Legendary Yankees voice John Sterling retires

Legendary Yankees voice John Sterling retires

Longtime legendary Yankees radio voice John Sterling has decided to retire, effective immediately, The Athletic insider Andrew Marchand was the first to report Monday.

NEWS: John Sterling to retire.

Sterling told Yankee and WFAN officials late last week.

Full details …https://t.co/z2hwKkaiJO

— Andrew Marchand (@AndrewMarchand) April 15, 2024

The team later confirmed the report, issuing a press release that reads as follows:

“Fans find a certain comfort in the daily rhythms of baseball. Day in and day out, season after season, and city after city, John Sterling used his seat in the broadcast booth to bring Yankees fans the heartbeat of the game, employing an orotund voice and colorful personality that were distinctly, unmistakably his own. John informed and entertained, and he exemplified what it means to be a New Yorker with an unapologetic and boisterous style that exuded his passion for baseball, broadcasting and the New York Yankees.

“There is no shortage of adjectives to describe John and what he means to this organization and our millions of fans around the world. But what makes John a goliath of the sports broadcasting world was how sacred he held his role as voice of the Yankees. Showing up to perform virtually every single day since 1989, he was a pillar for Yankees fans who relied on the comfort and familiarity of his voice to be the soundtrack of their spring, summer and fall. Given the tremendous care he had for the team and his performance on the air, it’s not a stretch to believe that our fans live and die with every pitch because John Sterling did the same.

“We congratulate John on a remarkable and illustrious career. His contributions to this great game and to the Yankees franchise will echo long into the future.”

While he was able to exit on his own terms, it’s still an unfortunate end to an otherwise legendary career for Sterling, who’s 85-years-old. He has called 5,240 games during his career–including 5,060 straight for a 30-year stretch (1989-2019)–being famously known for his signature home run and victory call within the broadcasting community.

Most importantly, across television and radio, Sterling was a voice for Yankee fans spreading across multiple generations. I don’t even life in New York or the tri-state area, and I could say that John Sterling was the premier voice I grew up listening to while following the Yankees. I’m sure plenty of others could say the same.

Few broadcasters are known because of their legacies with just one team. For the Los Angeles Dodgers, it’s Vin Scully, and for the New York Yankees, it’s John Sterling.

Congratulations on a sensational, unparalleled career, John. We wish the best for you and your family for your future endeavors.

***

This is a breaking news story. Stay tuned for updates!

SUBSCRIBE to the Vendetta YouTube Channel!

SHOP for Vendetta Merch!

SUPPORT Vendetta on Patreon!

Click here for more MLB content