John Sterling, the longtime play-by-play voice of the New York Yankees on radio, has died. He was 87.

Sterling called Yankees games on the radio for 36 years in all. He worked 5,060 games in a row at one point, a streak that began in 1989 and ended in July 2019.

Sterling’s final series was the Yankees’ 2024 postseason run to the World Series. His exaggerated home run calls, personalized for each player, were often imitated by fans but stood out among a generation of broadcasters who hewed to a more conservative approach to the craft.

 

Around the industry, tributes poured in for Sterling on May 4.

“We are saddened by the passing of former New York Yankees broadcaster John Sterling,” MLB wrote on its official X account. “Through his unique style and passionate play-by-play calls, Sterling endeared himself to generations of players and fans as radio voice of the Yankees from 1989 to 2024.

“His signature punctuation of Yankees victories included calling the final out of five World Series championships. Sterling’s seven-decade broadcasting career also included stints with the Atlanta Braves and Hawks, the New York Nets and Islanders, and the Baltimore Bullets.”

The Yankees mourn the loss of legendary broadcaster John Sterling. Our thoughts are with John’s family, friends and loved ones at this time.

“We are devastated to hear about the passing of John Sterling, a WFAN and Yankees radio icon whose voice was synonymous with an entire generation of Yankee fandom,” WFAN wrote on X. “Rest in peace, John.”

“A quick John Sterling story for now — I called him recently to check on his health,” Bryan Hoch of MLB.com wrote on X. “He interrupted me: ‘Why are the Yankees carrying two left-handed hitting catchers?’ Loved that guy. One of a kind.”

“I’m terribly sad to hear of the passing of John Sterling,” Mets radio play-by-play voice Howie Rose wrote on X. “He was truly one of a kind. A unique character who was blessed with pipes from above. Spoke to him a little over a month ago and although he didn’t sound great, this news still comes as a shock. RIP, old friend.”

“The Hall of Fame remembers John Sterling, who passed away Monday at 87. The longtime voice of the @Yankees called 5,426 regular season and 225 postseason games, including five World Series titles, and provided the soundtrack to Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera’s greatest moments.”

“Always a showman, John Sterling was also hilarious,” Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News wrote on X. “I’ve never been in a funnier press conference than the one he conducted for his initial retirement. Having spoken to him ahead of it, he made sure to roast me. ‘The guy asked me 150,00 questions, and I started getting testy. I said what is this, ‘War and Peace?’ An actual one of a kind. RIP”