John Sterling, the longtime radio voice of the Yankees, has died at age 87

John Stirling, Radio Voice of the Theatre New York Yankees 36 is dead for part of the season, the team and radio station WFAN announced Monday. He was 87 years old.

Sterling underwent heart bypass surgery this winter and was attended by health care aides at his home in Edgewater, New Jersey, after the procedure.

Sterling had called 5,420 regular-season games and 211 postseason games when he retired just after the start of the season in April 2024. He has broadcast 5,060 consecutive games from September 1989 to July 2019 after starting with the Yankees as the pregame host.

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

Sterling came out of retirement to call Yankees games in the 2024 postseason.

“We are devastated to hear of the passing of John Sterling, a WFAN and Yankees radio icon whose voice was synonymous with an entire generation of Yankee fandom,” WFAN said in a statement.

Sterling has been on the air for 24 Yankees postseason trips, seven World Series appearances and five World Series titles.

Known for his signature “The Yankees win!” With the victory call and his personalized home run call, Sterling spent his last 20 seasons working with the Yankees with Suzyne Waldman.

“Through his unique style and passionate play-by-play calls, Sterling endeared himself to generations of players and fans as the radio voice of the Yankees from 1989 to 2024,” Major League Baseball said in a statement. “His signature punctuation of Yankees victories included calling the final out of five World Series championships.”

Sterling’s call for player home runs became as valuable a part of Yankees identity as the initial set of pinstripes or championship rings. As the debutant-ready rookie and former opponents came to trade, fans speculated on how he would label the debutant’s first longball.

from “Barney Goes Boom! Burn, Baby, Burn!” As for Bernie Williams, “It’s a jeter shaker!” For Derek Jeter “It’s an A-Bomb from A-Rod!” For Alex Rodriguez, “The Giambino!” Jason Giambi and “A Thrilla from Godzilla!” For Hideki Matsui, Sterling made a personal stamp from the clubhouse to the bleachers.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.