The iconic New York Yankees radio play-by-play commentator, John Sterling, has passed away at the age of 87.
His passing was officially announced on Monday by both the team and WFAN, his previous broadcast home in New York.
Beginning his tenure as the Yankees’ play-by-play voice in 1989, Sterling swiftly became an indispensable element of the club’s radio transmissions. For three decades, he maintained a perfect attendance record, participating in more than 5,000 consecutive broadcasts before finally taking a few games off in 2019. Subsequently, in his concluding years, Sterling adopted a somewhat lighter workload.
Renowned for his memorable player monikers, bespoke home-run exclamations, and victory declaration, Sterling held the announcer position for the team until his unexpected retirement in April 2024, citing ‘health issues’.
Prior to their game against the Baltimore Orioles on Monday evening, the Yankees paid tribute to Sterling with a moment of quiet reflection and a floral arrangement placed at home plate.
Though Sterling devised numerous memorable phrases during his time as the Yankees’ commentator, his definitive declaration, ‘The Yankees win. Theeeeeeeee Yankees win,’ uttered after team triumphs, was his most celebrated. He was equally famous for his home run announcement, stating, ‘It is high, it is far, it is gone.’
Beyond his standard home run proclamation, Sterling crafted distinct long-ball phrases for various Yankees players throughout his 36-year career. Notable examples include ‘An A-bomb for A-Rod,’ for power hitter Alex Rodriguez, and ‘Robbie Cano, don’t ya know,’ for second baseman Robinson Cano, among a multitude of others.
During Sterling’s tenure, the Yankees enjoyed extraordinary achievements, resulting in him broadcasting eight World Series, with the Yankees clinching victory in five of them. Sterling was also honored with 12 Sports Emmys and received two nominations for the Ford C. Frick award, an accolade for outstanding baseball announcers.
Howie Rose, the veteran New York Mets play-by-play voice, was one of the initial media personalities to honor Sterling on Monday, describing him as a ‘distinctive individual.’
Suzyn Waldman, a frequent co-broadcaster with Sterling over many years, likewise shared her reflections on Sterling, asserting that he merits commendation.
Throughout his career, Sterling narrated a grand total of 5,631 Yankees matchups, encompassing 211 playoff transmissions. His association with Yankees broadcasts became so profound that he was ultimately dubbed ‘The Voice of the Yankees.’
