John Sterling, Yankees radio legend, dies at 87
John Sterling, the Yankees' longtime radio voice, died Monday at age 87. Sterling called 5,631 Yankees games, including eight World Series appearances, after starting with the team in 1989 and retiring in 2024. He popularized signature home-run calls and customized player nicknames that became synonymous with Yankees broadcasts. His decades-long presence made him a defining figure in New York baseball, and his death closes a major chapter in the franchise's radio identity.
Sincere RIP to John Sterling, even though he narrated my worst nightmares for like 30 years.
Same. Happy to see many heartfelt tributes to him on Bluesky this morning, many from non-Yankee fans. Quite the contrast (deservedly so) to the reaction last night to the Rudy news. Like RIzzuto before him, Sterling brought tremendous joy to what he did, & you couldn’t help but appreciate him. RIP.
One of the best tributes possible.
As a Red Sox fan, I concur.
not a real yankee fan unless you once thought you hated john sterling and then eventually realized you loved john sterling
The thing about John Sterling was you could do both during the same inning but eventually I just grew to appreciate him so much. His life was pretty interesting as well, RIP John Sterling!
At some point I just realized that I didn’t care if he misjudged a fly ball. Listening to John and Suzy’s felt like listening to my grandparents. And that was magical.
John Sterling was too long in the booth, and I never cared for his style. But I always felt somewhat guilty criticizing him, because his joy in it came through. He loved his kids, baseball, and old movies. He was never far from any of them, even at the end. I am thinking of his friend Waldman.
John helped me enjoy hating the Yankees. He will be missed.
I’d make the case one of his greatest calls actually came in his Atlanta days. The Rick Camp home run. “If you told me John Sterling would run for president and win that wouldn’t be any more improbable” 🤣 www.youtube.com/watch?v=HVpj...
I always appreciated that his presentation never got in the way of my enjoyment of the game. Waldman and Sims do seem more like peers, however.
As a diehard Sox fan / Yankee hater, Sterling was the only shade of grey in an otherwise pure white vs black situation. The man was so clearly in his element, so joyful at being good at what he did that it was hard to hate him, too. And then he'd say something and suddenly it was easy to hate him.
Rest in peace, John Sterling. You don't meet too many people who are wholly original, and John sure was that. He was always gracious to me when I covered the Yankees, and it was fun to see how John, Joe Castiglione, and Suzyn Waldman were such close friends. He loved coming to Fenway Park, too.
I thought of you Pete this morning when the news came through. Your experience covering both teams in the rivalry gives us the opportunity to see things through your relatively unique lens. Thanks for sharing.
As I get older this seems to happen more and more whether it be broadcasters, players, coaches, or journalists that I grew up watching, listening, or reading. Kinda bums me out at times.