John Sterling, the theatrical New York Yankees broadcaster renowned for his extravagant and individualized home run calls, has passed away at the age of 87. The team and radio station WFAN confirmed his death on Monday.
A Storied Career
Sterling had undergone heart bypass surgery earlier this winter and was subsequently cared for by health aides at his home in Edgewater, New Jersey. He retired in April 2024, just after the start of the season, having called 5,420 regular-season games and 211 postseason contests. His remarkable streak of 5,060 consecutive games broadcast from September 1989 through July 2019 underscored his dedication. Sterling initially joined the Yankees as a pregame host and later came out of retirement to call games during the 2024 postseason.
Iconic Home Run Calls
Sterling's personalized home run calls became a cherished part of Yankees identity, as iconic as pinstripes or championship rings. As rookies prepared for their debuts and former opponents arrived via trades, fans eagerly anticipated how he would celebrate their first home runs. Among his most memorable calls were:
- “Bernie goes boom! Bern, baby, Bern!” for Bernie Williams
- “It’s a Jeter jolt!” for Derek Jeter
- “It’s an A-bomb from A-Rod!” for Alex Rodriguez
- “The Giambino!” for Jason Giambi
- “A thrilla from Godzilla!” for Hideki Matsui
These calls resonated from the clubhouse to the bleachers, cementing his legacy in baseball broadcasting.
