END OF AN ERA

I crossed paths with John Sterling once, and it felt exactly how you’d hope it would. He was warm, gracious, and every bit the gentleman his voice suggested. We traded a few pleasantries, and I told him something I’d meant for years—that listening to him was a comfort, like a familiar rhythm in the background of life. I loved him in the booth, especially alongside Suzyn Waldman. Together, they weren’t just calling games—they were part of the experience. Yup, sometimes it was absurd, but many times looking back... it just worked.

There was always something a little larger-than-life about John Sterling. Not just the voice, but the presence behind it.

And now, some tough news to take in: John Sterling has passed away at 87. The New York Yankees confirmed it Monday. He took over play-by-play duties in 1989 and somehow turned consistency into legend—over 5,000 consecutive broadcasts without missing a game. That’s an ironman saga. Even when he eased into a lighter schedule later on, his voice never lost its spark.

And those calls… unforgettable. “It is high, it is far, it is gone!” still echoes like it’s bouncing off the upper deck. And when it was all said and done: “Ballgame over. Yankees win. Theeeeeeeee Yankees WIN!”—no one stretched a moment quite like he did.

Rest easy, John. Thanks for the soundtrack.