Mike Lange | |
Mike Lange during a Q&A session with fans at RBC Center in Raleigh, December 2011. | |
Born | Sacramento, California | March 3, 1948
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Alma mater | Sacramento State University |
Mike Lange (born March 3, 1948) is a retired American sportscaster, best known for his long career as a play-by-play announcer for Pittsburgh Penguins hockey. In 2001, he received the Foster Hewitt Memorial Award for his outstanding work as an NHL broadcaster.
Career[]
In 1969, while attending Sacramento State University, Lange was encouraged by his friend to attend a hockey game. At the time, Lange had never attended a hockey game before.[1]
From there, Lange worked in the penalty box at local arenas, coordinating the penalty time with the PA announcer. He eventually replaced the PA announcer after he asked for a raise and his play-by-play was broadcast over the college radio station.[1]
Lange joined the Penguins as a radio announcer in 1974 after spending time as a commentator for the San Diego Gulls and Phoenix Roadrunners of the Western Hockey League.[2] He left the Penguins after just one season, because the team was in bankruptcy and he had no guarantee of a job. Lange called Washington Diplomats soccer games, then returned to the Penguins for the 1976–77 season, where he became the central figure of the team's broadcast presence.[1][3]
From 1976 until 2006, Lange served as the lead play-by-play announcer for the Penguins' radio and television network, never missing a broadcast. [4] In 2001, Lange was the recipient of the Foster Hewitt Memorial Award for his outstanding work as an NHL broadcaster.[2] On June 29, 2006, citing a desire to go in a new direction, Fox Sports Pittsburgh (now AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh) did not exercise the option year on Lange's contract. He was replaced by his longtime radio partner, Paul Steigerwald, in a move that was extremely unpopular with fans.[4] On taking Lange's spot Steigerwald said, "I'm not going to try to replace him. I think he's irreplaceable."[5]
On August 4, 2006, Lange signed a contract to work on Penguins' radio broadcasts.[6] On October 8, 2019, prior to a game against the Winnipeg Jets, Lange was presented with an autographed personalized jersey to commemorate his 45th year.[7]
During the mid-1980s, Lange also broadcast several NHL games for ESPN. In 1986 and 1987, he also called Pittsburgh Pirates baseball games on cable television.[1]
Lange and then-colleague Steigerwald appeared together as themselves in the 1995 movie Sudden Death, starring Jean-Claude Van Damme. In the film, Lange used many of his trademark expressions in his play-by-play commentary.
On August 9, 2021, the Pittsburgh Penguins announced that Lange would be retiring after a 46-year career with the Penguins.[8]
Expressions[]
Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to: Mike Lange |
Like fellow Pittsburgh sports announcers, the late Steelers announcer Myron Cope, the late Pirates announcer Bob Prince, former Pirates announcer Lanny Frattare, and current Pirates announcer Greg Brown, Lange uses a repertoire of distinctive colorful expressions, sometimes called "Lange-isms" by his fans. While some are familiar phrases from pop culture, most are cryptic expressions of Lange's making.
KDKA-AM radio talk show host Fred Honsberger used to play a personalized clip of Lange saying, "Ladies and Gentlemen, the Honz has just left the building!" at the end of his radio show.
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 You never know (October 7, 2019).
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Lange makes call into Hall of Fame", Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, May 29, 2001.
- ↑ Broadcaster Mike Lange to talk hockey at Penn State Behrend (October 15, 2013).
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Archived copy. Ladies and gentlemen, Mike Lange has left the building (Hasch, M. & Price, K., posted June 30, 2006 and accessed March 20, 2010)
- ↑ "FSN Pittsburgh Doesn't Renew Announcer Lange's Contract ", ThePittsburghChannel.com, posted June 29, 2006, accessed June 29, 2006.
- ↑ PENS HIRE MIKE LANGE TO ANNOUNCE RADIO PLAY-BY-PLAY (August 3, 2006).
- ↑ "Penguins honor Mike Lange with pregame ceremony", Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, October 8, 2019.
- ↑ Lange Retiring from Play-By-Play, Remaining with Penguins Radio Network (en).
External links[]
- Pens Universe Interviews Mike Lange
- The Official Mike Lange Soundboard
- The Official Mike Lange Soundboard Android app
- Ladies and gentlemen, Mike Lange has left the building
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