John Sterling’s lengthy and distinguished career as a play-by-play man is coming to an abrupt end today.
As Bryan Hoch of MLB Network reported, the longtime WFAN Yankees radio voice is retiring effective immediately. Plans have already been made to honor John’s legendary career at Yankee Stadium on Saturday.
Sterling, who turns 86 years old in July, is retiring due to health concerns, as reported by The Athletic.
The New York Yankees organization did offer Sterling the opportunity to work in a reduced role, but he ultimately decided to walk away entirely. As mentioned above, due to health concerns, Sterling has cut down on travel in recent seasons.
“Yankees radio will never quite sound the same without the signature voice, wit, and humor of John Sterling,” WFAN said. “To generations of Bronx Bombers fans, he was a beloved companion that when you heard John, you knew it was time for baseball.
Though he never wore the pinstripes, except, of course, for his fine-tailored suits, he was one of the most colorful personalities in Yankees history and in all of New York City radio. All of us at WFAN tip our cap and salute our colleague and friend on a truly iconic career.”
The radio icon has been the voice of the Yankees since the 1989 season, calling the play-by-play for five World Series Championships during his tenure. Suzyn Waldman has been calling games with Sterling since 2005, when Michael Kay became the YES Network play-by-play broadcaster after years of being paired with Sterling on the radio. Justin Shackil and Emmanuel Berbari are slated to replace Sterling on WFAN.
Sterling’s signature calls can be found ringing in the heads of Yankees fans and are often referenced as the team wins or hits a home run. “It is high, it is far, it is gone!” “Yankees win — the (drawn out) Yankees win”
“Fans find a certain comfort in the daily rhythms of baseball. Day in and day out, season after season, and city after city, John Sterling used his seat in the broadcast booth to bring Yankees fans the heartbeat of the game, employing an orotund voice and colorful personality that were distinctly, unmistakably his own,” the Yankees said in a statement. “John informed and entertained, and he exemplified what it means to be a New Yorker with an unapologetic and boisterous style that exuded his passion for baseball, broadcasting, and the New York Yankees.”
Sterling’s career began in 1970 as the announcer for the Baltimore Bullets (now the Washington Wizards) and lasted over 54 years on the air. Prior to his time as the voice of the Yankees, he also spent years calling Nets, Islanders, Braves, and Hawks games. Sterling retires as a legend not only of the Yankees organization but of broadcasting as a whole. He remains a sentimental favorite for fans. We wish him good health and a happy retirement.
Thank you, John, for being unequivocally you and inspiring many others to follow in your footsteps.
