John Sterling, the longtime radio play-by-play announcer for the New York Yankees, officially retired from his position in mid-April after calling 5,420 regular-season games and 211 postseason contests. Sterling, a member of the New York State Broadcasters Hall of Fame and 12-time Emmy Award winner, was recognized in a pregame ceremony at Yankee Stadium where the organization thanked him for his work and congratulated him on his retirement. A few months later, Audacy revealed that Sterling was returning to the broadcast booth for the final six games of the regular season and throughout the Yankees’ playoff run.
Although the team fell short of securing a World Series championship, falling in five games to the Los Angeles Dodgers, baseball fans were excited to have Sterling documenting the action once again. Keith McPherson, radio host on WFAN and an avid Yankees fan, expressed his appreciation to Sterling while interviewing the broadcaster on his Wednesday program. Aside from discussing news surrounding the team, including the departure of outfielder Juan Soto to the crosstown rival New York Mets and signing of pitcher Max Fried to an eight-year contract, McPherson asked Sterling about what it was like to come back and conclude his time in the team’s radio booth.
“[I] went on the road for the playoffs to Kansas City, Cleveland and LA, and the only thing I came out with, Keith, was a desire to never travel again, and I mean that,” Sterling said. “I’ve been chasing after teams for over 53 years, but as far as doing the games, I loved it; it was easy. That’s the easiest thing I do are the ballgames – the easiest thing.”
Sterling expressed he had missed working alongside analyst Suzyn Waldman and the camaraderie that occurs throughout the press box. For the upcoming 2025 season, Waldman will remain on the broadcasts alongside Dave Sims, who has served as a play-by-play announcer for the Seattle Mariners over the last 18 seasons.
McPherson remembers traveling to Seattle for the 2023 MLB All-Star Game and observing how those in the city revered Sims and his indelible impact on the organization. Sims, who is originally from New York, frequently texted with Waldman during the Yankees games and voiced his excitement for the opportunity while appearing last month with Boomer & Gio. Sterling believes that the new broadcast duo will be successful as the Yankees seek to attain a 33rd consecutive winning season.
“I’ve known Dave since he was a writer for the Daily News and I was doing the Nets and he was covering them,” Sterling said. “That was in the ‘70s, which is like 50 years ago, but he’s a very nice guy. He and Suzyn get along especially well, so I would assume they’re going to be great on the air together.”
Sims has been nominated for the Ford C. Frick Award and previously hosted talk shows on both WNBC and WFAN in New York City. Outside of baseball, he has covered the National Football League for Westwood One, along with college basketball for ESPN. Sims will be chronicling Yankees baseball throughout the season on WFAN, which has served as the flagship radio home of the New York Yankees since 2014.
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