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John Sterling Retires as New York Yankees’ Radio Voice
John Sterling, the renowned radio announcer for the New York Yankees, has officially announced his retirement, effective immediately. The Yankees made the announcement on Monday, marking the end of an era in baseball broadcasting.
At the age of 85, Sterling had been a fixture in the Yankees’ broadcast booth since 1989. Over the course of his illustrious career, he called an impressive 5,420 regular-season games and 211 postseason contests. In recent years, Sterling had taken a step back from his duties, citing health concerns as the reason for traveling less frequently. This season would have been his 36th behind the microphone and his 20th working alongside broadcasting partner Suzyn Waldman.
In a heartfelt statement, Sterling expressed his gratitude for his long and successful tenure. “I am a very blessed human being,” he remarked. “I have been able to do what I wanted, broadcasting for 64 years. As a little boy growing up in New York as a Yankees fan, I was able to broadcast the Yankees for 36 years. It’s all to my benefit, and I leave very, very happy.”
Sterling’s legacy is defined by his distinctive style, including personalized home run calls and his iconic victory exclamation for the Yankees. He set a remarkable record by calling 5,060 consecutive games from September 1989 to July 2019, only interrupted by a brief illness. Throughout his career, the native New Yorker witnessed 24 postseason appearances, seven trips to the World Series, and five championship victories.
Although Sterling had already worked the Yankees’ initial road games in Houston and Arizona this season, his final broadcast came during the team’s 8-3 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays on April 7. To honor his contributions, the Yankees have planned a special pregame ceremony at Yankee Stadium this upcoming Saturday, where Sterling will be celebrated before visiting the radio booth during the game against the Tampa Bay Rays.
Tributes Pour In for John Sterling
Following the news of Sterling’s retirement, an outpouring of tributes and messages of appreciation flooded social media. Fans and colleagues alike lauded his dedication, creativity, and lasting impact on the world of baseball broadcasting. The New York Yankees themselves tweeted a touching message, accompanied by a photo of Sterling during one of his broadcasts.
pic.twitter.com/WeNqJqwH5G— New York Yankees (@Yankees) April 15, 2024
With John Sterling’s retirement, the baseball world bids farewell to a legendary voice that has shaped countless memories for fans of the New York Yankees and the sport as a whole.
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