Legendary Penguins broadcaster retires after 50+ years
Mike Lange, the longtime Pittsburgh Penguins play-by-play announcer, has announced his retirement. The 73-year-old missed most of the last two seasons due to the pandemic and the COVID-19 vaccine. Aside from two home games at the end of the regular season and Games 1 and 5 of the Penguins' first-round series against the New York Islanders, he has decided to retire from broadcasting. Next season, he'll be a studio guest, but not host.
The Penguins president and CEO, David Morehouse, called Mike a "sports broadcasting legend" in Pittsburgh. Mike's clever phrases and goal calls are synonymous with the most iconic moments in Penguins history. Returned to the Penguins in 1976-77 after a one-year absence.
Until 1979, Lange only did radio until games were televised. He was the Penguins' TV voice from 2005-06 before returning to radio in 2006-07.
With the pandemic, I was only able to broadcast a few games, which was important to me, as it marked 50 years of broadcasting professional hockey - four in the Western Hockey League and 46 with the Pittsburgh Penguins. "The Penguins have asked me to continue to add commentary and voice work on a limited basis to the current radio set-up and I look forward to staying involved.»
