John Sterling, the voice of the New York Yankees across 36 seasons, died Monday at 87 years old.
Sterling's death was announced by WFAN Sports Radio, based in New York.
Sterling, who grew up in Manhattan, began calling Yankees games on radio in 1989 until his retirement in April 2024.
He was known for his iconic "The Yankees win!" victory call, with an elongated “the.”
Sterling called 5,420 regular-season games, the last against the Toronto Blue Jays on April 7, 2024, plus 211 post-season games. He broadcast 5,060 consecutive games from September 1989 through July 2019 after starting with the Yankees as a pre-game host.
Sterling partnered with Jay Johnstone (1989-90), Joe Angel (1991), Michael Kay (1992-2001), Charley Steiner (2002-04) and Suzyn Waldman (since 2005). Sterling and Waldman were inducted into the New York State Broadcasters Hall of Fame in 2016.
As the team evolved into its latest dynasty, winning four World Series titles from 1996 through 2000, a Sterling moniker for a player's home run became as treasured a part of a Yankees identity as an initial set of pinstripes and a culminating championship ring.
From “Bernie goes boom! Bern, baby, Bern!” for Bernie Williams, to “It’s a Jeter jolt!” for Derek to “It’s an A-bomb from A-Rod!” for Alex Rodriguez, “The Giambino!” for Jason Giambi and ”A thrilla from Godzilla!" for Hideki Matsui, Sterling created a personal stamp that resonated through the clubhouse all the way to the bleachers.
For the latest group of Yankees, “It’s a Judge-ian blast!” became a familiar cry for Aaron, joined by “Nobody beats the Rizz!” for Anthony Rizzo and “David John makes long gone!” for DJ LeMahieu.
He could be obscure in recent years, using “Giancarlo, non si può de stoparlo! (Italian for ”You can't stop it!) for Stanton and “A spettacolo oggi!” for Anthony Volpe (Italian for “At the show today!).
--with files from The Associated Press
