really get emotional about it will be once it's wrapped up and once I've hopefully done an OK job on it. I don't know if you'll see a bat slam from me or fist bump or anything like that. Maybe after Game 7."