NEW YORK (AP) 鈥� Jon Sterling, the theatrical New York Yankees radio broadcaster known for extravagant, individualized home run calls, has died, the team and radio station WFAN announced Monday. He was 87.
Sterling had undergone heart bypass surgery this winter and after the procedure was attended to by health care aides at his home in Edgewater, New Jersey. The team said he died at a New Jersey hospital.
He had called 5,631 games 鈥� 5,420 regular season plus 211 postseason 鈥� when he just after the season’s start, citing fatigue. Sterling broadcast 5,060 consecutive games from September 1989 through July 2019 after beginning with the Yankees as a pregame host. He to broadcast Yankees games during the 2024 postseason.
Sterling’s call for a player鈥檚 home run became as treasured a part of a Yankees identity as an initial set of pinstripes or a championship ring. As rookies prepared for debuts and former opponents arrived in trades, fans speculated how he would label the newcomer’s first longball.
From 鈥淏ernie goes boom! Bern, baby, Bern!鈥� for Bernie Williams, to 鈥淚t鈥檚 a Jeter jolt!鈥� for Derek to 鈥淚t鈥檚 an A-bomb from A-Rod!鈥� for Alex Rodriguez, 鈥淭he Giambino!鈥� for Jason Giambi and 鈥滱 thrilla from Godzilla!鈥� for Hideki Matsui, Sterling created personal stamps resonating from the clubhouse to the bleachers.
鈥淚t wasn鈥檛 meant that way. I just happened to do something for Bernie Williams. He hit a home run and I said, `Bern, baby, Bern!鈥� And it kind of mushroomed from there,” Sterling said at the time of his retirement. “But it never was intended for every player, because, frankly, I鈥檓 not smart enough to do something for every player. But I did the best I could, and it鈥檚 amazing what started out as 鈥� became so big.鈥�
鈥淚 did say `A-bomb from A-Rod!鈥� when he hit a home run and I did say: `Robbie Can贸, don鈥檛 you know,鈥� and I think those were pretty good,鈥� Sterling said of calls for Rodriguez and Robinson Can贸.
Born Josh Sloss on July 4, 1938, Sterling grew up in Manhattan and left college to work for radio stations. He had wanted to be a broadcaster since hearing 鈥淭he Eddie Bracken Show鈥� in the 1940s.
鈥淚 didn鈥檛 want to be Eddie Bracken. I wanted to be the guy who says: `Live from Hollywood!鈥欌�� Sterling said. 鈥淎nd I knew that maybe a year or two later, but before puberty I knew I was going to be on the air. And it really helped me because I didn鈥檛 worry about school, because I knew what I was going to do. And it was a good thing because I was a terrible student 鈥� terrible.”
He started his radio career in 1960 at a station in Wellsville, New York.
鈥淚 was preparing this all my life. It was easy,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 could always open my mouth and talk.”
Sterling cited Mel Allen, Russ Hodges and Jim Karvellas as influences. He wound up joining Allen in the history of memorable Yankees broadcasters along with Red Barber, Phil Rizzuto, Bill White and Frank Messer.
Sterling announced the NBA鈥檚 Washington Bullets and Morgan State football in his early years and gained notoriety for shrieking 鈥淚slanders goal! Islanders goal!鈥� during the hockey team鈥檚 games from 1975-78 along with those of the NBA鈥檚 Nets from 1975-80.
Sterling鈥檚 first connection with the Yankees was during WMCA pregame radio talk shows from 1971-78. He moved to Atlanta and worked for the Braves from 1982-87 and Hawks from 1981-89 before switching to the Yankees, where he replaced Hank Greenwald.
Sterling was seldom in the clubhouse and dressed in Brooks Brothers suits even though he was on the radio.
He 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.
Sterling was proud of his unique style.
鈥淗arry Caray told me some years ago,” he recalled in 2024 of the famous Chicago Cubs and White Sox broadcaster, 鈥渁nd he says, ‘John, all the guys are great. We just have different styles.’ And no one has a more different style than I have.鈥�
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