Beloved Yankees Broadcaster John Sterling Passes Away at 87, Remembered for His Iconic Home Run Calls
NEW YORK — John Sterling, the iconic radio broadcaster for the New York Yankees, passed away on Monday at the age of 87. Sterling was renowned for his distinctive and theatrical home run calls, which captivated fans for over three decades.
According to his former wife, Jennifer, Sterling died at Englewood Hospital after undergoing heart bypass surgery earlier this winter and receiving care at his Edgewater, New Jersey, home.
In a statement, the Yankees expressed their deep admiration: “John Sterling breathed life and excitement into Yankees games for 36 years while wearing his passion for baseball and the Yankees on his sleeve. He informed and entertained generations of fans with a theatrical and unapologetic style that was uniquely his own.”
Throughout his career, Sterling broadcasted an impressive 5,631 games, including 5,420 regular season matchups and 211 postseason games. He retired briefly in April 2024 but returned to the microphone for the Yankees’ postseason that year. His longest consecutive streak of broadcasts lasted 5,060 games, from September 1989 to July 2019, after initially joining the team as a pregame host.
Sterling’s enthusiastic calls for home runs became integral to the Yankees’ identity. Fans eagerly anticipated how he would describe each new player’s first home run, with memorable phrases like “Bernie goes boom! Bern, baby, Bern!” for Bernie Williams and “It’s an A-bomb from A-Rod!” for Alex Rodriguez.
Reflecting on his unique style, Sterling stated, “It wasn’t meant that way. I just happened to do something for Bernie Williams. He hit a home run and I said, ‘Bern, baby, Bern!’ And it kind of mushroomed from there.”
Born Josh Sloss on July 4, 1938, in Manhattan, Sterling pursued a career in broadcasting at an early age, inspired by shows he listened to as a child. He began his professional journey in 1960 and later worked for various teams and networks, including the Washington Bullets and the New Jersey Nets, before joining the Yankees.
Sterling’s talents were not limited to baseball; he was also celebrated for his work in basketball and hockey. After covering the Washington Bullets and the New Jersey Nets, he gained fame as a hockey announcer during the late 1970s. His first significant connection with the Yankees came during pregame shows from 1971 to 1978 before officially joining the team in 1989.
Having partnered with several notable broadcasters over the years, including Michael Kay and Suzyn Waldman, Sterling’s legacy was cemented in the New York State Broadcasters Hall of Fame, which he and Waldman were inducted into in 2016.
Sterling is survived by his triplets, Bradford, Derek, and Veronica, and daughter Abigail. He leaves behind a uniquely vibrant audio legacy that will resonate with fans for generations to come.
