New York Yankees radio broadcaster John Sterling
NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 20: New York Yankees radio broadcaster John Sterling looks on before the game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Yankee Stadium on April 20, 2024, in New York, New York. (Photo by New York Yankees/Getty Images)

New York Yankees Broadcasting Legend Dies at 87

Long-time New York Yankees broadcaster John Sterling has died at 87, leaving behind a legendary career and countless sporting memories.

The long-time radio voice of the New York Yankees, John Sterling, has died at the age of 87.

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WFAN announced Sterling's death on Monday, marking the end of a life and broadcasting career that spanned more than three decades with the Yankees.

Sterling became a defining voice for generations of fans, calling games with a distinctive style that made him one of baseball's most recognizable broadcasters.

John Sterling's Yankees Broadcasting Career Defined an Era

Sterling joined the Yankees' radio booth in 1989 and remained there until his retirement in April 2024.

Over 36 seasons, he called 5,420 regular-season games and 211 postseason matchups.

Between September and July 2019, he called 5,060 consecutive games before illness forced him to step away briefly.

Sterling also covered 24 Yankees postseasons, including seven World Series appearances and five championship runs.

"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 said in a statement.

Fans knew Sterling for his signature "The Yankees win!" call, along with his personalized home run celebrations.

For the final 20 seasons of his career, he worked alongside longtime broadcast partner Suzyn Waldman.

Broadcasting Journey Spanned Decades Beyond the Yankees

Born in 1938 in New York City, Sterling was originally named John Sloss before changing his surname as he entered broadcasting.

He began his career as a play-by-play announcer for the Baltimore Bullets during the 1970-71 season and later covered Morgan State University football between 1971 and 1978.

Before joining the Yankees, Sterling called games for several teams, including the New York Raiders, New York Stars, New York Islanders, and the New York and New Jersey Nets.

He also spent nine years in Atlanta covering the Braves and Hawks for Turner Sports.

In the later stages of his career, Sterling hosted a weekly talk show on WABC between April and December 2025.

A father of four, including triplets born in 2000, Sterling faced several health challenges in recent years.

He suffered a blood infection in August 2020 and later revealed he experienced a heart attack in January 2026, just months before his death.