Hanging Up His Headphones


The news spread quickly and stunningly on Monday afternoon: after 36 seasons, 5,420 regular season games -- 5060 consecutive -- and 211 more in the postseason, John Sterling was retiring as the radio voice of the Yankees.  The booming baritone, his energetic style and signature home run calls -- from "Bern, Baby, Bern" through "A Soto Photo" -- made the native New Yorker an enduring part of Yankee history.   Sterling narrated a remarkable era in Bronx baseball -- five World Championship clubs built around the Hall of Famers Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera.  

But there's so much more on his resume.  After first making a name as the voice of the the NBA's Baltimore Bullets, John came to New York to host an evening radio sports talk show, that soon led to doing play by play for the Islanders and Nets... Then, after several years in Atlanta, calling Braves and Hawks games on TBS, he returned home after landed the Yankees radio job in 1989.  From Alvaro (Espinosa) to Anthony (Volpe), John was that familiar voice that instantly connected you to the Pinstripes.

Nelow, another photo from my collection.  From June 1972, having brought my camera, I focused on the press box while sitting along the 3rd base line.  In those days, it was an open row at the front of the old Stadium's middle section.  Look carefully at the guy on the phone and sitting sideways.   That's John Sterling -- a master at the art of radio -- in the ballpark that one day would become his office.

Yankee fans will soon experience what Cardinal, Tiger and Dodger fans went through -- how difficult it will be to replace the iconic voice of your team.


Here's the Yankees official announcement on John Sterling:


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