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Voice of Yankees for 35 Years Passes Away
4 May
Summary
- John Sterling, Yankees announcer for over 35 years, has died.
- He called over 5,600 games, more than any other Yankees announcer.
- Known for personalized, wacky home run calls like 'an A-bomb for A-Rod!'.
John Sterling, who served as the radio play-by-play voice for the New York Yankees for more than 35 years, passed away on Monday at the age of 87 in Englewood, N.J. His death was due to complications following a heart attack, confirmed by his son.
Sterling called an unparalleled 5,600-plus games for the Yankees, exceeding those of renowned predecessors like Mel Allen and Red Barber. He was celebrated for his unique and often whimsical home run calls, which he tailored to individual players, creating memorable phrases like 'an A-bomb for A-Rod!' and 'Robbie Canó, don'tcha know!'
Although he worked exclusively in radio, Sterling maintained a distinctive on-air persona, often polarizing listeners with occasional miscalls but beloved by fans for his passionate bias and enthusiastic game-ending calls such as, 'Ballgame over! The Yankees win! Thuuuuuuuuh Yankees win!'
He retired earlier in the 2024 season, citing a lack of stamina. His broadcasting career began in Wellsville, N.Y., under the surname Sterling, and he later worked in various markets before joining the Yankees in 1989.
