A legendary voice in sports and coveted member of the MSG family, Al Trautwig has passed away due to cancer complications on Sunday.
Trautwig died Sunday at his home in Long Island at 68-years-old. He was one of the most recognizable sports broadcasters in New York and a fixture at numerous international sporting events for more than three decades. Trautwig was part of MSG pre- and postgame broadcasts for the NHL's New York Rangers in addition to other New York sports such as the Knicks and Yankees. He unfortunately left the airwaves four years ago, after MSG opted not to renew his contract in 2021.
"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," MSG said in a statement. "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."
Henrik Lundqvist, who owns almost every record for goaltenders in Rangers history, also expressed his condolences.
Thanks for the memories Al.
— Henrik Lundqvist (@HLundqvist) February 24, 2025
Rest in peace 🙏🏼 https://t.co/U4CXCWZdpn
According to the New York Post, following his departure from the network Trautwig spent time teaching at his alma mater — Adelphi University — on Long Island University.
With a natural storytelling style, he used his pregame introductions to make big games at Madison Square Garden feel even more coveted. In fact, for many fans watching televised games in New York, Trautwig's voice was often the first they heard.
The announcement of Trautwig's passing was made by his former colleague Alan Hahn.
"We lost a legendary voice in sports. But we lost a lot more than that," Hahn wrote in a series of social media posts. "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 a skilled host who knew how to make every game feel like something you don’t want to miss."