John Sterling (sportscaster)

John Sterling
Sterling in 2010
Broadcaster
Born: (1938-07-04) July 4, 1938 (age 86)
New York City, U.S.
Teams
As Broadcaster
Career highlights and awards
  • 5,060 consecutive regular-season games called
  • Announced eight World Series, including five victories (1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2009)
  • 12-Time Sports Emmy Award winner

John Sterling (né Sloss;[1] born July 4, 1938)[2][3] is an American retired sportscaster, best known as the radio play-by-play announcer of the New York Yankees of Major League Baseball from 1989 to 2024. Sterling called 5,060 consecutive Yankees games from 1989 to 2019.[4]

Early life

Sterling was born John Sloss in New York City[4] and grew up on Manhattan's Upper East Side,[5] the son of advertising executive Carl H. T. Sloss.[6] Sterling is Jewish.[7] He briefly attended Moravian College, Boston University, and the Columbia University School of General Studies before leaving school to begin his career in radio at a small station in Wellsville, New York.[8]

Broadcasting career

Early career

He changed his name to Sterling and began his broadcasting career in Baltimore, where he served as the play-by-play announcer for the then-Baltimore Bullets for the 1970–71 NBA season. He also did play-by-play for Morgan State University football, a role that he held from 1971 to 1978.[9]

Sterling came to New York broadcasting as a talk show host with WMCA in 1971. He later served as the radio voice for the WHA's New York Raiders, the WFL's New York Stars, the NHL's New York Islanders (where he was paired with Bob Lawrence), and the ABA/NBA's New York/New Jersey Nets (where he was paired mainly with Mike DeTomasso). Sterling also did a stretch with the Yankees as pre-game host on WMCA and WINS radio, as well as co-host on cable segments with Mel Allen.[10]

From 1975 through 1980, Sterling announced Nets and Islanders games for WMCA, WVNJ, WOR-TV, and SportsChannel New York, continuing his WMCA talk program until 1978.[10] After his initial stint in New York, Sterling spent nine years in Atlanta hosting a sports call-in show on WSB radio and covering the Braves (1982–1987) and Hawks (1981–1989) for Turner Sports.[10]

New York Yankees (1989–2024)

In 1989, Sterling returned to New York to broadcast the games for the Yankees on WABC radio. In 2013, the Yankees announced a move to WFAN for ten years, and Sterling was retained.[11] His announcing partners were Jay Johnstone (1989–1990), Joe Angel (1991), Michael Kay (1992–2001), Charley Steiner (2002–2004), and Suzyn Waldman (2002–2024).[10]

Sterling called 5,060 consecutive games for the Yankees from 1989 until he took four games off from July 4 until July 7, 2019.[12][10][13] This included all 2,747 regular season and 158 postseason games played by Derek Jeter.[14] On October 18, 2021, Sterling signed a new contract with WFAN for 2022 with the potential for a reduced schedule.[15] On June 6, 2022, Sterling announced that he would start working on a reduced schedule in the second half of the MLB season, primarily taking time off from traveling to road games outside of the northeastern United States. He continued to do road trips to Fenway Park, Citi Field, and Oriole Park at Camden Yards.[16]

On September 20, 2018, as part of a promotion called "Rivalry in the Booth", Sterling and Red Sox radio broadcaster Joe Castiglione switched places in the fourth inning.[17] From June 29–30, 2019, Sterling called the first MLB games played in Europe.[18]

Sterling was also host of the YES Network's Yankeeography series from 2002 to 2013, which produced biographies of New York Yankees. Among several nominations, Sterling has received two Emmy Awards for the series.[19] He also hosted the introductions and recaps for Yankees Classics. In addition, Sterling had a nightly commentary feature on WCBS newscasts called "Sterling on Sports", in which he gave his take on a recent sporting event or sports news item.[20] This commentary aired nightly during the 6:15 pm sports report.

Sterling and former broadcasting partner Michael Kay commonly worked together representing the Yankees. They announced the annual Yankees' Old-Timers' Day.[21] They presided at the "Key to the City" ceremonies following Yankee World Series victories in 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2009. The pair often served as masters of ceremonies on and off the field for major Yankee events, including the 2000 ticker-tape parade held in the Yankees' honor after their World Series win.[22][23] Sterling has emceed several Yankees pre-game ceremonies including the number retirements of Jorge Posada, Andy Pettitte, Bernie Williams, Joe Torre, Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera's number retirement in 2013 and Monument Park induction (2016), and the 20th anniversary of the Yankees' 1996 World Series victory in 2016. His long association with the Yankees earned him the nickname "Pa Pinstripe" from New York Daily News writer Bob Raissman.[24]

