Mike Lange

Mike Lange (March 3, 1948 – February 19, 2025) was an American sportscaster best known for his 46-year career as a play-by-play announcer for the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League (NHL). Lange served as the team's play-by-play announcer in 1974 and again from 1976 to 2021. In 2001, he received the Foster Hewitt Memorial Award for his outstanding work as an NHL broadcaster.

Mike Lange
Lange during a Q&A session with fans at RBC Center in Raleigh, December 2011.
Born	(1948-03-03)March 3, 1948 Sacramento, California, U.S.
Died	February 19, 2025(2025-02-19) (aged 76) Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Alma mater	Sacramento State University
Sports commentary career
Team	Pittsburgh Penguins (1974, 1976–2021)
Genre	Play-by-play
Sport	National Hockey League

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 public address (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 Pittsburgh 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][4]

From 1976 until 2006, Lange served as the lead play-by-play announcer for the Penguins' radio and television network, never missing a broadcast.^[5] In 2001, Lange was the recipient of the Foster Hewitt Memorial Award for his outstanding work as an NHL broadcaster.^[6] On June 29, 2006, citing a desire to go in a new direction, Fox Sports Pittsburgh (now SportsNet Pittsburgh) did not exercise the option year on Lange's contract. He was replaced by his longtime radio partner and color commentator, Paul Steigerwald, in a move that was extremely unpopular with fans. On taking Lange's spot Steigerwald said, "I'm not going to try to replace him. I think he's irreplaceable."^[7][8] On August 4, 2006, Lange signed a contract to work on Penguins' radio broadcasts.^[9]

From 1985 to 1986, he also broadcast several NHL games for ESPN that did not involve the Pittsburgh Penguins. 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.^[10]

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.^[11]

On August 9, 2021, the Pittsburgh Penguins announced that Lange would be retiring after a 46-year career with the Penguins.^[12][13]

Expressions

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 used 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.

One of Lange's signatures was a line that followed each Penguins victory: "Ladies and gentlemen... Elvis!... has just left the building!" 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.

Personal life and death

Lange was born in Sacramento, California, on March 3, 1948.^[14]

He died in his home in Pittsburgh, on February 19, 2025, at the age of 76.^[14][15]

References

1. Kasan, Susan (October 7, 2019). "You never know". nhl.com. Retrieved October 8, 2019.
2. Kovacevic, Dejan (May 29, 2001). "Lange makes call into Hall of Fame". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved October 8, 2019.
3. "Broadcaster Mike Lange to talk hockey at Penn State Behrend". Penn State. October 15, 2013. Archived from the original on Oct 9, 2019. Retrieved October 8, 2019.
4. "Hall of Fame broadcaster Mike Lange talks hockey before Behrend visit | Penn State University". www.psu.edu. October 21, 2013. Retrieved 2024-09-23.
5. Hasch, M.; Price, K. (June 30, 2006). "Ladies and gentlemen, Mike Lange has left the building". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Archived from the original on 2010-11-07. Retrieved March 20, 2010.
6. Starkey, Joe (May 29, 2001). "Lange took long road to Hall of Fame". www.tribliveoffers.com. Retrieved 2024-09-23.
7. Hasch, Michael; Price, Karen (June 30, 2006). "Ladies and gentlemen, Lange has left the building". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Retrieved 2024-09-23.
8. "Report: Penguins television announcer Lange replaced". ESPN.com. 2006-06-30. Retrieved 2024-09-23.
9. Smizik, Bob (August 3, 2006). "Penguins, Lange agree to 1-year deal". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved 2024-09-23.
10. Cook, Richard (2021-12-20). "This Week in Pittsburgh History: "Sudden Death," Shot in Pittsburgh, Opens in Theaters". Pittsburgh Magazine. Retrieved 2024-09-23.
11. Mackey, Jason (October 8, 2019). "Penguins honor Mike Lange with pregame ceremony". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved 2024-09-23.
12. "Long-time Pittsburgh Penguins radio announcer Mike Lange retires". pennlive. Associated Press. 2021-08-09. Retrieved 2024-09-23.
13. Yohe, Josh. "Mike Lange has just left the building: Hockey royalty salutes the Penguins' retiring broadcasting legend". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-09-23.
14. Graves, Will (20 February 2025). "Longtime Pittsburgh Penguins announcer Mike Lange, known for his distinctive style, dies at 76". AP News. Retrieved 23 February 2025.
15. Yohe, Josh. "Legendary Penguins broadcaster Mike Lange dies at 76". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2025-02-20.

External links

• Mike Lange at IMDb
• 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