Longtime New York Yankees broadcaster John Sterling passed away on Monday at the age of 87, leading to tributes from the Los Angeles Dodgers and across all of baseball.
“The Dodgers offer our condolences to the family, friends and fans of renowned Yankees announcer John Sterling, who has passed away at age 87. We share in remembering this beloved broadcaster,” the team said in an online statement.
Sterling was the radio voice of the Yankees for parts of 36 seasons, announcing 5,651 games from 1989 through 2024. He at one point called 5,060 consecutive games before missing his first broadcast in July 2019.
Sterling covered 24 of the Yankees’ trips to the postseason, including eight World Series appearances and five championships. He was right at the center of the team’s legendary run in the late 1990s and early 2000s, when the Yankees won three consecutive titles from 1998-2000.
Sterling was also on the call for several legendary moments in Yankees history, including Derek Jeter’s 3,000th hit, Alex Rodriguez’s 500th home run and Aaron Judge’s record-breaking 62nd homer in 2022.
Sterling’s final game as a broadcaster came in Game 5 of the 2024 World Series, when the Dodgers eliminated the Yankees to capture their first of back-to-back championships.
Known for his signature home run and victory calls, Sterling was a 12-time Emmy Award winner and three-time finalist for the Ford C. Frick Award, which is presented annually by the Baseball Hall of Fame to a broadcaster for “major contributions” to the sport.
Prior to finding a home with the Yankees, Sterling called games for the Morgan State University football team, Washington Bullets, New Jersey Nets, New York Islanders, Atlanta Braves and Atlanta Hawks.
Yankees pay tribute to John Sterling
The Yankees honored Sterling with a moment of silence before their game against the Baltimore Orioles on Monday. Players also wore Sterling’s “JS” initials on the back of their caps.
Current Yankees broadcasters Michael Kay and Suzyn Waldman, who shared a booth with Sterling over the years, additionally placed bouquets of flowers at home plate.
When Judge homered to give the Yankees a 2-0 lead in the first inning, Kay further paid tribute to Sterling by reciting one of his famous home run calls. The team later played Sterling’s signature “Theeee Yankees win!” call after the final out of their 12-1 victory over the Orioles.
Have you subscribed to the Dodger Blue YouTube channel? Be sure to ring the notification bell to watch player interviews, participate in shows and giveaways, and stay up to date on all Dodgers news and rumors!
