John Sterling, the legendary radio voice of the New York Yankees, announced his retirement from the broadcast booth Monday. The move is effective immediately.
Sterling, who has been broadcasting for 64 years, 35 of them for the Yankees, is known for his distinctive style and personalized home run calls. He has been an integral part of the Yankees’ identity for the last three decades.
As a testament to his longevity and dedication, he called 5,060 consecutive Yankees games from 1989 to 2019.
Sterling will be honored in a pregame ceremony on April 20, celebrating his immense contributions to the community and the sport of baseball.
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John Sterling’s Greatest Calls
Like many broadcast greats, Sterling had a distinctive style that is unmatched in the industry.
Harry Caray gave the St. Louis Cardinals the everyday man with a sense of humor who talked like a guy you might meet in the bar. Vin Scully gave Los Angeles Dodgers fans a relaxed conversationalist, an intellectual who could wax poetic.
Sterling brought his love of the game and mixed it a bit with the nickname style of ESPN’s Chris Berman.
And it was funny. Here are some of John Sterling’s greatest calls.
The Sun Will Come Out
Yankees pitcher Masahiro Tanaka pitched a complete game, three-hit shutout over the Tampa Bay Rays in 2018. For his efforts, Sterling serenaded him with his own version of the song, “Tomorrow.”
“The sun will come out … Tanaka” was a thing of beauty.
The sun will come out Tanaka. pic.twitter.com/kAspfwlQEy
— John Sterling Calls (@JSterlingCalls) May 7, 2019
A Thrilla From Godzilla
Every once in a while, Sterling’s home run calls would get a little wordy, making them unintentionally funny. Such was the case for former Yankees outfielder Hideki Matsui.
Sterling somehow combined a reference to his nickname – ‘Godzilla’ – while adding a ‘Thrilla in Manilla’ nod and yet another nickname.
“It’s a thrilla, by Godzilla! The Sayonara Kid does it again!” Sterling would cheer.
And we loved every second of it.
No game today so how about a throwback video? The “Thrilla by Godzilla." #ThrowbackThursday pic.twitter.com/3AysZ5bb0M
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) April 20, 2017
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Don’t Ya Know
When second baseman Robinson Cano played for the New York Yankees from 2005 to 2013, his home run blasts would be accompanied by John Sterling’s famous call.
“It’s a home run from Robbie Cano! Don’t ya know!”
The Grandy Man Can
Continuing the musical theme, fans loved it when All-Star outfielder Curtis Granderson hit a home run during his tenure with the Yankees between 2010 and 2013.
They would be graced by one of John Sterling’s greatest calls. A play on the Sammy Davis Jr. song, “The Candy Man.”
Bern, Baby Bern!
Who could ever forget Sterling’s call for career center fielder Bernie Williams’ dingers? Particularly this one from the bottom of the eighth inning in Game 4 of the 2001 ALCS.
Williams hit a blast that tied the Yankees and Mariners at 1-1.
“Bernie goes boom!”
“Bern, baby Bern!”
An A-Bomb
One of John Sterling’s greatest calls may have been one of his oddest. Not because of the call, per se, but because it referenced an atomic bomb.
Alex Rodriguez hit a ton of home runs as the Yankees third baseman. But he also played alongside the aforementioned Japanese-born Matsui.
Still, Sterling would deliver this memorable call over and over: “An A-bomb from A-Rod!”
All Rise
Sure Aaron Judge has a name that is pretty easy to market, but Sterling helped the craze with his call whenever the Yankees outfielder went yard.
“All rise!” Sterling said 62 times or so in 2022. “Here comes the Judge!”
All rise for Aaron Judge's first inning home run call by John Sterlinghttps://t.co/mq3It1PnQV pic.twitter.com/5di0nZXOxJ
— WFAN Sports Radio (@WFAN660) April 14, 2021
My Homie
Sterling had a hilarious call for Austin Romine when the catcher played for the New York Yankees between 2011 and 2019.
“Romie, my homie” is the stuff of legend.
"Romie! My Homie!" pic.twitter.com/2tPJ1IlysZ
— John Sterling Calls (@JSterlingCalls) August 7, 2019
Giancarlo!
One of John Sterling’s greatest calls involves his use of an Italian phrase for designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton. It left many a-fan confused, making it that much funnier.
“Giancarlo, non si può stoparlo!” translates roughly to, “Giancarlo, you can’t be stopped!”
And it rhymes. So, yea. Just another thing of beauty in our book.
It's a STANTONIAN home run! Giancarlo! Non si puo stopparlo! pic.twitter.com/ifbedyR91x
— John Sterling Calls (@JSterlingCalls) July 22, 2023
Theeeee … Yankees Win!
No list of John Sterling’s greatest calls would be complete without this – How he ended every Yankee victory during his 35 years as New York’s sports broadcaster.
Fans of the team and Sterling will never forget it. And they’ll be saying it themselves for many, many years to come.
“Ballgame over! Yankees win!” Sterling beams. “Theeeeeeeeeeee Yankees win!
Ballgame over! Yankees win! Theeeeeeeeeeee Yankees win! pic.twitter.com/x7r09qPvQq
— John Sterling Calls (@JSterlingCalls) July 22, 2023
Sterling has called 5,420 regular season games and 211 postseason games for the New York Yankees. He will be sorely missed in the Bronx.
Fans, be sure to check out the pregame ceremony on Saturday, April 20, where the team will honor Sterling’s contributions to the franchise.
