, where Savran worked as a sports anchor in the 1980s, announced Savran’s death on Monday. No official cause of death was given, but Savran, who was living in Upper St. Clair in the city’s southern suburbs, had been public about his battle with lung cancer in recent years.
Affectionately known as the “Godfather” of Pittsburgh sports, the Cleveland native arrived in his adopted city in 1976 and never left. He began his career in Pittsburgh in radio before moving into TV while even occasionally moonlighting as a newspaper columnist.Savran was best known for the nightly “SportsBeat” show he co-hosted on regional cable alongside Guy Junker. The show, which ran from 1991-2009, was required viewing for fans in a city avid about its professional sports teams.
“You will not find a better person, someone who has been so helpful to people like me and so many others, who asked for his time, he was always gracious to help young people in this business of ours,” longtimeSavran combined a tireless work ethic and almost exhaustive knowledge of sports with an opinionated but straightforward delivery that made him one of the most trusted voices in a crowded media market.
His versatility allowed him to wear many hats, including stints as pre-game host for Pittsburgh Penguins and Pittsburgh Pirates broadcasts as well as several iterations of an eponymous radio show.Pirates Chairman Bob Nutting on the passing of Stan Savran: