The voice synonymous with the New York Yankees is calling it quits.
Long-time radio play-by-play announcer John Stirling will retire effective immediately.of Yankees announce retirement The announcement was made Monday along with a statement from Sterling. The team plans to hold a ceremony to honor Sterling before Saturday's game against the Tampa Bay Rays.
“I am a very blessed person.” Sterling said in a statement:. “For 64 years, I've been able to do what I love to do, which is broadcast. As a kid who grew up in New York as a Yankees fan, I've been able to be in charge of Yankees broadcasting for 36 years. It's all been to my benefit and my I'm leaving very satisfied and looking forward to seeing you all again on Saturday.
The Athletic's Andrew Marchand reported that Sterling was stepping down, citing “health concerns.” No details of his health concerns were mentioned. Sterling is scheduled to speak to the media at Saturday's ceremony.
Sterling, 85, has been called to Yankees games since 1989, including 5,420 regular season games and 211 playoff games. He was the voice of the Derek Jeter-era Yankees, who won five World Series championships from 1996 to 2009. He was on the WFAN microphone for Aaron Judge's record-setting 62nd home run in 2022.
John Sterling truly represented generations of Yankees fans. If he's going to retire, what a hell of a run he's going to have.
The Yankees will never sound the same 💙
(via @WFAN660) pic.twitter.com/LgB80Bdmb3
— 4 Train Savages (@FourSavages) April 15, 2024
In Monday's announcement, the Yankees described Sterling as “the Goliath of sports broadcasting.”
The New York Yankees announced today that legendary Yankees radio play-by-play voice John Sterling, who called 5,420 Yankees regular season games and 211 postseason games for the Yankees, will retire effective immediately. He will be honored at Saturday's pregame ceremony. pic.twitter.com/Bnhrkx6WEM
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) April 15, 2024
John exemplified what it meant to be a New Yorker with an unapologetically raucous style that informed, entertained and exuded a passion for baseball, broadcasting and the New York Yankees.” The statement says: Just because John Sterling did the same thing, because he did it for the team and for his performance on the air, I believe our fans live and die for every pitch. No wonder. ”
This story will be updated.
