John Sterling, iconic voice of New York Yankees dies at 87

John Sterling, the legendary New York Yankees broadcaster for parts of 36 seasons, took his last breath at the age of 87.

New York-based WFAN Sports Radio announced the death of Sterling on Monday.

"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.

Sterling joined the Yankees broadcast in 1989, marking the start of the legendary era.

For over three decades, Sterling was the constant soundtrack to Yankees baseball. His streak continued until an unexpected retirement early in April 2024. In 35 years of iconic career, Sterling narrated 5,631 total Yankees, cementing his legacy as a broadcasting icon through both regular-season and playoff runs.

Sterling also broadcasted 24 Yankees postseason runs, including seven World Series appearances and five championship victories.

Renowned for his iconic victory call “The Yankees win” and his personalized home run calls, he spent his final two decades in the booth alongside his longtime partner, Suzyn Waldman.

The fans and celebrities also mourned the death of the legendary Yankees broadcaster. ESPN New York posted, “An era of New York Yankees baseball is remembered through his voice. John Sterling’s passion and energy left a lasting mark on the game. Gone, but never forgotten Rest in peace, John.”

Jon Heyman, the New York Post columnist, also paid tribute, “John Sterling was a great announcer and always a joy to be around. RIP.”

Andrew Marchand, Sports Media Columnist for The Athletic, said, “John Sterling had a legendary career and life. I'm always hesitant to say there will never another. In this case, I think it is true. May he Rest in Peace. “