Paul Steigerwald
Paul Steigerwald | |
|---|---|
 Steigerwald in 2010 | |
| Born | 6 August 1954 |
| Other names | Staggy |
| Occupation | Sportscaster |
| Relatives | John Steigerwald (brother) Bill Steigerwald (brother) Danny Stag (brother) |
Paul Steigerwald (born August 6, 1954) is an American sportscaster, who through the 2016–17 NHL season first worked as the Pittsburgh Penguins' color commentator and then the TV play-by-play announcer on Root Sports Pittsburgh (now SportsNet Pittsburgh).
Minor leagues
[edit]Steigerwald became a hockey fan growing up in Pittsburgh's South Hills. One of his neighbors was Pittsburgh Penguins general manager Jack Riley, who would provide tickets for the poorly attended games. Steigerwald developed an interest in hockey and played at the club level while attending Kent State University. After graduating, Steigerwald started his broadcast career with the Johnstown Red Wings of the Eastern Hockey League.[1] WJNL, the local radio affiliate of the Johnstown Red Wings paid Steigerwald $110 a week to provide commentary for all 70 games that season.[2] The Eastern Hockey League later folded the following year.
Steigerwald was later the radio play-by-play announcer for the Altoona Curve, the AA affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates, from 2005 to 2007.[3]
Pittsburgh Penguins
[edit]The Penguins hired Steigerwald as their marketing director at age 25, and he became their TV and radio color commentator in 1985. FSN Pittsburgh (now SportsNet Pittsburgh) hired him on 29 June 2006, as its TV play-by-play announcer after it declined to renew the contract of fellow Penguins broadcaster Mike Lange, who was later hired by the team exclusively as its radio play-by-play announcer.[4][5][6] Steigerwald denied persistent rumors that he worked behind the scenes to secure Lange's dismissal.[7] On 18 August 2011, Steigerwald and color analyst Bob Errey were re-signed by Root Sports to multi-year contracts.[8] During a Penguins/Capitals game on 19 March 2013; two fans were spotted with a large picture of Steigerwald on a stick. Errey referred to the prop as "Steigy on a Stick," which became an instant viral hit with Penguins fans.[9]
On 16 May 2017, Root Sports and the Pittsburgh Penguins announced that, starting in the 2017-18 hockey season, Steigerwald would transition to the Penguins' front office in a new role with the communications and marketing department. Steve Mears replaced Steigerwald as the network's TV play-by-play broadcaster for Penguins games.[10]
Cameo
[edit]Steigerwald appeared in the Jean-Claude Van Damme action movie Sudden Death. Playing himself alongside Mike Lange, he provided commentary for a hockey game during which Van Damme's character fought off terrorists.[11]
Personal life
[edit]He is the brother of fellow Pittsburgh sports media member, John Steigerwald, former Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reporter and Pittsburgh Tribune-Review libertarian columnist Bill Steigerwald, and blues rock guitarist Danny Stag.
He was raised, and continues to live, in the Pittsburgh suburb Mt. Lebanon, Pennsylvania.[12]
References
[edit]- ^ "TV voice started in area » Pro » the Tribune Democrat, Johnstown, PA". Archived from the original on 5 February 2013. Retrieved 20 January 2009.
- ^ MASTOVICH, MIKE (27 May 2008). "Penguins TV voice Paul Steigerwald started career with Johnstown Red Wings". The Tribune-Democrat. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
- ^ www.behindthestagedoor.com https://www.behindthestagedoor.com/interviews/interview?id=21. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ^ Hasch, Michael; Price, Karen (30 June 2006). "Ladies and gentlemen, Lange has left the building". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
- ^ "Report: Penguins television announcer Lange replaced". ESPN.com. 30 June 2006. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
- ^ Smizik, Bob (3 August 2006). "Penguins, Lange agree to 1-year deal". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
- ^ Yohe, Josh (2 April 2020). "The man, the myth, the legend: On Paul Steigerwald's Penguins' odyssey". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
- ^ Anderson, Shelley (18 August 2011). "Penguins Notebook: Steigerwald, Errey to return". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 22 March 2013. Retrieved 21 March 2013.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ Mackey, Jason (16 May 2017). "Mears thrilled to follow Steigerwald in Penguins' broadcast booth". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
- ^ Cook, Richard (20 December 2021). "This Week in Pittsburgh History: "Sudden Death," Shot in Pittsburgh, Opens in Theaters". Pittsburgh Magazine. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
- ^ Lois Thomson (January–February 2011). "The Voice of the Penguins". Mt. Lebanon Magazine. pp. 44–46.
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