Al Trautwig, a sportscaster known for his work on MSG locally as well as the NHL and Olympics nationally, has died. He was 68.
Alan Hahn, his former colleague at MSG, shared the news on social media Monday.
“We lost a legendary voice in sports,” Hahn wrote on X. “But we lost a lot more than that. He was not only a friend, but a mentor and a teacher. He was, personally, one of my biggest resources of support when I moved into this career.”
“Al Trautwig had an amazing voice and knew how to use it the way a tenor could bring depth and intensity to a song. He loved sports and had incredible versatility from baseball to basketball and hockey. And that’s not even counting his incredible work at the Olympics.
“He was the voice of @msgnetworks. He was a skilled host who knew how to make every game feel like something you don’t want to miss. I’d say I’m sad, but he’d hate that. ‘Get the f— over it!’ he would bark. ‘You’ve got a show to do!’ Godspeed, Al.”
No cause of death was given, but Trautwig had recently received additional treatment for cancer, according to Deadline and Newsday. He took a leave of absence from MSG in 2019 when he was first diagnosed.
Trautwig was a play-by-play announcer and studio host at MSG for Knicks, Rangers and Yankees games, working at the network for more than 30 years. He was also an announcer for USA when it aired NHL games in the 1980s.
The Long Island native covered Olympics gymnastics between 2000-2016, the U.S. Open tennis tournament and the Tour de France, among other major sporting events.
Trautwig also played himself in “Cool Runnings,” a sports comedy about the Jamaican bobsled team competing at the 1988 Calgary Olympics.
“MSG Networks is truly saddened by the news of Al Trautwig’s passing,” the network said in a statement shared with the Daily News. “Al was a staple on MSG Networks’ Knicks, Rangers and Yankees coverage for more than 30 years, and his passion for the teams he covered was undeniable. He leaves behind one of the great legacies in New York sports broadcasting history. Our thoughts and prayers are with Al’s family and friends.”
