John Sterling, Iconic Yankees Broadcaster, Passes Away at 87

John Sterling was a beloved figure among Yankees fans, known for his unique home run calls that resonated far beyond the broadcast booth.

This past Monday, WFAN announced the sad news of his passing at the age of 87.

Sterling spent 36 seasons as the radio play-by-play voice for the Yankees, crafting some truly unforgettable calls and nicknames, like “Baseball is over. Yankees win. Well, Yankees win” and “High, far, gone.”

But perhaps his most notable skill was his knack for creating home run calls that perfectly suited individual players. In fact, he ended up with 144 home run calls, a figure noted by Pinstripe Alley, which is set to reflect on his career ahead of his 2024 retirement.

Interestingly, the concept of personalized calls didn’t start with Sterling and the Yankees; it can be traced back to his time calling NBA games for the Hawks. For instance, he famously exclaimed, “Dom in cum is great!” while discussing Hall of Famer Dominique Wilkins.

In the 1990s, he brought this creativity to the Yankees, and it really took off.

At one point, Sterling reflected, “This was never meant for every player, because frankly I’m not smart enough to do something for every player, but I did the best I could. It’s amazing how big it has become,” he remarked in 2024.

From “Bern, Baby, Bern!” to “All Stand Up! The Judges Are Coming!” Sterling’s calls have left a lasting impact.

Bernie Williams – “Bernie goes boom! Bern, baby, Bern!”

This iconic call, “Bern, baby, Bern!” is widely believed to have launched his collection of memorable phrases. Williams, who played for the Yankees from 1991 to 2006, inspired it by borrowing lyrics from the Tramps’ classic “Disco Inferno.”

Williams once mused, “I’m glad I was the first,” in a 2024 interview with Yankees magazine.

Jorge Posada – “Jorge drank the juice!”

Another classic call came from Sterling during the glory days of the team. Posada, who spent his entire major league career with the Yankees from 1995 to 2011, was famously hailed with the phrase “Jorgie drank the juice!” as he hit 275 home runs.

Tino Martinez – “The Bam Tino!”

Sterling’s puns became legendary, especially with calls like “The Bam Tino,” which played off Babe Ruth’s nickname. Martinez, who made his mark with the team from 1996 to 2001, contributed significantly with 44 home runs in his second year.

Hideki Matsui – “Godzilla’s Thrill!”

Matsui, known as “Godzilla” during his tenure with the Yankees, brought a unique blend of excitement to the game, and Sterling cleverly incorporated that into his home run call.

Robinson Cano – “Robbie Cano, don’t you know?!”

Sterling singled this out as one of his favorites as well, clearly relishing every chance to shout it during Cano’s games from 2005 to 2013.

Alex Rodriguez – “It’s an atomic bomb! From A-Rod!”

This was another call Sterling made frequently, and it was a highlight of his career while announcing Rodriguez’s time with the Yankees.

Mark Teixeira – “He’s texting!”

The humor of this call stemmed from the fact that Sterling himself preferred old-school flip phones, yet he managed to craft a call that resonated well in the digital age.

Gleyber Torres – “Today is Gleyber Day! And like any good Gleyber, Torres will be there too!”

By weaving in a familiar jingle, Sterling created a lasting catchphrase that became synonymous with Torres’ home runs.

Giancarlo Stanton – “Giancarlo, don’t stop!”

In a moment that brought fans together, Sterling’s call for Stanton’s grand slam was a fitting capstone to his final stint behind the microphone in April 2024.

Aaron Judge – “Everyone stand up! The judge is here!”

Judge has made headlines with his incredible home runs over the years, including a historic 62 in 2022 that set a new American League record.

After Sterling’s retirement, Judge reflected on the cultural moment regarding how fans eagerly anticipated what Sterling would create for new players, sharing, “Whenever I would sit on the bus and trade for a new guy or it was someone’s first game, I would go back and forth, ‘Hey, what is John going to come up with this time?’”