Emmy Award-winning sportscaster Al Trautwig dies at 68

Field Level Media|published: Mon 24th February, 15:27 2025

Feb 3, 2022; Beijing, China; A general view of the Olympic rings on the ice surface between periods in a women's ice hockey Group A match between USA and Finland during the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games at Wukesong Sports Centre. Mandatory Credit: Michael Madrid-Imagn Images

Emmy-winning sportcaster Al Trautwig, known for his work at 16 Olympics Games and throughout the New York sports scene, died Monday. He was 68.

His death was announced by Alan Hahn, his former broadcast partner with the MSG Network.

"I'm sad to share the news that we lost a legendary voice in sports," Hahn posted on social media site X.

"But we lost a lot more than that," Hahn wrote. "He was not only a friend, but a mentor and teacher. He was, personally, one of my biggest resources of support when I moved into this career. Rest in peace, Al Trautwig."

I'm sad to share the news that we lost a legendary voice in sports. 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.

Rest in peace, @AlTrautwig. ?? pic.twitter.com/E1z3pxS2gm
— Alan Hahn (@alanhahn) February 24, 2025

A native of Long Island, New York sports were ingrained in him. As a child, he was a stick boy for the New York Islanders and a ball boy for the then-New York Mets.

Throughout his career, Trautwig served as the pre- and post-game host for the New York Knicks, Rangers and Yankees. Nationally, his voice was heard across a variety of networks calling sports that included soccer, tennis, gymnastics, golf, marathons, Nordic skiing and college basketball.

He reached his peak in pop culture with the release 1993 release of "Cool Runnings," when he played himself in the movie that recounted the unlikely appearance of the Jamaican bobsled team in the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary.

Trautwig worked at MSG from 1989-2019, when he took a leave of absence after a cancer diagnosis.

"MSG Networks is truly saddened by the news of Al Trautwig's passing," the network said in a statement provided to the New York Post. "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."

Trautwig won four national Emmy Awards, 28 New York Emmys and a New York State Sportscaster of the Year Award.

--Field Level Media