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\n\tJohn Sterling, the radio voice of the New York Yankees over 36 seasons, died today, May 4, at his home in Edgewater, New Jersey, of complications following a heart attack. He was 87.<\/p>\n
\n\tHis death was announced by the New York Yankees. \u201cThe Yankees mourn the loss of legendary broadcaster John Sterling,\u201d the organization said on social media. \u201cOur thoughts are with John\u2019s family, friends and loved ones at this time.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n\tSterling had undergone heart bypass surgery in recent months and was under health care at his home at the time of his passing. <\/p>\n
\n\tAccording to ESPN, Sterling had called 5,420 regular-season games and 211 postseason games when he retired in April 2024. He broadcast 5,060 consecutive games from September 1989 through July 2019 after beginning with the Yankees as a pregame host. He came out of retirement to call Yankees games during the 2024 postseason.<\/p>\n
\n\tFor Yankees fans, a team victory was incomplete with Sterling\u2019s trademark \u201cThe Yankees win! Thuuuuuuuuh Yankees win!\u201d bellow. Major League Baseball said in a statement today, \u201cThrough 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n\t\u201cWe 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,\u201d WFAN, New York sports radio station, said in a statement today.<\/p>\n
\n\tKnown for his colorful characterizations of Yankee players \u2013 \u201cIt\u2019s a Jeter jolt!\u201d for Derek Jeter and \u201cIt\u2019s an A-bomb from A-Rod!\u201d for Alex Rodriguez \u2013 Sterling was born John Sloss in Manhattan on July 4, 1938. At 19 he landed a job on-air at a small radio station near Buffalo, changing his name to Sterling. He moved around to various other stations over the next decades before landing at New York\u2019s WABC in 1989. <\/p>\n
\n\tIn 2013, the Yankees announced a move to\u00a0WFAN, with Sterling and co-announced Suzyn Waldman\u00a0making the move. The two would work side-by-side for Sterling\u2019s final 20 seasons.<\/p>\n
\n\tHe is survived by four children: triplets Bradford, Derek and Veronica, and daughter Abigail.<\/p>\n