Longtime Yankees radio voice, John Sterling, has announced his retirement after an illustrious 35-year career in the broadcast booth, both he and the team revealed on Monday, April 15, 2024.
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The decision comes after reports surfaced about a planned news conference, where the 85-year-old Sterling was expected to retire due to health concerns.
With a broadcasting tenure spanning 64 years, Sterling’s impact on the airwaves has been immense.
In recognition of his contributions, the Yankees will host a pregame ceremony of the Yankees-Rays game, originally slated to be called by Sterling on Saturday, April 20th, 2024.
Replacing Sterling at WFAN will be 37-year-old Justin Shackil and 24-year-old Emmanuel Berbari, a duo 24 years younger than Sterling.
Both are set to cover most road games this season with Suzyn Waldman, although the full-time position is not guaranteed for either.
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Sterling’s tenure as the voice of the Yankees coincided with the team’s golden era, including the Derek Jeter-led title run from 1996 to 2000 and the 2009 World Series victory.
His iconic home run calls, such as “Bern, baby, Bern!” for Bernie Williams and “A thrilla from Godzilla” for Hideki Matsui, have become legendary among fans.
Despite occasional criticisms of his precision, Sterling’s dedication to the game was unparalleled, calling an impressive 5,060 consecutive games over 30 years.
His retirement marks the end of a remarkable broadcasting legacy that encompassed 5,631 Yankees games in total.
Reflecting on his decision, Sterling expressed contentment with his retirement, closing a chapter on an extraordinary career that endeared him to Yankees fans across generations.
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