Dave Sims’ first year calling games for the New York Yankees drew national attention yesterday, as SiriusXM host Howard Stern took time to discuss Sims’ signature home run call from a recent broadcast. Specifically, Stern played a highlight of Sims calling a home run for Yankees catcher Austin Wells, where he tagged the call by saying ‘hey now.’
Interestingly, Stern is recognized for using the phrase over his many years in broadcast radio, largely due to his love for Gary Shandling and The Larry Sanders Show. While Stern didn’t take issue with the fact that Sims was doing the same, he did find it noteworthy enough to reference during his program on SiriusXM.
“Well, I say, hey now. He says, hey now,” Stern said, explaining the different ways in which the saying is used between Sims and himself. “We love ‘hey now’ so much, and we welcome Dave Sims to the Yankees. Because anybody who says ‘hey now’ has got to be a great guy.”
Later, in an interview on Thursday with WFAN’s Brandon Tierney and Sal Licata, Sims explained his use of the phrase.
“Yeah. I’ve watched The Larry Sanders Show, and I’ve heard Howard (Stern) say it,” explained Sims on WFAN. “Growing up household with music, the American standards. Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, etc. Mr. Sinatra sang a song that was written by Harold Arlen and Ted Koehler back in 1932. It was for an edition of the series Up At The Cotton Club. And if you’re familiar with the song, at the back end, it has a rising crescendo, and it says ‘hey now, I’m in love.’ So ten to twelve years ago, I just arrived to the ballpark and it sort of hit me.”
Sims began his first year in the Yankees radio booth following the retirement of John Sterling, who stepped away following the conclusion of last season. With the new position, Sims brought along his home run call from the Pacific Northwest and his 18 years with the Mariners.
Reflecting on the moment it all clicked, Sims said, “It (the Sinatra song) came on and I said, ‘I got to try that in a game one day.’ And I did. And it worked,” said Sims on WFAN. “I’ve used it in hoops, and largely in basketball, and I really enjoyed the pop that Howard (Stern) gave me.”
Finally, Sims explained that his previous stop at WNBC in New York began right as Stern left WNBC in 1985.
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