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Al Trautwig, a longtime sportscaster on MSG Network, has died at 68 years old. A cause of death wasn't immediately available but the Long Island native had been battling cancer in recent years.
MSG studio analyst Alan Hahn announced Trautwig's death in an Instagram post on Monday, Feb. 24.
"I'm sad to share the news that we lost a legendary voice in sports," Hahn posted. "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."
Trautwig's career spanned generations of New York sports fans. He was a staple of MSG Network, covering pregame and postgame shows for the Knicks, Rangers, and Yankees, along with hosting the show "MSG Vault".
Trautwig's last appearance on MSG came in 2019 before he took an extended leave of absence. He had undergone cancer treatment but had been teaching classes at Adelphi University, Newsday reported in 2024.
Longtime Yankees broadcaster Michael Kay mourned Trautwig's death in a social media post.
"I have been blessed to work with some amazing broadcasters but there was no one better than Al Trautwig," Kay wrote. "He was meant to be on the air. Smooth. Unflappable. Al patiently walked a young writer through growing pains on TV. His lessons were invaluable.
"He was part of the soundtrack of New York sports all those years on MSG. I will miss him. Gone too soon. RIP, my friend."
Trautwig's passion for sports started as a child through Long Island's professional teams. He was a stickboy for the New York Islanders and a ballboy for the New York Nets when they were in the ABA.
Beyond his work with MSG, Trautwig had a storied national career. He was part of NBC’s Olympics broadcast team 11 times, covering gymnastics and cross-country skiing.
Trautwig also worked on the Tour de France, the U.S. Open, and the FIFA World Cup. His achievements earned him multiple Emmy Awards, including two national wins for his writing on NBC's coverage of the Ironman triathlon.
In 1979, Trautwig started his career calling New York Apollo soccer games for WMCA radio. He went on to cover a wide range of sports, from the NHL and college basketball to tennis and golf.
Trautwig's broadcasting talents also shined in Hollywood. He appeared as himself in the 1993 movie "Cool Runnings" and played a reporter in the 1996 film "Eddie".
The 1978 graduate of Adelphi was inducted into the Panthers' hall of fame in 1991.
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