With John Sterling’s retirement as Yanks radio voice, NYC loses a grand sound of summer
John Sterling, the great voice of the New York Yankees, has called it quits after 36 seasons.
Summer in the Big Apple won’t sound the same without the Yanks’ iconic radio play-by-play announcer.
“Everything about him is unique. He’s one of a kind,” said Suzyn Waldman, his radio partner for 20 years.
Sterling is best known for his booming baritone and signature home run call: “It is high! It is far! It is gone!”
In his decades as the Voice of the Yankees, Sterling’s astounding broadcast career covered:
An amazing 5,060 consecutive games from September 1989 to July 2019, and a total of 5,420 regular season and 211 playoff Yankee games.
Manager Joe Torre’s entire 12-year tenure with the Yanks, where he guided the team to six American League pennants and four World Series championships.
Five World Series Championships — 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2009.
Every at-bat of future Hall of Famer Derek Jeter’s career
Every inning of Mariano Rivera’s Hall of Fame career.
Slugger Aaron Judge’s 62nd home run, breaking Roger Maris’ Yankee and American League record.
Earlier in his stellar 64-year broadcasting career, he voiced Boston Celtic star Larry Bird’s seminal 60-point game in 1985.
In all, he won 12 Emmy Awards, including two for Yankeeography.
“I’ve had the pleasure of listening to and working with John for decades. He is a major part of Yankee history and will be greatly missed,” wrote Derek Jeter on X.
Fittingly, Sterling’s final game as a Yankees broadcaster was an 8-3 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays at Yankee Stadium on April 7.
Saturday afternoon, the Yankees host a pregame tribute and sendoff honoring the 85-year-old legend of Major League Baseball broadcasting.
Like sterling silver, his service will endure forever in the hearts and ears of Yankee players and fans.
Thanks for a great ride, John.
