LAMAMIMET

John Sterling (July 4, 1938 – May 4, 2026) was born John Sloss in New York City and grew up on Manhattan’s Upper East Side. He began his broadcasting career after leaving college, working at a small station in Wellsville, New York, and later in Baltimore as the voice of the Bullets.

He moved to New York in the early 1970s, hosting talk shows on WMCA and calling games for the New York Raiders, New York Stars, New York Islanders, and the New York/New Jersey Nets, while also covering college football for Morgan State University.

In 1989 Sterling became the radio play‑by‑play announcer for the New York Yankees, a role he held until his retirement in April 2024. Over his tenure he delivered iconic home‑run calls such as “It is high, it is far, it is gone!” and became synonymous with generations of Yankees fans, calling over 5,000 consecutive games and witnessing multiple World Series championships.

Sterling earned two Emmy Awards for his work on the YES Network’s Yankeeography series and was celebrated for his distinctive voice and memorable catchphrases. His death at age 87 was announced by WFAN, marking the loss of a beloved figure in baseball broadcasting.