Yankees announcer John Sterling to address future amid retirement rumors

By Zac Wassink | Last updated 4/15/24

Legendary New York Yankees radio announcer John Sterling told Brendan Kuty of The Athletic earlier this month that he realized he was "near the end" of his remarkable career at the age of 85.

That end may come sooner than some realized back on April 5.

Andrew Marchand of The Athletic reported on Monday afternoon that Sterling is expected to announce his future plans during a news conference on Friday.

Marchand added that the Yankees and also officials at WFAN, the radio home of the storied franchise, believe Sterling will retire because of health concerns. However, the Yankees and WFAN are leaving the door open for Sterling to change his mind.

Michael Blinn of the New York Post later confirmed that Sterling "is expected to announce his retirement" on Friday.

The Yankees are coming off a road series at the Cleveland Guardians and will open a three-game tilt at the Toronto Blue Jays on Monday night.

Sterling isn't scheduled to resume calling Yankees games until the club hosts the Tampa Bay Rays on Friday evening, but Marchand wrote that a retirement "is expected to go into effect immediately" if Sterling goes that route.

"We are going to have a press conference to do everything on Friday," Sterling revealed.

Sterling originally began calling Yankees games in 1989 and worked 5,060 consecutive contests until that streak ended in the summer of 2019.

He became famous throughout the MLB community for personalized home-run calls and for how he marks each Yankees victory with his signature "Yankees win!" phrase:

"The games are easy," Sterling told Kuty after the announcer enjoyed the offseason with his family. "The travel is tough. … In all the months I was home, I loved it. I do what I want and I live a great life. But I like the games. You’ll see it. When I start the games, it’s easy for me to get all the way up. I don’t have to prepare. It’s inside of me."

In that same conversation, Sterling mentioned that he was "very healthy."

WFAN already has Justin Shackil and Emmanuel Berbari working road games in Sterling's place. Marchand shared that Shackil and Berbari will replace Sterling on a full-time basis assuming the veteran confirms his retirement ahead of the upcoming weekend.

More must-reads: