John Sterling became the Yankees’ play-by-play announcer in 1989 and spent 36 years in the position, calling 5,651 games. Alexander Lewis / MyCentralJersey John Sterling, whose tenure as the New York Yankees’ radio voice spanned more than three decades and five World Series wins, and whose bombastic delivery and idiosyncratic catchphrases earned him a nomination to the National Baseball Hall of Fame, died Monday at the age of 87. Sterling’s death was announced by WFAN, which did not say where he died nor specify a cause. Sterling suffered heart failure about a week ago, YES Network play-by-play announcer Michael Kay said on his ESPN radio show. Sterling became the Yankees’ play-by-play announcer in 1989 and spent 36 years in the position, calling 5,060 consecutive games (plus 211 more in the postseason) until he missed his first game in July 2019. He called 5,651 Yankees games, including eight World Series appearances. By the time he retired in 2024, he was known as “The Voice of the Yankees.”
Published: May 4, 2026 3:52 pm
Source: The New York Times — Read original