A caller at WFAN claimed to have a clue as to who the Yankees’ new radio announcer will be.
Veteran play-by-play announcer John Sterling retired earlier this season due to health issues, so attention is focused on who will be his long-term replacement.
A person calling themselves “Dr. Joe” called into WFAN’s morning show with Boomer Esiason and Greg Giannotti and said that Dave Sims had been “appointed to me” to replace Sterling.
Sims, 71, currently serves as the Mariners’ television play-by-play announcer and was also a talk show host during WFAN’s early years.
Given the tone of the call, this was most likely an old-fashioned radio show.
Giannotti asked Dr. Joe to clarify his claim that he was “close” with the Yankees’ Booth.
Dr. Joe said he knows Sterling, Suzyn Waldman and Justin Shakil, but would not give details because it would be a HIPAA violation.
He floated the idea that if the Yankees make it to the World Series this season, they could “drag” Sterling back into the pitcher’s seat.
Since Sterling’s retirement, Shakir and Emmanuel Belbari have been splitting time working in the booth next to Waldman.
When asked how he heard about Sims, Dr Joe said “it just came up in conversation,” before pausing when the host pressed him about who he heard about.
When asked specifically if Waldman had told him, Dr. Jo responded, “She just mentioned the name.”
“She’s going to kill me,” Dr. Joe said.
After Sterling retired in April, Washington Post reporter Steve Serby asked him what he was most proud of in his career so far.
“When I was a little kid, let’s say about 10 years old. I’m just saying that as an age. How would I know? I wanted to be on air. I would hear the air and I wanted to be on air. This was pre-adolescent,” Sterling said.
“When I hit puberty, there was no question in my mind. That’s what I was going to do, to be on air. It was great for me. I didn’t have to worry about school. terrible “In school. I knew what I was going to do. And as it turned out, I had the talent to do it, and I had the voice to do it. It takes time to get a job. I got a job in upstate New York. And what I’m most proud of is that I did it for 64 years. I’m a very lucky guy. And, you know, this is a very tough, competitive business.”