Sterling announced his retirement on April 15, 2024, effective immediately, saying he was tired of traveling. The Yankees honored Sterling before their game on April 20.[4][25] He did return to call two innings of the game against the Cleveland Guardians on August 20, in celebration of a team T-shirt giveaway intended the celebrate the 20th year Sterling and Waldman worked together in the radio booth, (which was planned before his abrupt retirement). Sterling called the fourth and fifth innings of the game.[26] The following Thursday it was announced Sterling was discussing a potential postseason return, then a final retirement.[27] On September 5, Sterling confirmed he would return to the booth for the final homestand on September 24–26 and the playoffs, including up to the 2024 World Series where he would broadcast for the last time. Sterling made his final broadcast on October 30, 2024, in Game 5 of the World Series when the Yankees lost to the Dodgers.[28][29]

Other work

From 2013 through 2017 Sterling announced the Kitten Bowl on the Hallmark Channel.[30]

On December 16, 2018, Sterling called the Brooklyn Nets–Atlanta Hawks game on the YES Network.[31]

Announcing mannerisms

John Sterling broadcasting a game.

Sterling has several idiosyncrasies that mark his broadcasts as distinctive, very unusual, if also divisive.[32] In addition to a colorful vocal personality, Sterling has distinguished himself for sometimes characterizing plays differently than they may appear and for his announcing errors, habits that spark high feelings in fans and lead to comparisons with announcers like Phil Rizzuto. [33][34]

Following the final out of a Yankees victory, Sterling calls "Ballgame over! Yankees win! Theeeeeee Yankees win!"[10][32] The length of the word "the" is held longer after dramatic victories, as well as after victories resulting in championships (which Sterling also punctuates by saying the name of whichever series is over). It has been played over the public address system at Yankee Stadium after every Yankees victory for the past several seasons, right before Frank Sinatra's cover of "Theme from New York, New York" is played.[35] The phrase evolved from Sterling's call of Mel Hall's game-winning three-run homer in the ninth inning on May 27, 1991, to give the Yankees a dramatic Memorial Day win over the Boston Red Sox.[36]

One of his signature radio remarks is his home run call "It is high, it is far, it is gone!"[37] Sterling is known for devising a personalized home run catchphrase for every Yankee player.[38][39]

For back to back home runs, especially homers from opposite sides of the plate, Sterling references Harry Belafonte's "Zombie Jamboree" by saying "it's a back to back! ... and a belly to belly!" In addition, sometimes before a pitch he will say "theeeeeee pitch", lengthening the word the. If a batter swings and misses, Sterling will often say "cuuuuut on-and-missed", elongating the word cut, followed by on-n-miss pronounced as one quick word. After a strikeout swinging, he says "STRUCK HIM OUT SWINGING!", and for a strikeout looking he calls "STRIIIIKE THREE!", elongating the 'I' in strike.[citation needed]

In all cases when Sterling emphasizes the word "the", as is one of his signatures, he uses not the long ē ("thee") but the schwa ə ("thuh").[40]

Criticism

Sterling's style of play calling is heavily criticized in the media.[41] He is regularly criticized by Craig Carton and Phil Mushnick for his inaccurate calls.[42] Jim Norton of The Opie and Anthony Show routinely mocked Sterling's player nicknames and his emphasis on the "mmm" sound before saying "mmm-it is high, mmm-it is far. ..."[43]

Awards and honors

Sterling has won 12 Emmy Awards during his career, including two for Yankeeography.[44]

In 2024, following his retirement, he was nominated as a finalist for the Ford C. Frick Award from the National Baseball Hall of Fame.[45] The award went to Tom Hamilton instead.

Personal life

Sterling is a resident of Edgewater, New Jersey.[46] He had previously resided in Teaneck, New Jersey.[47] He was divorced in 2008 after 12 years of marriage to wife, Jennifer[5] and is the father of four, including a set of triplets, born in 2000.[10] In January 2015, he was among hundreds of displaced residents after a fire destroyed the Avalon at Edgewater complex building.[48][49]

In August 2020, Sterling was hospitalized for a blood infection.[50]

On September 1, 2021, after calling a Yankees game remotely from Yankee Stadium, Sterling was stranded in his car about a mile from his home in Edgewater by flooding following Hurricane Ida. Spanish-language Yankees broadcaster Rickie Ricardo, also an Edgewater resident, was driving his Jeep Cherokee home and rescued Sterling.[51]

On June 10, 2023, while broadcasting a game against the Boston Red Sox at Yankee Stadium, Sterling was hit in the head by a foul ball off the bat of Justin Turner. He continued broadcasting and returned to the booth the following night.[52]

