John Sterling, the radio play-by-play voice of the New York Yankees for over three decades, has passed away. He was 87. “Sterling had undergone heart bypass surgery this winter and was attended by health care aides at his home in Edgewater, New Jersey, after the procedure,” ESPN reports. “The Yankees mourn the loss of legendary broadcaster John Sterling. Our thoughts are with John’s family, friends and loved ones at this time,” the Yankees said on X. The Yankees mourn the loss of legendary broadcaster John Sterling. Our thoughts are with John’s family, friends and loved ones at this time. pic.twitter.com/1rCeRC1D61 — New York Yankees (@Yankees) May 4, 2026 ESPN shared further: Sterling had called 5,420 regular-season games and 211 postseason games when he retired in April 2024 just after the season’s start. He broadcast 5,060 consecutive games from September 1989 through July 2019 after beginning with the Yankees as a pregame host. Sterling came out of retirement to call Yankees games during the 2024 postseason. “We pause today — along with millions of Yankees fans around the world — to recognize the passing of one of our own,” the team said in a statement. “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.” Sterling was on the air for 24 Yankees postseason trips, seven World Series appearances and five World Series titles. Statement from the New York Yankees regarding the passing of legendary Yankees Radio Voice John Sterling: pic.twitter.com/mKy6fZyDzs — New York Yankees (@Yankees) May 4, 2026 “THUUUUUGH YANKEES WIN! The incredible voice all Yankees fans will cherish forever and never forget. RIP to the great John Sterling,” Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) said. THUUUUUGH YANKEES WIN! The incredible voice all Yankees fans will cherish forever and never forget. RIP to the great John Sterling. https://t.co/fwQijQnVu1 — Elise Stefanik (@EliseStefanik) May 4, 2026 Watch Sterling’s final Yankees home run call below: John Sterling's final Yankees home run call. Rest in peace to a legend. pic.twitter.com/1OrvkdatfF — New York Post Sports (@nypostsports) May 4, 2026 More from The New York Times: Although he worked exclusively on radio — for WABC, WCBS and WFAN — Mr. Sterling almost always wore a suit and tie to speak to an audience that could not see him. He was polarizing for his mistakes: He sometimes thought long fly balls were home runs, and lost sight of balls hit into the corners of the outfields of stadiums. But he was popular with Yankee fans. They loved his over-the-top bias toward the team — he could be critical of them, too, when necessary — and his madcap elation at their wins, when he would quiver excitedly in his seat, wave his arms over his head, pump a fist and shout in his baritone: “Ballgame over! The Yankees win! Thuuuuuuuuh Yankees win!” Mr. Sterling was known for augmenting his signature home run call — “That ball is high, it is far, it is gone!” — with a series of catchphrases, tailored to dozens of players, that could variously be clever, clunky or kooky. “It’s a Judgian blast!” he’d exult when the slugger Aaron Judge hit a homer. “All rise, here comes the Judge!” “Bernie goes boom!” he would say when Bernie Williams, the Yankees’ star center fielder, went deep. “Burn, Bernie, burn!” For Didi Gregorius, who played shortstop for five seasons, he yelped: “Yes, in-Didi — Didi Gregorius makes Yankee fans euphorious!” For Gio Urshela, a third baseman, he rhapsodized, “Gio Urshela, ‘The Most Happy Fella’!” and jauntily sang a snippet from the title song of that 1956 Broadway musical. For the second baseman Gleyber Torres, he declared, riffing on a State Farm insurance jingle, “And like a good Gleyber, Torres is there!” And for the Japanese slugger Hideki Matsui, he said, “A thrilla from Godzilla!”