Mike Lange, one of the NHL's most unique and popular broadcasters, has died at 76.
His first Penguins game was here on KDKA Radio. Over 46 years, Mike called Pens games on radio and TV including all five Stanley Cup championships.
Many of Lange’s colleagues, friends and more talked to The Big K Morning Show on Thursday to remember the broadcasting legend.
When it came to his on-air style, there was no one like Mike Lange. On the Big K Morning Show, network hall of famer Doc Emrick said Lange made hockey popular.
“God only knows how many Penguins fans Mike Lang made,” said Emrick.
Paul Steigerwald, shared the booth with Lange for years before becoming a play-by-play man himself.
“Every night was just a blast to work with Mike,” said Steigerwald. “Was a tremendous mentor to me and I was always in shock of how great he was. Every minute of every game, I was just blown away.”
Post-Gazette sports columnist Jason Mackey says that the Penguins are known for names like Mario Lemieux, Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Jaromir Jagr and so many more “and Mike Lange is every bit as powerful as any of those guys.”
Voice of the Pirates and good friend of Lange, Greg Brown, says that he had been struggling with health problems for years.
“I take solace in the fact that he’s no longer in pain which hurt me every time I saw him, to know that he was fighting through it,” said Brown. “He was mentor, I wouldn’t be where I am without him.”
Legendary Pirates pitcher and broadcaster Steve Blass simply said, “I love him.”
“One of the big reasons with all of his talent and notoriety and Hall of Fame status . . . he cared about me and that extended all the way down to the people he met along the way,” said Blass. “He had time for people. He was a slightly built man with a huge heart.”
Lange also called some Pirates games in the mid-1980s on KDKA Radio.
KDKA-TV and 93.7 The Fan’s Bob Pompeani was awed by Lange’s ability to take notes even though stats would be printed out for him. While it was the catchphrases that people remember, it was his prep that made him elite.
“He said when you write it out, you remember it more so, that’s one of the things I took with me,” said Pompeani. “When I do Steelers preseason games, I write everything out in big boards by hand.
Lang also had an impact on many people at KDKA Radio.
Larry Richert:
"Mike Lange is the reason I became a Penguins fan. He made every game exciting even when the Team was struggling. Then Mario came... the rest is history. Early in my career I got to know Mike and I don't think he knew how big a star he was for our City. While he will be missed, he will always be remembered as an icon with the Penguins organization."
Brand manager P.J. Kumanchik:
The reason I got into the industry was Mike. I would listen as a kid to my radio no matter where I was. At night walking, sleeping part of the night owl club and I wanted to be the next Mike Lange. Who knew as a kid that one day I would sit across a production studio at KDKA and record commercials for Mike and also be able to conduct one of my first professional one-on-one interviews with Mike and engineer broadcasts sitting next to Mike in the home radio booth! We lost a legend but I will always be grateful for what Mike did for me and the city of Pittsburgh!
Colin Dunlap:
As someone in his teens when the Penguins won their first couple Cups — and had the city going absolutely bonkers — it is a good time to remind those who weren’t around then about a good measure of Mike Lange’s status.
Just how big of a figure the man was.
Other than Mario Lemieux and Jaromir Jagr, Lange probably was the biggest drawing card. He was bigger than most of the guys on the ice. His recognizability and overall presence was enormous.
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