A smooth, unflappable voice that resonated with multiple fans across multiple sports. For over four decades, Al Trautwig passionately spoke about the Knicks, Rangers, and Yankees’ plus covered the New York City Marathon and the Olympics. Naturally, the respect for the acclaimed broadcaster started pouring into social media. One such instance was from a throwback clip from 2019, which also included the late great “The Captain.”

In the clip, Trautwig spoke with Willis Reed, where he discussed Houston legend Clyde Drexler. “I’ll catch up with him while I’m in town…I wanna see if he’s got any new suits.” In response, the broadcaster said: “He’s got new everything” The response had the Knicks reason in splits and he said, ” That’s my man. I love him.” Reed passed away in 2023, almost two years ago at the age of 80, due to congestive heart issues.

Today, it was Alan Hahn who broke the news of Al Trautwig’s passing. “I’m sad to share the news that we lost a legendary voice in sports. But we lost a lot more than that. He was not only a friend, but a mentor and a teacher. He was, personally, one of my biggest resources of support when I moved into this career. Rest in peace, @AlTrautwig . 💔.” The 68-year-old was a mentor not only to Hahn but also to other budding broadcasters.

At the time, no reason for the New York legend’s passing away is mentioned, but Al Trautwig spoke about his health battles. In an interview last year with Newsday, he stated he had undergone a cancer treatment. However, did not specify what type of cancer he was fighting. In that interview, but gave a hopeful answer. “cleared, and now it is just a matter of getting better,” the Emmy-winning sportscaster left a deep void that the fans are having difficulty coping with.

Al Trautwig receives tributes from fans

When the Long Island native’s voice was the first, you heard to start a pregame, it would make a local broadcast feel bigger. Echoing that sentiment, a fan added, “One of the first voices i remember when i started watching sports…so sad to hear this.” Before becoming the voice of New York sports, he spent his childhood as a stick boy for the Islanders and a ball boy for the Nets during their days in the ABA.

Then, in his adulthood, Al Trautwig would establish himself as one of the most ubiquitous voices in all of New York sports. “damn i loved watching him … rip 🙁,” another fan stated about the loss. He began his career calling New York Apollo soccer games in 1978 for Adelphi’s student-run radio station WBAU before broadcasting their matches on WMCA radio after graduating. That’s why even the broadcasting world is shedding a tear after losing a gem.

Another netizen chimed in to showcase the impact of Al Trautwig. “A NY sports legend! Rest in peace, Al.” One fan even remembered the good old days of the broadcaster alongside other NBA icons. “Loved listening and watching AL in our knicks haye days. He was the icon of knicks broadcasting him and Walt Clide Frazier. So sad of his passing 😢.” The overwhelming emotions from fans and other notable reporters truly signify the love for Trautwig as not just an NBA legend, but a legend for New York sports!