John Sterling, the longtime radio and television voice of the New York Yankees, has died at the age of 87, WFAN radio announced on Monday, May 4.
For 36 seasons, Sterling teamed with Michael Kay and then Suzyn Waldman in the broadcast booth, calling the team’s run of four World Series championships in five years between 1996 and 2000, ending each victory with what became his signature call: “YANKEES WIN! THAAAAAAAA YANKEES WIN!”
Sterling was also a fan favorite for his signature home run calls. They frequently began with, “It is high. It is far. It is GONE!” Then he would follow with a personalized version for each Yankees player.
- For Alex Rodriguez: “An A-bomb. From A-Rod!”
- Aaron Judge: “A Judgian blast!” or “All rise, here comes the Judge!”
- Giancarlo Stanton: “Giancarlo, non si puo stoparlo!”
- Gleyber Torres: “It’s Gleyber Day!”
- Curtis Granderson: “The Grandy Man can!”
- Hideki Matsui: “A thrilla from Godzilla!”
- Bernie Williams: “Bern, baby Bern!”
- Robinson Cano: “Robbie Cano, don’t ya know!”
New York Yankees mourn Sterling’s death
The Yankees issued a statement on Monday expressing “heartfelt condolences to the entire Sterling family, as well as his long list of loved ones and friends.”
It read, in part:
“We pause today — along with millions of Yankees fans around the world — to recognize the passing of one of our own. John Sterling breathed life and excitement into Yankees games for 36 years while wearing his passion for baseball and the Yankees on his sleeve. He informed and entertained generations of fans with a theatrical and unapologetic style that was uniquely his own.
“John treasured his role as the voice of the New York Yankees, and his enthusiasm for the art of broadcasting perfectly complemented our city and our fans. The symmetry between John and his audience was both undeniable and magical, and his signature calls will resonate for as long as we put on pinstripes — especially after every Yankees win.”
John Sterling’s lengthy career
Sterling’s first play-by-play job in pro sports came in 1970-71 with the NBA’s Baltimore Bullets.
A native New Yorker, he returned home to call New Jersey Nets basketball and New York Islanders hockey games starting in 1971. Ten years later, he moved to Atlanta and began doing Braves baseball and Hawks basketball games. (“Dominique est magnifique!”)
Perhaps Sterling’s most memorable moment in Atlanta came on July 4, 1985, when he was on the mic for pitcher Rick Camp’s improbable game-tying home run with two outs in the 18th inning against the New York Mets.
Broadcast partner Suzyn Waldman remembers
While he was widely known for his work on national telecasts and on TBS, Sterling became an institution with the Yankees.
He took over in 1989 as Yankees play-by-play announcer on WABC radio, working with Kay for 10 years before Waldman joined him as color analyst.
WALDMAN ON STERLING: Tears flow for Jeter’s 3,000th hit
“Thank you to everyone who has reached out!” Waldman wrote in the caption to an Instagram photo of her with Sterling. “Very tough day, but a celebration of the life of a man who lived life exactly the way he wanted is in order!”
One final playoff run in 2024
At one point Sterling called 5,060 consecutive Yankee games – including every single one in the Hall of Fame careers of Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera.
APPRECIATION: John Sterling steps down as Voice of the Yankees
As his health began to decline, Sterling retired from the Yankees broadcast booth on April 15. 2024.
However, he briefly came out of retirement for the Yanks’ 2024 postseason run.
In total, Sterling called 24 Yankees postseason trips, eight World Series appearances and five World Series titles.
Yankees legends react to John Sterling’s death
Alex Rodriguez, who played for the Yankees from 2004-2016, paid homage to Sterling on X:
Bernie Williams played his entire 16-year career with the Yankees (1991-2006), winning four World Series with the team. He posted his tribute on Instagram:
USA TODAY Sports reporter Kristie Ackert contributed to this story.
