New York Yankees legendary radio voice John Sterling is coming out of retirement to call the team’s playoff games as they search for World Series No. 28 for the franchise. The 86-year-old Sterling, who announced his retirement earlier this season, will be calling the games on WFAN, as reported by The Athletic. Yankees executives and Audacy New York president Chris Oliviero made the decision to bring Sterling back on the air for October baseball, a move that seems like a no-brainer given Sterling’s iconic status as the team’s radio voice since 1989. This conversation with Sterling occurred two weeks ago as the postseason seemed likely for the Yankees, who are currently in a competitive position in the American League standings.
Sterling will not only be calling home games but will also hit the road to call games where the Yankees are the visiting team. WFAN had implemented a play-by-play-by-committee system after Sterling’s retirement announcement, with Emmanuel Berbari, Justin Shackil, and Rickie Ricardo providing play-by-play alongside Sterling’s longtime color commentator Suzyn Waldman. While Sterling expressed his desire to stay out of the process of choosing his replacement, WFAN has not decided if there will be a full-time replacement for him next season. The team held an on-field ceremony for Sterling on April 20 to honor his radio excellence over the years, highlighting his contributions to the Yankees organization.
Throughout Sterling’s career, which began just before 1990, he has called seven World Series appearances for the Yankees. He witnessed the team’s last World Series win in 2009 when they defeated the Philadelphia Phillies. Since then, the Yankees have made it to the ALCS several times, including in 2022, but have been unable to overcome the Houston Astros in those series. They lost to Houston in 2017 and 2019, with the latter season marked by the infamous cheating scandal. Currently, the Yankees are close behind the Baltimore Orioles in the AL East standings but hold a comfortable lead in the Wild Card race, putting them in a good position to secure at least a Wild Card spot for the postseason.
With the Yankees expected to make a playoff run this season, there is hope among fans that this could be the year they end their World Series drought. If they achieve that feat, Sterling’s iconic call of “THEEEEE YANKEES WIN!” will surely be a moment to savor for all New York fans. The anticipation for a successful postseason run is high, and with Sterling back on the airwaves, Yankees supporters will have the familiar voice of the legendary radio announcer guiding them through the team’s playoff journey. As the team aims for World Series glory, Sterling’s return adds an extra layer of excitement and nostalgia to the upcoming postseason games.
In conclusion, the decision to bring John Sterling out of retirement to call the Yankees’ playoff games reflects the team’s desire to have his iconic voice back on the airwaves for what could be another memorable postseason. Sterling’s long history with the team, including calling seven World Series appearances, adds to the anticipation surrounding the Yankees’ current playoff prospects. With the team in a strong position in the American League standings, there is optimism among fans that this could be the year they break their World Series drought. Whether the Yankees secure a Wild Card spot or aim even higher, Sterling’s return adds a touch of nostalgia and excitement to the upcoming postseason games, giving fans a familiar voice to guide them through the team’s playoff journey.