References

  1. ^ Kirschner, Chris (June 15, 2020). "Now a Yankees radio icon, John Sterling was launched to stardom in Atlanta". The Athletic. Retrieved April 15, 2024. ...changed his last name from Sloss to Sterling because, he said, it gave him more shine.
  2. ^ Matthews, Wallace. "Happy Birthday To The Real Yankees Iron Man: John Sterling". forbes.com. Retrieved July 15, 2022.
  3. ^ Delessio, Joe (September 10, 2015). "Sterling loved, loathed, even by Yankees fans". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved June 28, 2022. Born in 1938 and raised on Manhattan's Upper East Side, Sterling began his radio career at a small station in upstate New York.
  4. ^ a b c Hoch, Bryan (April 15, 2024). "Legendary Yankees radio voice John Sterling retires: 'I leave very, very happy'". MLB.com. MLB Advanced Media. Retrieved June 10, 2024.
  5. ^ a b Pennington, Bill (October 1, 2011). "Voice of Yankees Draws High ratings and Many Critics". The New York Times. Retrieved October 3, 2011.
  6. ^ "Carl H. T. Sloss, Ad Director, 87". The New York Times. April 19, 1991. Retrieved October 3, 2011.
  7. ^ Ivry, Benjamin (August 17, 2021). "100 years of baseball on radio, a century of Jewish announcers". The Forward. Retrieved November 9, 2023.
  8. ^ Pennington, Bill (October 1, 2011). "Voice of Yankees Draws High Ratings and Several Critics". The New York Times. Retrieved October 1, 2011.
  9. ^ Marchard, Andrew. (June 30, 2018). "Inside the life of John Sterling, who’s one of a kind". New York Post. Retrieved May 19, 2023.
  10. ^ a b c d e f g "John Sterling". MLB.com. Archived from the original on March 7, 2009.
  11. ^ Canton, John (September 14, 2013). "Yankees radio broadcasts to air on WFAN in 2014". Awfulannouncing.com. Retrieved September 21, 2018.
  12. ^ "John Sterling and Neil Berg In Concert: Baseball and Broadway". TheaterMania. Archived from the original on February 4, 2013. Retrieved August 4, 2008.
  13. ^ Wagner, James (July 5, 2019). "After 5,060 Straight Yankees Games, a Day Off for John Sterling". The New York Times. Retrieved July 7, 2019.
  14. ^ Hoch, Bryan (April 15, 2024). "Sterling saw -- and called -- every moment of Jeter's HOF career". MLB.com. Retrieved April 16, 2024.
  15. ^ Rosenstein, Mike (October 18, 2021). "Get ready for less John Sterling on WFAN's Yankees broadcasts in 2022". nj.com. Retrieved October 18, 2021.
  16. ^ Marchand, Andrew (June 6, 2022). "John Sterling significantly cuts back on Yankees games for second half". New York Post. Retrieved June 6, 2022.
  17. ^ Bird, Hayden. "Red Sox fans will hear John Sterling's voice on WEEI for an inning during Yankees series". BostonGlobe.com. Boston Globe Media Partners, LLC. Retrieved September 20, 2018.
  18. ^ "Yankees, Red Sox play first-ever MLB game in Europe". dw.com. Deutsche Welle. Retrieved September 24, 2021.
  19. ^ "THE 46th ANNUAL NEW YORK EMMY AWARDS – 2003 WINNERS". The Emmy Awards. Retrieved August 3, 2008.
  20. ^ "Sterling on Sports". WCBS NewsRadio 880. August 3, 2008. Archived from the original on July 31, 2008. Retrieved August 4, 2008.
  21. ^ Hotch, Bryan (August 2, 2008). "Old Timers gather at the Cathedral". Major League Baseball (MLB.com). Archived from the original on August 5, 2008. Retrieved August 3, 2008.
  22. ^ Giuliani, Rudolph W. (October 29, 1999). "World Champion Yankees Celebration Speech". New York City: Government of. Archived from the original on May 14, 2008. Retrieved August 4, 2008.
  23. ^ "I Love a Parade: Yankees get ticker-tape treatment, City Hall rally". Sports Illustrated. Associated Press. January 30, 2000. Archived from the original on January 26, 2001. Retrieved August 4, 2008.
  24. ^ Raisman, Bob (August 2, 2019). "Retirement talk off limits for Suzyn Waldman, John Sterling". nydailynews.com. The New York Daily News. Retrieved August 18, 2020.
  25. ^ Castillo, Jorge (April 15, 2024). "John Sterling, 85, Yankees' longtime radio voice, retires". ESPN.com. Retrieved April 15, 2024.
  26. ^ Chandler, Joey (August 20, 2024). "John Sterling is coming out of retirement for a Yankees radio return". nj.com. Advance Local Media LLC. Retrieved August 21, 2024.
