“And now, The Voice of the New York Yankees, John Sterling.” Suzyn Waldman would end her pregame remarks with this simple introduction for her radio play-by-play co-host John Sterling. After 35 years in the booth, John Sterling called it a day yesterday. In his 1st 30 years on the job, from Opening Day 1989 to July 3rd, 2019, Sterling called 5,060 consecutive games before missing one. The Radio Iron Man.

He announced his immediate retirement yesterday, though he’d cut back on his schedule since ’22, generally not making road trips with the team outside of the Northeast. Many Yanks fans didn’t care much for his antics in the booth, but listen to a baseball radio broadcast in other regions. They’re largely lifeless, simply calling the game, not that there’s anything wrong with that. John Sterling brought his love of baseball and the Yankees to every game he called. And if the team wasn’t playing well, he was as bothered as every other fan. And he rejoiced with every Yanks fan for a win. The most entertaining games were often when there were extra innings. He and Suzyn would begin getting a little punchy around the top of the 11th, and they’d start trading verses of Broadway songs, laughing at inside jokes, and all but acknowledging they had run out of things to talk about.

Of course the home run calls were the main attraction. Many were groan-worthy, but always fun to hear. El Capitan! A Stantonian Blast! Jorgie Juiced One! And, for Bernie Williams, Bern Baby Bern!

I already miss him. He sounded great on AM radio, to my mind the true way to enjoy a baseball broadcast. It’s great to watch a game, but if you’ve got good radio announcers to describe the action, there is no better way to experience a game. Thank you John. Thank you.

Today’s Playlist is a SomethingIsHappening compendium of Baseball songs in thanks to John Sterling for the last 35 years of my baseball life: