John Sterling’s time away from the New York Yankees‘ broadcast booth is coming to an end, as the team’s longtime radio announcer will be returning to call playoff games in October.
Sterling, 86, announced his immediate retirement in April, saying he didn’t have the “strength and stamina” to continue in the role. He had called Yankees games since 1989, which amounted to 5,420 regular-season and 211 playoff games.
According to The Athletic’s Andrew Marchand, Sterling will call home and road playoff games for the Yankees and will be back with his longtime broadcast partner, Suzyn Waldman.
“What I really miss is broadcasting with Suzyn, who is such a fabulous partner,” Sterling told Evan and Tiki on WFAN on Thursday. “This will give me a chance at a last hurrah and work with Suzyn again.”
Sterling added that he will return to the booth during the Yankees’ final home stand of the season later this month.
Justin Shackil, Rickie Ricardo and Emmanuel Berbari have taken over radio play-by-play duties for the Yankees since Sterling’s retirement in mid-April.
Sterling said that he has kept busy by watching and listening to Yankees games and that once his short return is over, he’ll have a busy schedule with football, basketball and hockey seasons on the horizon.
“Sports will always be my life,” he said. “I love it.”
The Yankees honored Sterling days after his April announcement. When he reunited with his former radio partner Michael Kay in the YES Network television booth and was asked if he envisioned watching a game later in the season and wishing he’d been able to call that action, Sterling said his tank was empty.
“No,” he said. “I’m exhausted. Mel Stottlemyre would say to the pitcher in his last inning, ‘Empty the tank.’ Well, my tank is empty.”
Marchand noted that Sterling’s radio return is not expected to continue into the 2025 season.