  27. ^ Marchand, Andrew. "Famed Yankees broadcaster John Sterling may return from retirement to call postseason games: Sources". The New York Times. Retrieved August 22, 2024.
  28. ^ Hoch, Bryan. "John Sterling to return to Yanks radio booth for postseason". mlb.com. MLB Advanced Media, LP. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
  29. ^ "Your 2024 World Series broadcast schedule and announcing primer". Awful Announcing. October 25, 2024.
  30. ^ "Years of calling Yankees games didn't prepare John Sterling to do play-by-play at the Kitten Bowl | For The Win". Ftw.usatoday.com. February 5, 2016. Retrieved September 21, 2018.
  31. ^ Monagan, Matt (December 16, 2018). "John Sterling did play-by-play for a Nets game and couldn't help giving one of his patented calls". MLB.com. MLB Advanced Media, LLC. Retrieved December 19, 2018.
  32. ^ a b LAPOINTE, John (October 24, 1998). "ON THE YANKEES; The Stadium's Grass Is Greener on the Radio". New York Times. Retrieved August 4, 2008.
  33. ^ Mushnik, Phil (August 15, 2007). "BROADCAST BOOTH ANOTHER CALLING". New York Post. Archived from the original on August 21, 2007. Retrieved August 4, 2008.
  34. ^ LAPOINTE, John (October 7, 2007). "Radio Choice". New York Times. Retrieved August 4, 2008.
  35. ^ Chad, Norman (July 6, 2008). "The Couch Slouch: Yanks' new yard: The House That Ruthless Built". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Retrieved August 4, 2008. At the new Yankee Stadium, they no longer will play 'Theme from New York, New York' after games.
  36. ^ MARTINEZ, Michael (May 27, 1991). "BASEBALL; Yanks Take Bus Home, But They're Flying High". New York Times. Retrieved August 4, 2008.
  37. ^ "Home Run Calls". Baseball Almanac. Retrieved September 29, 2024.
  38. ^ DeLessio, Joe (April 6, 2011). "The Seven Types of John Sterling Home-Run Calls". New York Magazine. Retrieved September 29, 2024.
  39. ^ "John Sterling's home run calls". Sports.newsday.com. August 8, 2016. Archived from the original on April 4, 2015. Retrieved September 21, 2018.
  40. ^ Friend, Harold. "John Sterling: New York Yankees' Confusing, "Blowhard" Broadcaster". bleacherreport.com. Bleacher Report, Inc. Retrieved April 20, 2024.
  41. ^ Pennington, Bill (October 1, 2011). "Voice of the Yankees draws high ratings and many critics". New York Times.
  42. ^ Mushnick, Phil (May 18, 2009). "Baseball Fans Deserve Better than Sterling". New York post.
  43. ^ 09-01-05 Jim Norton Hates John Sterling (Part One) (Radio broadcast). ClassicOnA. April 14, 2009 [September 1, 2005] – via YouTube.
  44. ^ "John Sterling Honored Yet Again". ramp247.com. RAMP Media, Inc. April 28, 2020. Retrieved February 16, 2024.
  45. ^ "2025 Ford C. Frick Award Ballot". baseballhall.org. National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. Retrieved December 8, 2024.
  46. ^ Klapisch, Bob (August 2008). "Covering All Bases: Radio's John Sterling, Edgewater, calls the hits for Yankee games". Vol. 201. p. 40.
  47. ^ Sullivan, Tara (September 17, 1998). "YANKS' AIR APPARENTS; STERLING, KAY A HIT BEYOND THEIR MIKES". The Record (Bergen County). p. S-6 – via Newspapers.com.
  48. ^ Hoch, Bryan (January 21, 2015). "Sterling loses Series rings in apartment complex fire". MLB.com. Retrieved September 29, 2024.
  49. ^ Raissman, Bob; Golgowski, Nina (January 21, 2015). "New York Yankees announcer John Sterling among hundreds left homeless when fire consumes Avalon at Edgewater apartment complex in New Jersey". New York Daily News. Retrieved September 29, 2024.
  50. ^ Marchand, Andrew (August 3, 2020). "Yankees voice John Sterling expects to return soon after blood infection scare". nypost.com. NYP Holdings, Inc. Retrieved August 4, 2020.
  51. ^ Caldera, Pete (September 2, 2021). "'I was scared': John Sterling on how he was rescued from flooding in NJ after Yankees game". North Jersey Media Group. Retrieved September 3, 2021.
  52. ^ Hoch, Brian. "What a trouper! Sterling back in booth after being hit by foul". mlb.com. MLB Advanced Media, LLC. Retrieved June 11, 2023.
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