John Sterling, legendary Yankees broadcaster, dies at 87

John Sterling reflected the team with which he was most associated: a bombastic soundtrack fit for the Yankees, complete with trademark home run calls for a team whose trademark was hitting them.

When he died at age 87, a generation (or two) of Yankees fans lost a voice that had been shouting into their ears for as long as many could remember, leaving an echo they never will forget. 

"The Yankees mourn the loss of legendary broadcaster John Sterling," the team wrote on social media Monday morning. "Our thoughts are with John’s family, friends and loved ones at this time."

Sterling, born John Sloss on July 4, 1938, had a long career before becoming a radio play-by-play man for the Yankees in 1989, including with the Braves and Hawks in the 1980s, and in the 1970s with the Islanders and Nets.

His "Islander goal! Islander goal!" call was a signature, and he was the voice of the Nets for their ABA championship season in 1975-76.

He also had a sports call-in show on WMCA in the 1970s, long before the WFAN era of 24-hour sports talk, and was known to be less-than-patient with callers.

But it was with the Yankees that Sterling became a nationally known figure – and a controversial one.

His home run calls first began to attract wide attention – beginning with "Bern, baby, Bern!" for Bernie Williams – when replayed on WFAN's "Mike and the Mad Dog" show. In later years national outlets such as ESPN caught onto them.

Other memorable entries in his homer oeuvre included "An A-Bomb from A-Rod" for Alex Rodriguez, "El Capitan" for Derek Jeter, "Gardy Goes Yardy!" for Brett Gardner and "The Giambino" for Jason Giambi.

Before getting to the personalized part, Sterling's standard call was, "It is high, it is far, it is gone!"

Consecutive home runs inevitably inspired, "It's back to back and belly to belly!"

He also was known for his punctuation of Yankees victories, declaring, "Yankees win! Thuuuuuh Yankees win!"

While the excited home run calls were popular when paired with highlights, critics and fans who listened in real time frequently criticized Sterling for inaccurate or incomplete descriptions.

He often wrongly anticipated plays, particularly ones on balls hit deep into the outfield. That often included home runs calls when there was no home run, or vice versa.

In 2009, he told Newsday he would rather be ahead of a call, even if it meant getting some wrong, than be late.
"I always want to be ahead,'' he said. "When I did the Islanders , if you hear any tapes, I said, 'Nystrom shoots, goal! Islander goal!' And I'd hit 'goal' before the crowd went nuts.

"So I do try to be out in front. I'll tell you how I learned that: From Phil Rizzuto. He was always out in front, especially when he began.''

Before the 2018 season he underwent surgery for cataracts, which seemed to help with his vision and accuracy.

Sterling returned to his hometown of New York in 1989 to call Yankees games. After missing two games that season for his sister's funeral, he went on a multi-decade run without missing a single game.

Over the years his partners included Jay Johnstone, Joe Angel, Michael Kay and Charley Steiner.

Suzyn Waldman joined him in 2005, serving as a color analyst while Sterling handled all play-by-play. Daily News columnist Bob Raissman dubbed them "Ma and Pa Pinstripe."

"Very tough day, but a celebration of the life of a man who lived life exactly the way he wanted is in order!" Waldman wrote on her Instagram account Monday.

Sterling's critics increasingly called for a change in the booth through the early 2010s, but he retained the support of the Yankees and by extension radio executives who partnered with the team. By the late 2010s, his increasingly iconic status seemed to dim talk of replacing him.

On more than one occasion he vowed never to retire, and that he would not mind "keeling over in the booth."

That plan changed abruptly one week into the 2024 season, when Sterling announced his retirement after calling his final game on April 7. He decided after a season-opening road trip to Houston and Phoenix that he had had enough. He said he regretted not retiring before the season started.

The Yankees honored him that weekend before a home game against the Rays.

“I retired because I just can’t do it,” Sterling said before that game. “I can do the games. The games are easy. Working with Suzyn is a lark. But I just don’t have the strength and stamina.”

Sterling noted his first day as a professional broadcaster was Feb. 1, 1960.

“I’ve been on the air 64 years, and you know what? I’m really tired,” he said.

Sterling came out of retirement briefly for the 2024 postseason, getting the chance to call one last World Series, which the Yankees lost to the Dodgers in five games.

His Yankees-related work extended to hosting the YES Network's "Yankeeography" series and hosting the team's Old-Timers' Day events.

"He was truly one of a kind," Mets radio broadcaster Howie Rose wrote on X. "A unique character who was blessed with pipes from above. Spoke to him a little over a month ago and although he didn’t sound great, this news still comes as a shock. RIP, old friend."

Sterling had four children, including triplets born in 2000.

In a 2009 interview with Newsday, Sterling shrugged off his critics, saying, "What am I going to do? The first time it happens in your life, it hurts. The second time, it hurts a little less. Now, after the 150,000th time, it hurts even less. So basically that's it. It's just a matter of pragmatism. Why bother? Why stew over that?'"

Later, he added, "You'd like everyone to like you, but I don't think it's possible.''