For 36 years, John Sterling has served as the New York Yankees’ spokesperson. But according to reports on Monday, the 85-year-old is getting close to the end of his time in the broadcast booth due to a recent development. Fans, regrettably, aren’t surprised by this.
The possibility of Sterling’s retirement has been discussed for what seems like a long time, and Andrew Marchand of The Athletic has disclosed that it might happen as soon as this Friday.
“With retirement a strong possibility,” Sterling is “likely to have a press conference Friday,” according to Marchand. This dramatic change seems to be related to health concerns.
The Yankees-Rays game on Friday in the Bronx is scheduled to be called by Sterling after the club travels to Toronto this week.
The Yankees and WFAN have given Sterling the freedom to decide, according to Marchand, and the 85-year-old is likely going to wait it out as he has been unwavering about staying in the booth despite earlier rumors.
Nevertheless, Sterling has reduced the number of away games he has called in recent years, and the 2020 season’s cancellation due to the pandemic has further complicated the team’s future broadcasting schedule.
NEWS: The Athletic has learned that legendary Yankees broadcaster John Sterling plans to hold a press conference on Friday and that retirement is likely.
John Sterling, a Yankees legend, may announce his retirement owing to health issues.
Sterling has also made suggestions that he might step down shortly. He stated to The Athletic’s Brendan Kuty last week that he is “clearly reaching the end.
Though it’s not as if he was revealing information to the public, his statement that it “depends on how I’m doing and how I feel” caused some people to take notice because no one had any reason to believe he was having health problems.
Last season, he battled a non-serious sickness that kept him off the show for almost two weeks, but that was it. Even after Justin Turner’s foul ball struck him in the head, he continued to be on the call.
However, it appears that a succession plan has already been put in place, as seen by the appearances made by Sterling’s road substitutes during the previous three seasons.
Due to health concerns, John Sterling may announce his early retirement at a news conference on Friday.
Long-term replacement Justin Shackil is thought to be in place, while 24-year-old Emmanuel Berbari is reportedly included in the future strategy.
To the satisfaction of the fans, Ryan Ruocco has filled in numerous times over the years. In the event that Sterling’s retirement is “instant,” it is unclear how the responsibilities will be divided.
If Sterling’s career is coming to an end, it will be a big loss because of his unique home run calls, calming voice, and unmatched intensity, which have kept Bombers fans up at night while they drove. As new information becomes available, keep checking back.
The New York Yankees on Monday announced that legendary Yankees play-by-play radio voice John Sterling, who has called 5,420 regular-season Yankees games and 211 postseason Yankees games, is retiring effective immediately.
He will be recognized in a pregame ceremony on Saturday, April 20, and will visit the WFAN booth during the game. Additionally, he will be made available to media in the Yankee Stadium Press Conference Room prior to the 1:05 p.m. matchup vs. Tampa Bay.
Sterling’s voice has been synonymous with the Yankees for multiple generations of Yankees fans since joining the club during the 1989 season.
Known for his resonant tone, signature home run calls and Yankees victory call (“Ballgame over! The Yankees win… the Yankees win!”), he called 5,060 consecutive games from September 1989 to July 2019. His final game this season was the Yankees’ 8-3 win over Toronto on Sunday, April 7.
Sterling calls Jeter’s walk-off
STATEMENT FROM THE YANKEES:
Fans find a certain comfort in the daily rhythms of baseball. Day in and day out, season after season and city after city, John Sterling used his seat in the broadcast booth to bring Yankees fans the heartbeat of the game, employing an orotund voice and colorful personality that were distinctly, unmistakably his own.
John informed and entertained, and he exemplified what it means to be a New Yorker with an unapologetic and boisterous style that exuded his passion for baseball, broadcasting and the New York Yankees.
“There is no shortage of adjectives to describe John and what he means to this organization and our millions of fans around the world.
But what makes John a goliath of the sports broadcasting world is how sacred he held his role as the voice of the Yankees.
Showing up to perform virtually every single day since 1989, he was a pillar for Yankees fans who relied on the comfort and familiarity of his voice to be the soundtrack of their spring, summer and fall.
Given the tremendous care he had for the team and his performance on the air, it’s not a stretch to believe that our fans live and die with every pitch because John Sterling did the same.
We congratulate John on a remarkable and illustrious career.
His contributions to this great game and to the Yankees franchise will echo long into the future.
STATEMENT FROM WFAN:
Yankees radio will never quite sound the same without the signature voice, wit, and humor of John Sterling.
To generations of Bronx Bombers fans, he was a beloved companion. When you heard John, you knew it was time for baseball.
Though he never wore the pinstripes, except, of course, for his finely tailored suits, he was one of the most colorful personalities in Yankees history and in all of New York City radio.
All of us at WFAN tip our caps and salute our colleague and friend for a truly iconic career.
Statement from John Steining:
“I am a very blessed human being. I have been able to do what I wanted by 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. I look forward to seeing everyone again on Saturday.
