John Sterling, Yankees' iconic broadcaster with legendary home run calls, dies at 87
John Sterling, the legendary voice of the New York Yankees, has died at the age of 87. For 36 seasons, he brought excitement to fans as the team’s radio play-by-play broadcaster. His energetic home run calls became iconic, making him a beloved figure in baseball.
Sterling was known for his unique, personalised home run calls. Over his career, he created 144 of them, each tailored to a specific player. For Bernie Williams, he shouted, 'Bernie goes boom! Bern, baby, Bern!' when the outfielder hit a home run. Robinson Canó’s blasts were met with 'Robbie Canó, don’t cha know?!'
Other players had their own special phrases. Mark Teixeira’s home runs prompted *'He sends a Tex message!'* while Alex Rodriguez’s earned *'It’s an A-Bomb! From A-Rod!'* Gleyber Torres’ big hits were celebrated with *'It’s Gleyber Day! And like a good Gleyber, Torres is there!'* Sterling didn’t stop there. Jorge Posada’s home runs were *'Jorgie juiced one!'*, and Tino Martinez’s earned the nickname *'The Bam-Tino!'*. Even Hideki Matsui had a memorable call: *'A thrilla by Godzilla!'*—a nod to the slugger’s nickname.
Sterling’s 36-year career left a lasting mark on Yankees baseball. His signature calls became part of the game’s culture, entertaining generations of fans. His death at 87 follows a legacy of passion and creativity behind the microphone.
