Rusty Weiss
John Sterling, the legendary radio voice of the New York Yankees for 36 seasons, passed away Monday at the age of 87.
Known for his unmistakable baritone, marathon calls, and signature home-run phrases, Sterling became synonymous with Yankees baseball for generations of fans.
From his debut in 1989 through his retirement in 2024, he delivered more than 5,600 games. And he did so with unmatched enthusiasm and consistency, turning radio broadcasts into unforgettable summer soundtracks in New York and beyond.
His passing marks the end of an era for baseball broadcasting.
Like many broadcasting greats, Sterling had a distinctive style unmatched in the industry.
Harry Caray gave the St. Louis Cardinals the everyday man with a sense of humor who talked like a guy you might meet in the bar. Vin Scully gave Los Angeles Dodgers fans a relaxed conversationalist, an intellectual who could wax poetic.
Sterling brought his love of the game and mixed it a bit with the nickname style of ESPN’s Chris Berman.
The Grandy Man Can
Continuing the musical theme, fans loved it when All-Star outfielder Curtis Granderson hit a home run during his tenure with the Yankees between 2010 and 2013.
They would be graced by one of John Sterling’s greatest calls. A play on the Sammy Davis Jr. song, “The Candy Man.”
Bern, Baby Bern!
Who could ever forget Sterling’s call for career center fielder Bernie Williams’ dingers? Particularly this one from the bottom of the eighth inning in Game 4 of the 2001 ALCS.
Williams hit a blast that tied the Yankees and Mariners at 1-1.
“Bernie goes boom!”
“Bern, baby Bern!”
The Sun Will Come Out
Yankees pitcher Masahiro Tanaka pitched a complete game, three-hit shutout over the Tampa Bay Rays in 2018. For his efforts, Sterling serenaded him with his own version of the song, “Tomorrow.”
“The sun will come out … Tanaka” was a thing of beauty.
A Thrilla From Godzilla
Every once in a while, Sterling’s home run calls would get a little wordy, making them unintentionally funny. Such was the case for former Yankees outfielder Hideki Matsui.
Sterling somehow combined a reference to his nickname – ‘Godzilla’ – while adding a ‘Thrilla in Manila’ nod and yet another nickname.
“It’s a thrilla, by Godzilla! The Sayonara Kid does it again!” Sterling would cheer.
And we loved every second of it.
Don’t Ya Know
When second baseman Robinson Cano played for the New York Yankees from 2005 to 2013, his home run blasts would be accompanied by John Sterling’s famous call.
“It’s a home run from Robbie Cano! Don’t ya know!”
An A-Bomb
One of John Sterling’s greatest calls may have been one of his oddest. Not because of the call, per se, but because it referenced an atomic bomb.
Alex Rodriguez hit a ton of home runs as the Yankees’ third baseman. But he also played alongside the aforementioned Japanese-born Matsui.
Still, Sterling would deliver this memorable call over and over: “An A-bomb from A-Rod!”
My Homie
Sterling had a hilarious call for Austin Romine when the catcher played for the New York Yankees between 2011 and 2019.
“Romie, my homie” is the stuff of legend.
Giancarlo!
One of John Sterling’s greatest calls involves his use of an Italian phrase for designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton. It left many a-fan confused, making it that much funnier.
“Giancarlo, non si può stoparlo!” translates roughly to, “Giancarlo, you can’t be stopped!”
And it rhymes. So, yeah. Just another thing of beauty in our book.
All Rise
Sure, Aaron Judge has a name that is pretty easy to market, but Sterling helped the craze with his call whenever the Yankees outfielder went yard.
“All rise!” Sterling said 62 times or so in 2022. “Here comes the Judge!”
Theeeee … Yankees Win!
No list of John Sterling’s greatest calls would be complete without this – How he ended every Yankee victory during his 36 years as New York’s sports broadcaster.
Fans of the team and Sterling will never forget it. And they’ll be saying it themselves for many, many years to come.
“Ballgame over! Yankees win!” Sterling beams. “Theeeeeeeeeeee Yankees win!
WFAN Sports Radio in New York announced Sterling’s passing.
“We are devastated to hear about the passing of John Sterling, a WFAN and Yankees radio icon whose voice was synonymous with an entire generation of Yankee fandom,” the radio station wrote on social media.
He will be sorely missed in the Bronx.
