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Stan Savran tributes pour in from Pittsburgh teams, fans, colleagues

Jonathan Bombulie
6289137_web1_gtr-Savran5W-061423
Pittsburgh Penguins
Stan Savran hosted Penguins coverage from PPG Paints Arena.

For the better part of the past five decades, on radio and television, Stan Savran provided some of the most insightful commentary on the Pittsburgh professional sports scene.

Within hours of his death at age 76 on Monday, it became clear how far his voice had reached.

In addition to remembrances of Savran from fans and colleagues, the city’s three major pro franchises offered their condolences via social media.

Savran began providing thoughtful commentary on the Steelers in the middle of their Super Bowl dynasty years in the 1970s. Most recently, he hosted the Steelers Radio Network postgame show.

“Today is a sad day in the City of Pittsburgh as we lost a legendary person, media icon and close friend with the passing of Stan Savran,” Steelers president Art Rooney II said in a statement. “He was a gentleman in every way possible, and he did so much for our city and Western Pa. with his honest candor and knowledge of all sports.”

A longtime host of pregame and postgame Pirates coverage, Savran was inducted into the team’s Media Wall of Fame in 2018.

“Stan poured his heart into covering Pittsburgh sports,” Pirates chairman Bob Nutting said in a statement. “No one was more knowledgeable, more fair or more honest. He was a true professional who was universally respected for his journalistic integrity. Stan was Pittsburgh sports legend whose legacy will live on within the hearts of all Pittsburgh sports fans and all of us who knew him. He will be missed.”

In addition to pregame and postgame hosting duties, Savran was also known for breaking one of the biggest stories in Pittsburgh sports history when he revealed in 2000 that Mario Lemieux was planning a comeback.

“Stan Savran, Pittsburgh broadcasting legend, delivered some of the best announcements in Penguins history,” the Penguins said in a message on the team’s Twitter account. “He was a friend and a true professional at his craft. As long-time listeners, who loved the show, we will miss you, Stan.”

“RIP Stan Savran” was trending throughout Pennsylvania on Monday night.

Thousands of social media users shared their sorrow at hearing the news and saying how much his voice will be missed and how Pittsburgh sports media will not be the same.

From the sheer amount of responses and respect, it’s obvious that Pittsburghers loved the show.

Jonathan Bombulie is the TribLive assistant sports editor. A Greensburg native, he was a hockey reporter for two decades, covering the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins for 17 seasons before joining the Trib in 2015 and covering the Penguins for four seasons, including Stanley Cup championships in 2016-17. He can be reached at jbombulie@triblive.com.

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