John Sterling Had Heartbreaking Last Wish Before His Death at 87

Originally posted on The Spun | By Andrew Holleran | Last updated May 4, 2026 4:22 PM ET

John Sterling, the legendary New York Yankees announcer, passed away on Monday. He was 87 years old.

Sterling, the radio play-by-play man for the Yankees from 1989 until his retirement in 2024, is one of the most iconic announcers in baseball history.

"We are saddened by the passing of former New York Yankees broadcaster John Sterling. Through his unique style and passionate play-by-play calls, Sterling endeared himself to generations of players and fans as radio voice of the Yankees from 1989 to 2024. His signature punctuation of Yankees victories included calling the final out of five World Series championships. Sterling’s seven-decade broadcasting career also included stints with the Atlanta Braves and Hawks, the New York Nets and Islanders, and the Baltimore Bullets. He was 87 years old," MLB announced.

We are saddened by the passing of former New York Yankees broadcaster John Sterling.

Through his unique style and passionate play-by-play calls, Sterling endeared himself to generations of players and fans as radio voice of the Yankees from 1989 to 2024.

His signature… pic.twitter.com/cKhJC368zy
— MLB (@MLB) May 4, 2026

Sterling, who called some of the most legendary games in Yankees franchise history, had one final wish before his death.

Michael Kay, a fellow longtime Yankees broadcaster, revealed that Kay was holding on in his final days, as his daughter is getting married this summer. Tragically, he was unable to make it to the date.

“His oldest daughter is getting married this summer, and he said, ‘Michael, I have to walk her down the aisle.’ And that’s why he was hanging on,” Kay revealed.

Kay got emotional.

“But he had trouble about a week ago. Heart failure, and then he finally succumbed today,” Kay said through tears. “The only thing he wanted to do, he was unable to make it.”

Kay remembered his longtime friend in a touching way on Monday

Kay is understandably heartbroken.

“I look at John as one of the closest friends I’ve ever had,” Kay said during his Monday radio show on ESPN New York, per Awful Announcing. “And the funny part is, the people that are listening right now probably feel the same way because you spent 36 summers with him as the voice of the Yankees on the radio. The good news that he brought you, the five championships that he brought you, all the great moments he brought you, he was your friend. That’s why baseball on radio is the greatest thing of any sport.”

Sterling had an incredible streak of 5,060 straight games called on air, starting in 1989.

“John Sterling was one of a kind,” Kay continued. “I have never, ever, ever, ever in my life met anybody like him. And I know that as long as I live, I will never meet anybody like him. He was one of one.”

Our thoughts are with his friends and family members.

May he rest in peace.

This article first appeared on The Spun and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: