John Sterling, the iconic and theatrical radio voice of the New York Yankees, passed away at the age of 87, as confirmed by the team and radio station WFAN on Monday. Sterling's death occurred at a New Jersey hospital following heart bypass surgery he underwent last winter, having been receiving care at his Edgewater residence after the procedure.
His remarkable career spanned 5,631 games for the Yankees, including 5,420 regular season and 211 postseason contests. He famously broadcast 5,060 consecutive games from September 1989 through July 2019. Sterling, who retired in April 2024 citing fatigue, was renowned for his unique and personalised home run calls for players, such as 'Bernie goes boom! Bern, baby, Bern!' for Bernie Williams and 'It's a Jeter jolt!' for Derek Jeter.
Born Josh Sloss in 1938, Sterling began his radio career in 1960 and had a long history in sports broadcasting, including announcing for the NBA's Washington Bullets and Nets, and the NHL's Islanders, before joining the Yankees. His voice became synonymous with Yankees baseball, and his catchphrases were beloved by fans. Sterling's legacy as a broadcasting legend will endure in the hearts of baseball enthusiasts.
