John “Butch” Liput: Voice of the Burrell Bucs, member of the Alle-Kiski Valley Hall of Fame and pioneer of aluminum bats, dies

Lower Burrell’s John “Butch” Liput Jr. was the “Voice of the Burrell Bucs” for over four decades and one of the most recognized voices in Lower Burrell sports history.

Liput, who served as the stadium announcer at Buccaneer Stadium for Burrell football, died Friday at the age of 89.

In an article for the Tribune-Review, Liput said that his work as a stadium announcer “makes him feel younger and keeps him in touch with the kids.”

Liput, an Arnold native, said his time commentating football games began by accident when he worked as a commentator for the Lower Burrell Flyers, a youth football organization. He took over the job when Burrell High’s previous stadium announcer decided to quit.

John Kristoff assisted Liput in his first game and worked with him for many years.

Liput also announced the starting lineups and Senior Nights for Burrell’s boys and girls basketball games.

He was born on January 6, 1935 in Arnold to the late John J. Liput Sr. and Elizabeth Rose Radziewicz Liput.

Liput studied engineering at Ohio State University for a year before taking a job as a researcher at Alcoa.

While at Alcoa, Liput made Little League history. The company tested aluminum bats for various companies. Liput oversaw the metallurgical team that oversaw the project at the Alcoa Technical and Research Center.

He got one from his employer, and his son Jim tried it out for the first time in a game on July 15, 1971. The boy hit four home runs in that Lower Burrell Little League game.

Other organizations quickly replaced as many wooden bats as possible with aluminum ones.

By the late 1970s, young players across the country were swinging aluminum bats. Organizations saved money by not having to replace as many bats.

Liput kept the original racket at his home in a kind of family hall of fame.

Liput coached the Lower Burrell Little League for several years and also ran a co-ed basketball program for the district for about 30 years.

“I’m a Burrell man through and through. I bleed blue,” he told the Tribune-Review.

He retired after more than 43 years as a researcher at Alcoa, receiving recognition from the company for never missing a day of work.

Liput also served as a WPIAL basketball referee for decades.

Liput was inducted into the Allegheny-Kiski Valley Hall of Fame in 2009 for his achievements in youth sports.

He was captain and played third baseman for Hobby’s USSSA World Slow Pitch Softball Champs in 1969.

He is survived by his wife of 68 years, JoAnn Stefanini Liput; his children John (Kacie) Liput, Judi (Bob) Reifschneider, Jayne (Jay) Manga, Joni Pattock and Jill (Derick) Coury; 19 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren; and a brother and sister. He was preceded in death by his son, James C. Liput, and his sister, Lucille Carr.

Friends will be received from 2 to 4 p.m. and from 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday at the Rusiewicz Funeral Home of Lower Burrell, 3124 Leechburg Road, Alder St. A Mass of Christian Funeral will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Monday at St. Margaret Mary Church, 3055 Leechburg Road. Burial will be private.