Sportscaster Craig Heist has died, his radio station, 106.7 The Fan, introduced Friday.
Heist, who had labored for the station since 2013, coated Washington and Baltimore sports activities and was a fixture in press containers for over 30 years.
“106.7 The Fan is saddened by the passing of our longtime friend and colleague Craig Heist,” the station mentioned in a post on X. “Craig was a longtime anchor and reporter for 106.7 The Fan and postgame host on the Nationals Radio Network since 2013, and had a storied career at stations across the Mid-Atlantic region. But above all, Craig was a husband, friend, and sports lover. Press boxes across the DMV will never be the same without his wide smile and infectious laugh. We will keep his family in our thoughts.”
Heist started his broadcasting profession at WKHI in Ocean City, the place he coated highschool sports activities and did play-by-play and coloration commentary for Salisbury soccer.
He then labored for WTOP for 14 years earlier than becoming a member of 106.7 The Fan. He additionally coated the NFL, NBA, NHL and school sports activities for ESPN Radio, Sirius NFL Network, SB Nation, CBS Sports, the Associated Press and Metro Networks.
He received Maryland Sportscaster of the Year thrice.
On Friday, tributes poured in from D.C. and Baltimore groups, in addition to followers and media members who shared press containers with him.
“We are saddened by the sudden passing of long-time sports broadcaster, Craig Heist. Heisty’s dedication, professionalism and warm presence were always felt throughout the press box, and he will be missed by many within the Ravens organization and the entire regional sports community,” the Ravens posted on X. “Our thoughts are with his family, friends and everyone who had the honor to know him.”
Other sports activities journalists weighed in, too.
“Heartbroken to hear about Craig Heist, who was a friend with whom I spent so many nights in the Camden Yards press box covering Orioles games the last 15 years,” mentioned Luke Jones, who covers the Ravens and Orioles for Baltimore Positive. “He was one of a kind and so helpful and kind to me (and so many others). Baseball season won’t be the same without him.”
Mark Zuckerman, who covers the Nationals for MASN, the regional sports activities community, referred to as Heist “the real deal.”
“Heisty was loud. He was funny. He was highly opinionated. He could be inappropriate at times,” Zuckerman wrote. “And yet everyone who interacted with him adored him, because he genuinely cared about everyone he knew. He was the real deal. Press boxes throughout the DMV will never be the same.”