BRONX, NY — I had the pleasure and honor of knowing John Sterling, the longtime radio voice of the New York Yankees who passed away Monday morning at the age of 87. I was aware of his health in decline and informed about the imminent passing of a New York baseball broadcasting legend.
Of course I was told to remain silent about his declining health, and kept to my ethics of respecting confidentiality. But I knew his passing was coming and sadly like everyone woke up to the news Monday morning.
The world lost an icon Monday morning as the longtime radio voice of the Yankees John Sterling passed away at the age of 87 – Image Credit: New York Yankees
But this is not about me. It’s about a legend who I met as a youngster and not face-to-face. He hosted sports talk radio in the 1970’s on radio—WMCA AM in New York—then your information source with the daily newspaper about your teams with the scores. We could rant and question the host.
A voice on the other end who was original, manner toned, and knowledgeable. But I got a question in and Sterling knew I was a young sports fan, not aware I was gearing to a career in sports media. I asked him about the Yankees, Mets, and Reggie Jackson. Some boxing, and NBA as well.
That genuine tone in his response, “Thank you for your questions young lad.” I wasn’t intimidated, just some jitters of talking on radio and not seeing the person wrapped around a microphone and ear piece. And prior to his last days calling Yankees games, Sterling would greet me near the media dining room area elevator and it was always, “How are you young lad.”
John Sterling was as old school as they come in the business with his work ethic however he always found the time for those who needed it – Image Credit: Bill Menzel/Latino Sports
He never knew my name, I wasn’t part of his fraternity that loved and admired everything about him. But Sterling saw a regular face and was nice enough without an ego to say hello the many times he passed through those sacred press areas of the old stadium and new version across the street. Later in his years, he would provide a few minutes, come close, and hold one hand over his left ear.
As you saw him on video of Yankees broadcasts, one ear held with his hand to block off distracting noise as those knew he did not have the best of both ears as years passed on. He was an avid reader, often seen during rain delays finishing a chapter in the dining room and never owned a modern cell phone, still using a flip-phone with no internet and social media.
However, Sterling was an original, old school, gentleman. He called a game with detail, excitement most times, and said when the Yankees were bad, “well, they were bad.” It was that one ear that reminded him it was always a broadcast, old school on Yankees television (MSG Network) and radio (WABC, WCBS, WFAN) doing this for the fans from 1989-2024—calling 5,060 consecutive games from 1989-2019.
A total of 36 years calling Yankees games and when travel and the daily rigor were too much, it was time to reduce his role.
He was also a devoted fan of the Yankees, more loyal from the other teams that employed him including the NBA’s Atlanta Hawks and MLB’s Atlanta Braves for Turner Broadcasting. In the next few days and weeks, you will hear and read the tributes from people that knew more about his life and career that spanned 60 years. That alone is longevity. In a changing business that no longer has stability or consistency in a broadcast booth, radio, or telecasts, the longevity is a legacy.
And that style, different with signature home run calls. We can remember his first. “It is high, it is far, it is gone.” The first “Bern-Baby-Bern” after a Bernie Williams home run.
It led to more home run calls of players and catch phases that tuned you in to a Yankees broadcast.
“Thuhhh Yankees win,” one ear clasped while anticipating those words after a win. And the unexpected times of missing home run calls, though he always had a way of getting around the mistake and we always managed to forgive him. After all, like all in this business, mishaps occur in real time.
A few years ago I asked him, “When will you leave the Yankees broadcast booth?” His walking was slower, voice still with the chords of a youngster in the business. Sterling said amusingly and seriously, “When they carry me out of here on a stretcher.”
Two years ago, a foul ball came into the booth, a scene we all still view on Youtube. A foul ball off the bat of Red Sox’s Justin Turner in the ninth inning at Yankee Stadium that bounced off the broadcast table. Sterling said, as heard on the broadcast, “Ow, ow. It hit me, I didn’t know it was coming back that far.”
He got nicked under the eye. And with a band-aid on, Sterling would continue the broadcast, wrapping up the Yankees 3-1 win with his signature “Thuhhh Yankees Win.”
It was vintage and heroic because of that longevity and love for calling Yankees baseball.
Tributes for John Sterling have continued to pour out across the sports world with Derek Jeter, Alex Rodríguez and many others posting heartfelt messages on their social media accounts – Image Credit: Bill Menzel/Latino Sports
A tribute came in from my great colleague, Rickie Ricardo, the Yankees Spanish radio voice, who sent a message on Monday about John: “Great friend, colleague, mentor and all around great man.” Ricardo lived nearby Sterling in Edgewater, New Jersey, and they had a special bond. The NFL. Sterling, an avid NFL fan and Ricardo, also the Spanish radio voice of the Philadelphia Eagles, the two always chatted about teams and upcoming draft picks.
Ricardo also rescued Sterling from his car that was surrounded with water due to a torrential rain storm in nearby Edgewater three years ago that made headlines.
That voice before saying goodbye indicated the years were taking a toll, at times struggling to keep that energy. He retired with an on field ceremony in the Bronx in April of 2024 and returned to call the Yankees games in September and then for their postseason run which ended in Game 5 of the World Series.
John Sterling’s final game called in the booth was Game 5 of the 2024 World Series between the Dodgers and Yankees – Image Credit: Bill Menzel/Latino Sports
Regardless, Sterling was back for another brief run and we listened. Last year for an hour, he returned to his sports talk radio roots, a weekly Saturday afternoon chat on WABC radio in New York City. It was vintage John with knowledge, chatter, and a ton of guests that never hesitated to join him.
Yes, this was a unique and special broadcaster, a quiet person who cared and took interest in others. Always immaculate with his wardrobe, proudly wearing his Yankees World Series rings after broadcasting the “Core Four” reign of Williams, Derek Jeter, Jorge Posada, and Andy Pettite under manager Joe Torre.
Eventually John Sterling will be enshrined in the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum up in Cooperstown, New York with other legendary names. It should have been sooner. But the day will come and the proud father of triplets who loved and cared for him will accept the plaque.
Now it’s the Yankees turn, honoring Sterling with a deserved plague should have been signed, sealed and delivered sooner. Even better is a monument with other Yankees legends that are recognized beyond the outfield wall.
John Sterling will soon have his own plaque in Monument Park of Yankee Stadium as well as in Cooperstown, a much deserving honor for one of the greatest to ever do it – Image Credit: Bill Menzel/Latino Sports
He will be remembered as perhaps one of the top three Yankees announcers of all-time.
Perhaps the best in this era, and that says a ton with baseball voices synonymous over the years in New York.
Rest In Peace John Sterling.
To his family, friends, and extended Yankees family, our condolences and prayers from all of us here at Latino Sports.
Rich Mancuso is a senior writer and columnist at LatinoSports.com with coverage of MLB, boxing, and MLS – X: @Ring786, Facebook.com/Rich Mancuso
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