The New York City sports world began to mourn the death of legendary radio broadcaster and voice of the Yankees John Sterling on Monday.
The 87-year-old’s death was announced by WFAN, which did not say where he died nor specify a cause. Sterling had suffered a heart attack in January.
Suzyn Waldman, who was his Yankees broadcast partner for 20 years, said in an interview on WFAN that Sterling was “kind to everybody” and had the “best soul of anyone I’ve ever met in my life — and I don’t think we’re going to see that again.”
Waldman said Sterling “really was like a brother to me.”
“He didn’t have a mean bone in his body,” she said, “and he never understood why anyone would be mean to him or anyone else. That’s who he was.”
Sterling became the Yankees’ play-by-play announcer in 1989 and spent 36 years in the position, calling 5,060 consecutive games (plus 211 more in the postseason) until he missed his first game in July 2019. He called 5,631 Yankees games, including eight World Series appearances. By the time he retired in 2024, he was known as “The Voice of the Yankees.”
YES Network Yankees play-by-play announcer Michael Kay worked alongside Sterling for a decade on the radio. Kay said Sterling was “one of one.”
“For all those people … that he meant something to,” Kay said on his show on ESPN radio Monday afternoon, “believe me, it meant the world to him to be the voice of the Yankees. It really did.”
Kay said that Sterling had been having trouble breathing of late and had recently lost the ability to walk, but that he had been attacking his rehabilitation program.
“He was really pushing it, and I said, ‘John, don’t push yourself too much.’” Kay said. “And he said his oldest daughter (Abigail) is getting married this summer. And he said, ‘Michael, I have to walk her down the aisle” And that’s why he was hanging on.’”
Kay added that Sterling experienced heart failure about a week ago.
“There will never be anybody like him,” Kay said.
In a statement, the Yankees paid tribute to Sterling and extended their “heartfelt condolences” to his family.
“We pause today — along with millions of Yankees fans around the world — to recognize the passing of one of our own,” the team said. “John Sterling breathed life and excitement into Yankees games for 36 years while wearing his passion for baseball and the Yankees on his sleeve. He informed and entertained generations of fans with a theatrical and unapologetic style that was uniquely his own.
“John treasured his role as the voice of the New York Yankees, and his enthusiasm for the art of broadcasting perfectly complemented our city and our fans. The symmetry between John and his audience was both undeniable and magical, and his signature calls will resonate for as long as we put on pinstripes — especially after every Yankees win.”
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.
Rest in peace, John ❤️ pic.twitter.com/BF267gPGnJ
— WFAN Sports Radio (@WFAN660) May 4, 2026
Yankees manager Aaron Boone said in a social media post that “we lost a legend today.”
“Grateful to have known and crossed paths with John,” Boone said. “You will be missed but never forgotten.”
WFAN, which hired Sterling as the Yankees’ play-by-play announcer in 1989, said it was “devastated” to learn of his death. The station called him “a Yankees radio icon whose voice was synonymous with an entire generation of Yankees fans.”
Alex Rodriguez was among the former Yankees players who paid tribute to Sterling. “No one loved baseball more than John,” Rodriguez posted on social media. “He was a true ambassador for the game, beloved and revered by everyone who knew him or heard his voice.”
“We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of John Sterling,” the New York Mets said in a statement on social media. “We send our deepest condolences to his family, friends and the New York Yankees organization.”
Former New York mayor Eric Adams saluted Sterling in a social media post in which he said the broadcaster gave many young fans listening at home, including those who couldn’t afford to attend, a “seat” at Yankees games. “That voice, that feeling, that connection to the game, it will never be replaced,” Adams wrote.
In the 1970s, Sterling began working New Jersey Nets and New York Islanders games, honing his distinct style, giving on-air nicknames to players (Bernard King was “B.B. King”) and creating catchphrases (“Goal! Islanders goal! Islanders goal!”).
The Islanders said they were “deeply saddened” and that his “Islander goal!” call would “live forever.” The Nets called him a “broadcasting icon.”
In 1981, Sterling moved to Atlanta and began broadcasting for the Atlanta Braves and the Hawks with TBS and WSB Radio. The Hawks called Sterling a “legendary voice.”
