Remembering the Broadcast Voices We Lost in 2025

2025 saw the loss of broadcasters and sports media personalities whose voices, insight, and passion for the game shaped how millions experienced sports. From regional legends to national voices, their contributions spanned decades and left lasting impact on fans, athletes, and fellow journalists. Below are the voices we lost this year.

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Bob Uecker (1934)

Uecker died on January 16, 2025 at the age of 90. He was one of baseball’s most beloved voices, best known as the radio announcer for the Milwaukee Brewers for 54 seasons. A former MLB catcher, Uecker became a broadcasting icon through humor, storytelling, national TV work, and cultural impact that extended into film and television.

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Jeff Torborg (1941)

A Major League Baseball catcher, manager, and longtime broadcaster, Jeff Torborg died on January 19, 2025, at the age of 83. After winning World Series titles as a catcher with the Los Angeles Dodgers, he managed several MLB teams and later became a respected television analyst, particularly known for his work on national baseball broadcasts.

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Michael Katz (1939) 

Michael Katz, who died on January 27, 2025 at the age of 85, was best known for his coverage of boxing. Writing primarily for The New York Times, Katz chronicled the sport’s biggest fighters and eras and was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame.

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Dick Button (1929)

Dick Button, a pioneering figure in figure skating and sports television, died on January 30, 2025 at the age of 95. A two-time Olympic gold medalist, he later became an Emmy-winning broadcaster whose sharp analysis transformed how skating was presented on television.

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Mike Lange (1948)

One of hockey’s iconic broadcasters, Mike Lange passed away on February 19, 2025 at the age of 76. Lange’s 46-year tenure as the play-by-play voice of the Pittsburgh Penguins made him synonymous with the team and its history. Known for his enthusiastic delivery and catchphrases, he earned the Foster Hewitt Memorial Award for his broadcasting excellence. 

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Al Trautwig (1956)

One of the most recognized faces and voices in American sports broadcasting, Al Trautwig passed away on February 23, 2025, at the age of 68. Over a career of more than three decades, Trautwig worked with major networks including MSG, ABC, NBC, and USA Network. He was particularly known for his work on pre- and postgame shows for the New York Knicks and Rangers, as well as his coverage of marquee events like the Olympics and the US Open. His engaging style and deep sports knowledge made him a favorite among viewers.

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Fred Stolle (1938)

Fred Stolle was an Australian tennis champion turned broadcaster who died on March 5, 2025 at the age of 86. A multiple Grand Slam winner in singles and doubles, he later became a familiar and insightful voice in tennis broadcasting, admired for blending player experience with thoughtful analysis.

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John Feinstein (1955)

The acclaimed sports commentator and author of more than 40 books on sports and athletes, died at the age of 69 on March 13, 2025. Feinstein regularly appeared as a talking head and hosted a series of sports radio shows. His storytelling brought depth and humanity to sports coverage.

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Bob Davis (1946)

Bob Davis was the legendary play-by-play voice of the Kansas Jayhawks for more than 30 years. He died on March 20, 2025 at the age of 80. Known for his strong connection to Kansas basketball and football, he became one of the most respected regional broadcasters in college sports history.

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Bill Mercer (1926)

Mercer, a legendary Texas sportscaster, died at the age of 99 on March 22, 2025. Mercer’s long career included play-by-play work across World Class Championship Wrestling and covering a wide range of local sports events, as well as decades of mentoring future broadcasters. 

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Mike Patrick (1944)

Mike Patrick, the longtime ESPN play-by-play broadcaster, died at the age of 80 on April 20, 2025. Revered for his smooth delivery and versatility, Patrick’s career spanned more than three decades at ESPN, where he became one of the network’s most recognizable announcers. He was best known as the voice of ESPN’s “Sunday Night Football” from the late 1980s through the early 2000s and also called marquee college football and basketball games, including the Women’s Final Four. His contributions helped define ESPN’s early identity in sports broadcasting and inspired countless voices that followed.

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John Brenkus (1971)

John Brenkus was the creator and host of Sport Science, the Emmy-winning program that merged athletics with physics and technology. A producer, innovator, and media entrepreneur, Brenkus changed how audiences understood athletic performance through data-driven storytelling. He died on May 31, 2025 at the age of 53.

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Hulk Hogan (1953)

Hulk Hogan was one of the most recognizable figures in professional wrestling history. He died on July 24, 2025 at the age of 71. A global superstar during wrestling’s boom periods, Hogan also became a major sports-entertainment media figure through television, film, and pop-culture appearances.

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George Raveling (1937) 

George Raveling, who died on September 1, 2025 at the age of 88, was a Hall of Fame basketball player and college coach. Beyond his coaching career, he notably received the original copy of the “I have a dream” speech from Martin Luther King Jr.

Ray Lane (1930) 

Lane, a legendary Detroit sports broadcaster, died on September 27, 2025 at the age of 95. Known for his decades of coverage across major Detroit teams and events, Lane’s voice was deeply woven into the fabric of Michigan’s sports culture. His career spanned generations of athletes and fans.

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Bob Trumpy (1945)

Football player turned influential sports broadcaster Bob Trumpy died on November 2, 2025, at the age of 80. Trumpy was a stand-out tight end for the Cincinatti Bengals and a two-time AFL All-Star and Pro Bowler. After retiring from football, he transitioned into broadcasting and embarked upon a decades long career as a television and radio commenter. He worked for major networks, including NBC Sports, where he called NFL games and teamed with iconic voices like Dick Enberg, Bob Costas, and Don Criqui, and participated in coverage of Super Bowls and Olympic Games. He was a pioneer in sports talk radio and is credited for helping shape the format in the early days. In recognition of his impact on sports media, he received the Pete Rozelle Radio-Television Award from the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2014 for his lifetime contributions to broadcasting.

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Larry Brooks (1950)

A veteran NHL journalist for the New York Post and Hockey Hall of Fame honoree, Larry Brooks passed away at age 75 on November 13, 2025 after a distinguished reporting career. Larry was a topnotch NHL announcer and a writer with the NY Post.