News Article: Sam Rosen To Retire After Next Season

[Leonardo87]

Have always appreciate Sam and whatnot. But Really appreciated Sam and yes even Joe after having to listen to McDonough and Ferraro for the playoffs. I literally muted my TV and just played some music in the background. lol

We don’t know how good we have it as Rangers fans.

I’m all for Kenny Albert taking over if that’s the case.

 

[NYR94]

Wow, end of an era.

 

[Fitzy]

 

[Sayba]

I’m glad he is announcing it and doing 1 more year.

 

[CasusBelli]

Need a strong, engaging voice and tone to really get you in the game. Neither Albert nor (especially) Gianone do that for me. I might just switch to ESPN plus whenever possible once Sam is gone if either of those gets the job.

 

[Hire Sather]

I'm surprised Andy Strickland didn't break this. Bastard had the JD leaving the booth news before anyone.

Anyway, Kenny Albert is not the right choice. One of the most boring calls in the league. I know I'm in the minority there

 

[Sayba]

I'm surprised Andy Strickland didn't break this. Bastard had the JD leaving the booth news before anyone.

Anyway, Kenny Albert is not the right choice. One of the most boring calls in the league. I know I'm in the minority there

It would be a very safe choice

 

[EdJovanovski]

My favorite call:

 

[RangersFan1994]

Rangers must win this year for Sam Rosen. If this isn't motivation, I don't know what is

 

[OthmannOut]

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

 

[Mike in Houston]

Dates to keep your eyes on regarding Sam Rosen's final year:

1/18/25 & 2/9/25 vs. CBJ (John Davidson returns to the Garden)

4/7/25 & 4/17/25 vs. T.B. (Phil Esposito returns to the Garden)

One would assume MSG will do something with those two for Sam on one of those dates they're here.

 

[nsvoyageurs]

Second this

Me too.

 

[Machinehead]

This is obviously a bit sad. Not being able to listen to Sam be an absolute goober is going to drop my enjoyment of the games significantly.

At the same time, he's 77, I appreciate the career he's had, and I'm glad he got to go out when he wanted to.

Sam, to me, is a Mount Rushmore type of figure in Rangers history. Leetch, Messier, Cook, Gilbert, Lundqvist, Rosen. Those are some of the names to be considered.

He should be in the rafters in some way. I think they should just retire 94. It's a weirdo ass number anyway. "This one will last a lifetime" and what have you.

 

[nsvoyageurs]

Congrats to Sam Rosen on his long run as the NYR TV PxP announcer. To be honest, I've never had a strong opinion either way with him as an announcer, but he is beloved (as I'm seeing here). Growing up in Canada, I haven't heard him as much as most of the people on this message board. Here's hoping the Rangers can finally end the current Cup drought right before he rides off into the sunset!

I don't have a strong opinion as to who should replace him (as long as he's not a homer/Jack Edwards type). Kenny Albert seems to be the logical choice, but he's not young either and has many other broadcasting commitments. Maybe someone young and up and coming; I can't think of anyone off hand.

Sam retiring makes another longtime New York sports PxP announcer announcing his retirement, as John Sterling (who, BTW; as a NY Yankees fan, I was never a fan of his work as NYY radio guy, though many Yankees fans love him) stepped away a few months ago. A definite changing of the guard in the NY sports announcing booths.

 

[Glen Sathers Cigar]

NOOOOOO

Sam has been the soundtrack to my fandom, I was hoping we'd have a few more years of him. He might mess up names sometimes but to me he's unmatched with his classic voice, his sense of timing and pace of his calls. He's a legend and to me he still has it. I guess it's good for him to go out on his own terms.

Kenny would be a logical replacement but I hope they look elsewhere. I've never been a big fan of Kenny, he's good on the radio because he can talk a mile a minute but I've never been crazy about him calling TV games even on TNT. He's kind of always just been pretty bland and nondescript to me.

 

[NYRFAN218]

Howie would be a great fill in when Kenny is calling 500 other things during the season.

