Mike Lange (born March 3, 1948, in Sacramento, California) is an American sportscaster, best known as the radio play-by-play broadcaster for the Pittsburgh Penguins. In 2001, he received the Foster Hewitt Memorial Award for his outstanding work as an NHL broadcaster.A native of Sacramento, California, Lange joined the 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. 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.From 1975 until 2006, Lange served as the lead play-by-play announcer for the Penguins' hockey radio and television network, never missing a broadcast. On June 29, 2006, citing a desire to go in a new direction, Fox Sports Pittsburgh (now Root Sports) did not exercise the option year on Lange's contract. He was replaced by Paul Steigerwald, who had previously done the radio broadcasts, in a move that was, arguably, 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."On August 4, 2006, Lange signed a contract to work on Penguins' radio broadcasts. He continues to work the radio broadcasts, alongside former Penguin Phil Bourque, with the 2012-2013 season representing his 36th consecutive year that Lange has announced Penguins hockey.During the mid-1980s, Lange also broadcast several NHL games for ESPN. In 1987 and 1988, he also called Pittsburgh Pirates baseball games on cable television.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.
Fox Sports Net Pittsburgh declined to renew Lange's television contract, replacing him with Paul Steigerwald. He signed on as the Penguins' radio play-by-play man on August 4. [June 2006]
2
Recipient of the Hockey Hall of Fame's Foster Hewitt Award for broadcasting excellence in 2001.
3
Hockey announcer for the Phoenix Roadrunners (1970-1972), San Diego Gulls (1972-1973) and Pittsburgh Penguins (1973- ).
$1.3 Million