John Sterling, the unmistakable radio voice of the New York Yankees for more than three decades, has died at 87.
The Yankees organization said on X:”the Yankees mourn the loss of legendary broadcaster John Sterling. Our thoughts are with John’s family, friends and loved ones at this time.” Sterling’s son, Bradford, told The New York Times that his father passed away in Englewood, New Jersey, due to complications following a heart attack.
“We are devastated to hear about the passing of John Sterling, a WFAN and Yankees radio icon whose voice was synonymous with an entire generation of Yankee fandom,” WFAN said. “Rest in peace, John.”
The Yankees further said in a statement posted via MLB: “We are saddened by the passing of former New York Yankees broadcaster John Sterling. Through his unique style and passionate play-by-play calls, Sterling endeared himself to generations of players and fans as radio voice of the Yankees from 1989 to 2024. His signature punctuation of Yankees victories included calling the final out of five World Series championships. 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.”
Born John Sloss, Sterling grew up in Manhattan as a devoted Yankees fan and began his broadcasting journey in 1961. His early career included calling games for the Baltimore Bullets and covering a range of leagues, including the NHL, ABA, World Hockey Association, and World Football League. He also spent time calling football games for Morgan State University. Before settling into his iconic Yankees role, Sterling returned to New York in the early 1970s.
Once he joined the Yankees broadcast booth in 1989, Sterling began a remarkable streak—calling 5,060 consecutive games across 36 seasons from 1989 to 2019, including postseason appearances, without missing a single contest – famously delivering play-by-play for five World Series championship teams. Sterling’s energetic style, dramatic flair, and signature phrases made him a beloved and instantly recognizable figure in baseball. He crafted unique home run calls for players—like “An A-bomb for A-Rod”—and punctuated Yankees victories with his extended, emphatic call of “the Yankees win.” His voice became closely tied to the franchise’s dominant stretch in the late 1990s, when the team captured four titles in five years, as well as their 2009 championship run.
Sterling retired ahead of the 2024 season due to health concerns, reflecting on his career by saying, “I am a very blessed human being. I have been able to do what I wanted, broadcasting for 64 years. As a little boy growing up in New York as a Yankees fan, I was able to broadcast the Yankees for 36 years.”
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