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John Sterling, the iconic Yankees radio announcer, has passed away at the age of 87. He was a beloved voice in baseball for over 36 years, known for his unique style and memorable home run calls.
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When legendary Yankees public address annoucner Bob Sheppard died in 2010, there was simultaneously an air of somber inevitably and at least a little surprise. Yes, he had walked this earth for a remarkable 99 years, but how could the man that Reggie Jackson once dubbed âThe Voice of Godâ be gone? He was Yankee Stadium, even if the old ballpark was all but gone itself by that point. It didnât feel right. It was like waking up one day to learn that the Statue of Libertyâs torch had vanished.
This morning, I felt the same way when I learned of the passing of incomparable Yankees radio voice John Sterling. WFAN, his broadcast home for the last decade-plus of his long career in New York, just announced the sad news a little over half an hour ago.
Itâs not at all unique to say that Sterling was one of the voices of my childhood and right there as I grew into an older baseball fan. When youâre on the job for 36 years, youâre part of the same story for such a large number of fans that it could fill many stadiums. We knew that he was corny. We knew that he sometimes took a tad too long to remind fans who could only listen what the score actually was. We knew that the home run calls could border on ridiculous. (Even if I ranked all 144 them upon his retirement, like a madman.) And we knew how much his âTHEEEEEE YANKEES WINâ would grate on just about everyone else.
But it didnât matter. John Sterling was not doing the game for the random opposing fan in Cleveland. He was doing it for us, and in the only way that he could: with a smooth, deep voice, and with enough Broadway references that could only be described as âsomething sort of grandish.â
John Sterling was known for being the voice of Yankees radio broadcasts for over 36 years, famous for his distinctive home run calls and engaging commentary.
John Sterling worked as a Yankees radio announcer for 36 years, becoming a significant part of the team's history and fan experience.
The announcement of John Sterling's passing was met with sadness and nostalgia from fans who cherished his unique voice and contributions to baseball.
John Sterling passed away recently at the age of 87, as announced by WFAN, his broadcast home for many years.

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Sterling was behind the mic from 1989âlong enough ago that the Yankees were in the midst of four consecutive losing seasonsâuntil 2024, when the travel got to be too exhausting for him in his mid-to-late eighties. He was there for Don Mattingly and Dave Righetti. He was there for Derek Jeter and Bernie Williams. He was there for Hideki Matsui and Alex Rodriguez. He was there for Robinson CanĂł and CC Sabathia. And he was there for Aaron Judge and Juan Soto â both of whom werenât even born when he began his radio gig for the Yankees.
The wild thing about Sterling is that his career goes back even further. After all, he was already 51 when he entered the Yankeesâ radio booth! The New York City native hosted a show on WMCA in the 1970s, and you can still find recordings of him working with iconic baseball voice Mel Allen and reacting to now-very-distant Yankees news.
Sterling also lent his voice to other sportsâ radio broadcasts, with the ascendant Islanders and the Nets. Before the joining the Yankeesâ booth he spent most of the 1980s with Turner Sports down in Atlanta, covering the Hawks and Braves. He has a wonderful legacy of his own down there, including calling one of the most shocking and delirious home runs in MLB history, reliever Rick Camp in the 18th inning of a much-delayed July 4th marathon with the Mets.
It was disappointing when Sterling retired abruptly just over two years ago, but no one would ever blame him. He poured everything into the job and making it a one-of-a-kind product, establishing memories that will last a lifetime, from âIt is high, it is far, it is gone!â and âBERNIE GOES BOOM!â to âWell Suzyn, I thank you,â and âALL RISE.â I just wish that the Yankees could have given him a Monument Park plaqueâlike the ones granted to Sheppard and Allenâwhile he was still around to enjoy it. He at least got to hear the crowd applaud for him on John Sterling Day at the stadium on April 20, 2024. And it was so appreciated that he briefly returned to the booth for that yearâs run to the AL pennant. That was a nice âcherry on topâ-style last hurrah.
Something Sterling also always said was âYou canât predict baseball, Suzyn.â Although thatâs mostly true of life as well, I knew that this day would, of course, sadly come at some point. And I knew that I would be very sad, because the modern Voice of the Yankees has spoken his final words.
We here at Pinstripe Alley send our best wishes out to his children and everyone who knew him around the Yankees. I have little doubt that Suzyn Waldman, Michael Kay, Meredith Marakovits, Ryan Ruocco, and moreâespecially reporters on the Yankeesâ beatâare hurting upon hearing this news.
John Sterling was an absolute joy to have in our lives. Rest well, old friend.