One of the hardest things to do in sports is to replace a legend and that just doesn’t apply for players. You could be taking over for a legendary coach, manager or front office executive and you could also be taking over for a broadcaster who had been beloved by the organization and the fan base. In the case of Justin Shackil and Emmanuel Berbari, having the opportunity to fill in for long time Yankees radio play-by-play voice John Sterling and then assuming the shared role of taking over this year following Sterling’s retirement, has led to both of them using the same word to describe what it’s been like.
Surreal.
“I’m calling big league baseball,” said Shackil. “But to be trusted enough and to be lucky enough to do it for the team that I grew up a die-hard fan of and rooting for, that is the most surreal part about it.”
“Surreal would definitely be an understatement to describe it,” said Berbari. “You try to take a step back as you’re in the moment and really soak in your surroundings.”
A job like calling Yankees games or games for any MLB team is not an opportunity that grows on trees as there’s only 30 radio broadcast booths across Major League Baseball. For the 37-year-old Shackil and Berbari who turns 25 next month, this has been the opportunity of a lifetime even if the Yankees and WFAN (owned by Audacy) decide to go in a different permanent direction next season.
As of now, they are sharing the play-by-play duties through the end of the 2024 season.
“It’s meant everything to me,” said Shackil. “It really has whether John retired or not. You go into the season, and you think alright I’m keeping John’s seat warm for sure. I treated those opportunities the same way I’m treating the rest of the schedule this season. Every day is kind of like a dream especially with the team playing really well. It’s everything I thought it would be.”
For Berbari, it’s been pinch me moment after pinch me moment.
“I think every day has been the pinch me moment,” said Berbari. “It’s not only broadcasting and not only the big-league level but it’s the New York Yankees and everything that represents. Every day is a pinch me.”
The goal for any play-by-play announcer is to work your way up the ladder through the minor leagues with the hopes of one day landing a Major League Baseball job. For both Shackil and Berbari, this opportunity just happens to be with the team that they grew up watching and rooting for.
That’s not generally how this works.
“I’m so lucky,” said Shackil. “I have come to realize that that’s pretty rare at the Major League level. You kind of just take it for granted that this is the way it’s supposed to be but that’s not really the case around the country. That is the ultimate cherry on top for me.”
And they have taken the reigns of a job that was held by John Sterling from 1989 until early this season when he announced his immediate retirement. That certainly adds to the uniqueness of the opportunity at hand.
“It absolutely plays a role because John was and is one of a kind,” said Berbari. “He’s the gold standard when it comes to being authentically yourself and really not deviating from that and really mastering a craft and making it your own. This guy is one of one. He’s one of a kind.”
Not to sound like a broken record, but it’s not easy replacing a legend. For Shackil and Berbari, they simply just have to be the best versions of themselves because there was only one John Sterling.
“There’s no way to fill John’s shoes,” said Shackil. “I’m always focused on trying to fill my own shoes and that’s the approach I take every day. “The most direct advice that he gave me was to be myself. The lessons that I’ve learned by observing John is how to just dial up your energy, especially in the big moments because no one brought more enthusiasm and energy than John.”
For many of the big moments that Sterling called from the Yankees radio booth, his longtime “Yankees Campanera” Suzyn Waldman was by his side. And now, Waldman has warmly welcomed both Shackil and Berbari to the booth and the chemistry with both of them has been very good.
And they have both graciously accepted any tips and advice that she has sent their way.
“Suzyn has been super helpful,” said Shackil. “She’s a radio Hall of Famer. She knows what she’s doing and she has provided a lot of small detailed advice that the listener probably wouldn’t pick up on but it helps me immensely. I’m extremely grateful and that has gone such a long way sharing the booth with her.”
“She’s been amazing in helping me feel like it’s somewhere I can be and should be and she’s really mentoring me along the way,” said Berbari. “From the first game we did together, she couldn’t have been more comfortable to work with and made me feel like I belonged there. I still have and always will have so much to learn so she gives advice and feedback in a very perfect way.”
Growing up Yankee fans is not the only common bond that Shackil and Berbari share. They are both proud graduates of Fordham University in the Bronx growing that institution’s list of former college radio station WFUV alum on the Yankees broadcast team to five joining Michael Kay, Ryan Ruocco and Jack Curry.
The former Rams have also become great friends.
“I’ve known Emmanuel since he was in high school,” said Shackil. “He had been sending me his play-by-play work to critique for years. I think the world of him as a person and as a broadcaster. I’m enjoying watching how far he’s come at such a young age and how he’s taking advantage of these opportunities. We’re enjoying this together.”
“I think it’s been a really fulfilling experience sharing the role with Justin because we’ve known each other for years,” said Berbari. “I think we’ve sort of fed off one another for a while. We became colleagues starting last year where we were both doing postgame shows and we ended up calling games together and now we’re sharing this workload of doing play-by-play after John’s retirement.”
For Justin Shackil and Emmanuel Berbari, calling almost an entire season of Yankees games has been an experience that they both dreamed of. While stepping in following John Sterling’s retirement was certainly a big task, it’s a challenge that they’ve excelled in. While we don’t know what lies ahead next season, they both have an ultimate objective this season.
To be the radio voices of the (hopefully) 2024 World Champion New York Yankees.
Peter Schwartz writes weekly sports radio features for Barrett Media. He has been involved in New York sports media for over three decades, and has worked for notable brands such as WFAN, CBS Sports Radio, WCBS 880, ESPN New York, and FOX News Radio. Peter has also served as play by play announcer for the New Yok Riptide, New York Dragons, New York Hitmen, Varsity Media and the Long Island Sports Network. You can find him on Twitter @SchwartzSports or email him at DragonsRadio@aol.com.
