John Sterling, the iconic radio voice of the New York Yankees, whose booming calls and signature home run catchphrases became an enduring hallmark of the team, has died at age 87.
Known for his dramatic "Ballgame over! Yankees win! Theeeeeee Yankees win!” sign-off and personalized home run calls, Sterling developed a broadcasting style deeply tied to Yankees baseball. His signature calls for players such as Bernie Williams, Derek Jeter, and Aaron Judge became staples for listeners throughout New York and beyond.
No Mean Bone in His Body
Flowers were laid in honor of Sterling at Yankee Stadium before Monday’s game as fans and colleagues remembered him. During an interview with WFAN, Waldman reflected on Sterling through the eyes of someone who worked with him behind the scenes for decades. “There are a couple of things I’d love that people would know about John. One, he didn’t have a mean bone in his body,” she said, adding that he never understood why anybody would be mean.“That’s who he was. He was kind to everybody. He didn’t know how to fight back when people were mean to him, and that’s who he was. He had the best soul of anyone I’ve ever met in my life,” she said.
“It was an honor to have him call every one of my games during my career and an absolute pleasure to get to know him on a personal basis,” Jeter wrote. “My thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends. He will be deeply missed.”
Sterling retired in April 2024 before returning to the booth to call select games, including the 2024 World Series. His final broadcast was Game 5 of the World Series on Oct. 30, 2024, at Yankee Stadium.
Born John Sloss on July 4, 1938, in Manhattan, Sterling also worked for the Atlanta Braves, Atlanta Hawks, New York Islanders, New York Nets, and Baltimore Bullets during a broadcasting career that began in the 1960s.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone described Sterling as “a voice for generations.” Players often wondered what unique home run call Sterling would create next.