Al Trautwig, a beloved sports broadcaster and longtime fixture in the TV booth at Madison Square Garden, has passed away at the age of 68. A native of Long Island, Trautwig covered 16 Olympics, including most recently for NBC’s gymnastics coverage, and was known for his authoritative voice and passion for sports.
Trautwig began his broadcasting career on MSG Networks in the mid-1990s, during a New York sports renaissance that saw both the Rangers and Knicks make deep playoff runs. He became a mainstay of the network’s broadcasts, covering Yankees games and emceeding ceremonies at Madison Square Garden, including the Canyon of Heroes.
Trautwig’s success took him to new heights, earning him four national Emmys and over 30 New York Emmys. He was also named New York Sportscaster of the Year in 2000. However, his departure from MSG in 2021 did not seem to damper his spirits, as he continued to work on various projects.
Trautwig’s larger-than-life personality extended beyond the broadcast booth. He had cameos in several films and TV shows, including “Cool Runnings,” “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit,” and a sports comedy starring Whoopi Goldberg. Even his contemporaries remembered him fondly, with Sweeny Murti noting that Trautwig’s presence was “meant to be on the air.”
The cause of Trautwig’s death has been attributed to complications from cancer, according to his son Alex. Trautwig is survived by his wife Cathleen and son Alex, as well as a lasting legacy in New York sports broadcasting history.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/24/sports/al-trautwig-dead.html