Howie spends his winters in Florida and has already cut back significantly on his Mets schedule (basically does no road games unless they're local.) As nice as it would be, I don't think that's realistic at this point.

Kenny is the logical fill in but to me, he'd have to sacrifice some of his schedule if he wants the job. It'd be weird to have someone be the main play by play guy but miss anywhere from a quarter to half the games due to football, Knicks, NHL national games, etc. After Kenny, I wonder about Alex Faust and even Brendan Burke (similar to how Micheletti jumped from Isles to Rangers) as replacements.

As for Sam, he's the only voice I've known as a Rangers fan. He absolutely 100% deserves a banner in the rafters and I'm glad he's going out on his own terms. One of the GOAT's in Rangers history.

 

[Mike in Houston]

Final home game of the season needs to be Sam Rosen Night. A banner with his name and either a stick mic or headset gets raised before he calls his last regular season game.

 

[Mike in Houston]

Howie spends his winters in Florida and has already cut back significantly on his Mets schedule (basically does no road games unless they're local.) As nice as it would be, I don't think that's realistic at this point.

Kenny is the logical fill in but to me, he'd have to sacrifice some of his schedule if he wants the job. It'd be weird to have someone be the main play by play guy but miss anywhere from a quarter to half the games due to football, Knicks, NHL national games, etc. After Kenny, I wonder about Alex Faust and even Brendan Burke (similar to how Micheletti jumped from Isles to Rangers) as replacements.

As for Sam, he's the only voice I've known as a Rangers fan. He absolutely 100% deserves a banner in the rafters and I'm glad he's going out on his own terms. One of the GOAT's in Rangers history.

I'm sure Kenny drops the Knicks if he gets the Rangers TV job. As for the NHL national or NFL games I doubt he will give either of those up. The Rangers should work around those commitments.

 

[Mike in Houston]

OMG! Look at that lettuce!

 

[TheDirtyH]

Lots of people said that when I was older than most players I'd feel old.

Hockey has never made me feel old until today. Crazy that Sam's calls will be a thing of the past next summer. Glad he's calling his own farewell tour. Along with you psychos, Sam's been there rooting for this ridiculous franchise with me all my life. Really hoped id see him call a championship, but that's NYC baby.

 

[Irishguy42]

I wonder, if they do have Kenny take over the role, if Kenny will step back from his other obligations (ie he does sports PxP all year round pretty much every day). I imagine that's a huge consideration.

Now announce Joe retiring too.

 

[will1066]

This is obviously a bit sad. Not being able to listen to Sam be an absolute goober is going to drop my enjoyment of the games significantly.

At the same time, he's 77, I appreciate the career he's had, and I'm glad he got to go out when he wanted to.

Sam, to me, is a Mount Rushmore type of figure in Rangers history. Leetch, Messier, Cook, Gilbert, Lundqvist, Rosen. Those are some of the names to be considered.

He should be in the rafters in some way. I think they should just retire 94. It's a weirdo ass number anyway. "This one will last a lifetime" and what have you.

77 is exactly why. Calling games is not only stepping into the booth and doing it, it's prep, it's production meetings, travel, living on the road every few weeks. Very few people can do it much less keep it up at that age. He also doesn't want to miss out on his family anymore.

 

[Mike in Houston]

I wonder, if they do have Kenny take over the role, if Kenny will step back from his other obligations (ie he does sports PxP all year round pretty much every day). I imagine that's a huge consideration.

Now announce Joe retiring too.

If Joe retires or for any reason doesn't return I don't think we'll see Dave Maloney take his place. I think with his age they'll keep him on the radio and go for another former player. Ryan Callahan comes to mind.

 

[will1066]

If Joe retires or for any reason doesn't return I don't think we'll see Dave Maloney take his place. I think with his age they'll keep him on the radio and go for another former player. Ryan Callahan comes to mind.

When Callahan comes to mind, "Vagus" is not far behind.

 

[HatTrick Swayze]

Always knew it would be coming sooner than later but was not mentally prepared for this today