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The legendary radio voice of the New York Yankees, John Sterling, has died.
Sterling, who was 87, had undergone heart bypass surgery this winter and, after the procedure, was attended by health care aides at his home in Edgewater, New Jersey.
He had called 5,420 regular-season games plus 211 postseason games when he retired in April 2024, just after the season's start. Sterling broadcast 5,060 consecutive games from September 1989 through July 2019 after beginning with the Yankees as a pregame host. He came out of retirement to call Yankees games during the 2024 postseason.
Sterling's call for a player's home run became as treasured a part of a Yankees identity as an initial set of pinstripes or a championship ring. As rookies prepared for debuts and former opponents arrived in trades, fans speculated how he would label the newcomer's first longball.
From "Bernie goes boom! Bern, baby, Bern!" for Bernie Williams, to "It's a Jeter jolt!" for Derek to "It's an A-bomb from A-Rod!" for Alex Rodriguez, "The Giambino!" for Jason Giambi and "A thrilla from Godzilla!" for Hideki Matsui, Sterling created personal stamps resonating from the clubhouse to the bleachers.
He had called Yankees games for 36 years before his retirement. In all, he called 5,420 regular season Yankees games and 211 postseason Yankees games.
"I am a very blessed human being. I have been able to do what I wanted, broadcasting for 64 years," Sterling said when he retired. "As a little boy growing up in New York as a Yankees fan, I was able to broadcast the Yankees for 36 years. It's all to my benefit, and I leave very, very happy. I look forward to seeing everyone again on Saturday."
WFAN Sportsradio posted on social media: 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.
Rest in peace, John
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The Associated Press contributed to this story.
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Sterling, who was 87, had undergone heart bypass surgery this winter and, after the procedure, was attended by health care aides at his home in Edgewater, New Jersey.
He had called 5,420 regular-season games plus 211 postseason games when he retired in April 2024, just after the season's start. Sterling broadcast 5,060 consecutive games from September 1989 through July 2019 after beginning with the Yankees as a pregame host. He came out of retirement to call Yankees games during the 2024 postseason.
Sterling's call for a player's home run became as treasured a part of a Yankees identity as an initial set of pinstripes or a championship ring. As rookies prepared for debuts and former opponents arrived in trades, fans speculated how he would label the newcomer's first longball.
From "Bernie goes boom! Bern, baby, Bern!" for Bernie Williams, to "It's a Jeter jolt!" for Derek to "It's an A-bomb from A-Rod!" for Alex Rodriguez, "The Giambino!" for Jason Giambi and "A thrilla from Godzilla!" for Hideki Matsui, Sterling created personal stamps resonating from the clubhouse to the bleachers.
He had called Yankees games for 36 years before his retirement. In all, he called 5,420 regular season Yankees games and 211 postseason Yankees games.
"I am a very blessed human being. I have been able to do what I wanted, broadcasting for 64 years," Sterling said when he retired. "As a little boy growing up in New York as a Yankees fan, I was able to broadcast the Yankees for 36 years. It's all to my benefit, and I leave very, very happy. I look forward to seeing everyone again on Saturday."
WFAN Sportsradio posted on social media: 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.
Rest in peace, John
The Hall of Fame remembers John Sterling, who passed away Monday at 87.
The longtime voice of the @Yankees called 5,426 regular season and 225 postseason games, including five World Series titles, and provided the soundtrack to Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera's greatest moments. pic.twitter.com/CsYSIk5weC
— National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum(@baseballhall) May 4, 2026
---
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
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Continue reading...
