On Monday, the announcers who shared the booth with the legendary John Sterling, along with players and managers, gathered at Yankee Stadium to pay tribute to a remarkable life lived uniquely.
Sterling, the iconic voice of Yankees’ radio broadcasting, passed away that morning at 87, kicking off a day filled with remembrance for a foundational figure in baseball commentary.
“He was one of a kind, and he always will be,” said Sujin Waldman, reflecting on his legacy. “He truly was original.”
Michael Kay offered a brief but poignant thought: “Only one phrase comes to mind.”
“This giant of the sport lived life on his own terms,” remarked manager Aaron Boone.
Aaron Judge noted how Sterling infused a sense of theater into the ballpark, particularly commenting on his signature “Judge explosions.” “He made the game vibrantly alive on the radio,” Judge said.
The Yankees organized a ceremony to honor Sterling ahead of their game against the Orioles, featuring a video tribute. Waldman and Kay, prominent voices alongside Sterling, laid flowers at home plate and observed a moment of silence.
All Yankees wore caps engraved with the initials “JS” above the MLB logo in honor of the man who called 5,426 regular-season games and 225 playoff games from 1989 to 2024.
The Bleacher Creatures wrapped up their roll call with an enthusiastic chant of “John Sterling!”
His unforgettable call, “Hooray, the Yankees won!” alongside unique home run calls, has become a lasting part of Yankees folklore.
Kay, Sterling’s partner from 1992 to 2001, described him as someone who approached life like a grand cocktail party, wishing everyone around him to enjoy themselves.
Waldman, describing Sterling as a “big brother,” elaborated on their companionship on the Yankees bus since 1989 and their shared time in the WFAN booth from 2005 to 2024. She understood how Sterling resonated with fans over generations.
“He was broadcasting for Yankee fans,” Waldman stated. “He engaged with references that resonated—Broadway, New York life. This was a show for New Yorkers, and they adored him for it.”
“He represented their childhood summers. I hear that from players who grew up in New York,” she added.
Aside from his professional life, Sterling was a family man, as Waldman noted, proud of his four children, who he regarded as his “greatest accomplishment.” He had been eagerly anticipating walking his eldest daughter Abigail down the aisle for her wedding in June after recovering from a heart attack in January.
Kay commented on Sterling’s emotional depth, particularly regarding his children, who were central to his world.
A cherished memory for Waldman was during 2011, when Derek Jeter achieved his 3,000th hit, leading to an emotional call from Sterling.
The duo had known Jeter since he was 18, and Sterling had called every hit for Jeter’s progression to that monumental milestone during his 5,060 consecutive games from 1989 to 2019.
An iconic moment that didn’t feature Sterling was Boone’s walk-off home run in Game 7 of the 2003 ALCS, which Charlie Steiner commented on in overtime. Yet, it was revealed that while Boone was at ESPN, Waldman gifted him a tape of Sterling’s original call of the moment.
“That’s very John-esque,” Boone responded with a smile.
Boone has also continued the tradition of channeling the spirit of Sterling after every Yankees win.
As soon as the final out was called, Boone exclaimed, “Baseball is over! The Yankees win! Yay! The Yankees win!”
“I enjoyed his calls, I really do,” Boone shared with a mix of sorrow and gratitude. “It’s a sad day, but what a life, and what a wonderful person John was.”
Judge mentioned that he responded to Sterling’s call during his record-breaking 62nd home run in 2022. He reflected how his parents, especially his mom Patty, would tune in to hear Sterling and Waldman while gardening.
“John meant a lot to Yankees fans, and to baseball fans in general, for how he articulated the game and its beauty,” Judge concluded.
