Andrew Marchand
@AndrewMarchand
NEWS: Legendary Yankees broadcaster John Sterling is expected to hold a press conference Friday with retirement a strong possibility, The Athletic has learned.
get a proper send off. I know he blows a lot of calls and some of the shtick on the home run calls has taken over but he has been an entertaining listen both intended and unintended and an Iconic narrator of my childhood and my sons'.
I hate how much he annoys me. Fully admit the guy knows his shit at least on some level and he's earned his way (from what I can tell at least) as he was a writer back in the 80s all the way to hosting YES shows. But he's awful. His voice literally makes me angry.
or will he do a little farewell tour? Either way, what a run. Sterling and Kay were magic on the radio during the Torre dynasty.
Quote:
There is an expectation among Yankees and WFAN officials that he will retire because of health concerns, according to people with direct knowledge of the situation. The team and the station have left it up to Sterling, leaving the possibility he could change his mind.
If Sterling goes through with his retirement, it is expected to go into effect immediately.
RE: the world will miss his hilariously wrong calls -
Yup, he became a charicature of himself a long time ago, but have to admit there’s something strangely endearing about him. He may be an insufferable doofus, but he’s our doofus
And in the end, the guys spent about 50 years broadcasting Yankee games…a career many only dream of
That was his shtick, and it didn't bother me. I only started to dislike Sterling as a broadcaster when he started blowing calls constantly, and having long stretches where he barely said anything about the actual game rather than some story.
I like John, but Suzyn grates on me. She's also been repeating herself a lot recently, like things she said seconds ago she'll say again like it was the first time. That's not a particularly good sign.
ready to step away. But as already noted, his ability to follow the game started declining quite awhile ago. Best wishes to him, but he hasn't been very good for awhile.
I guess I misremembered, lol. Could have sworn I listened to him in HS in the '60's but it says he started in NY in '71, at WMCA, by the way. Must have been confusing the early years with Bill Mazer
That was his shtick, and it didn't bother me. I only started to dislike Sterling as a broadcaster when he started blowing calls constantly, and having long stretches where he barely said anything about the actual game rather than some story.
And you don't mind him belting out a showtune for no good reason?
I guess I misremembered, lol. Could have sworn I listened to him in HS in the '60's but it says he started in NY in '71, at WMCA, by the way. Must have been confusing the early years with Bill Mazer
It's being reported (and everything I can find corroborates this) that his professional career began in 1970 covering the Washington Bullets. Not saying you're wrong, that's before my time.
Don't ever say it on the Yankees reddit. You'd think all of the posters there are blood relatives of Sterling, because they swarm if anyone even hints at criticism
Don't ever say it on the Yankees reddit. You'd think all of the posters there are blood relatives of Sterling, because they swarm if anyone even hints at criticism
I get the nostalgia effect, but how can anyone think he's been a good broadcaster for any part of at least the last decade?
RE: RE: RE: I have nothing personal against John Sterling
Don't ever say it on the Yankees reddit. You'd think all of the posters there are blood relatives of Sterling, because they swarm if anyone even hints at criticism
This is so true.
I'm sure I've shared this more than once here, but why not...???
Back in the summer of 1993 I was at a Wednesday matinee game. Abbott had just pitched the day or two before and threw really well. I used to like to wait outside the players'/press entrance to see players on the way out. Abbott was being swarmed for autographs. He looked at me (21 at the time) and politely said he wants to take care of the kids. I said no problem.
From just behind me, someone took my program. I turn and it's Sterling, about to sign it. I politely said, "No thank you" and started to take it back. He bellowed out, "YOU don't want MY autograph?!" I again said no thank you, I'm waiting for Abbott. He turned and stormed off to the parking lot.
to say it but considering how rushed this is (ceremony on Saturday) hard not to assume the worst.
That's what I was thinking. It's one thing to announce he'll be missing games. But, to very abruptly be retiring and then, if you're correct, and they are doing something for him, it has to be very serious.
Bryan Hoch ⚾️
@BryanHoch
John Sterling is retiring, effective immediately.
“I am a very blessed human being. I have been able to do what I wanted, broadcasting for 64 years. As a little boy growing up in New York as a Yankees fan, I was able to broadcast the Yankees for 36 years. It’s all to my benefit, and I leave very, very happy. I look forward to seeing everyone again on Saturday.”
I hope he enjoys a long retirement, and if he's healthy they can always bring him back to emcee special events.
Ryan Ruocco, whom I'm assuming takes over permanently, will do a fine job.
The speculation last year was Ruocco also. But, they've had Justin Shackil filling in, same as last year. Maybe that's temporary and for a permanent replacement they go in another direction. But, I don't even think they had Ruocco do a single game last year.
Kay said that his health is fine, that he just doesn't really want to do the job anymore.
I find that hard to believe. Last year he was distraught over not doing road games in the second half just to ease the burden. He didn't want to miss time, but felt he needed to.
Huh...I haven't listened to many radio broadcasts in the past few years, so I hadn't noticed.
I may be wrong, but I don't recall. I remember when they announced sometime in July that Sterling wouldn't be doing road games, but would do all home games, the general consensus among fans and media alike was Ruocco would be taking over. Then, every time I listened it was Shackil.
RE: RE: Really, Ruocco didn't do any games last year?
Huh...I haven't listened to many radio broadcasts in the past few years, so I hadn't noticed.
I may be wrong, but I don't recall. I remember when they announced sometime in July that Sterling wouldn't be doing road games, but would do all home games, the general consensus among fans and media alike was Ruocco would be taking over. Then, every time I listened it was Shackil.
He has done YES broadcasts, but I don't think radio for a few years. They've even gone Rickey Ricardo before Ruocco on radio. Like I said, One, I could be wrong, but 2, it may be they would offer him the full-time gig, but fill in isn't possible with his schedule or whatever.
Although, he did fill in last year for Kay when he was out.
I haven't listened to the Yanks on radio in many years, but
I sure used to a lot back in the day. I always thought the best team was Rizzuto, Bill White and Frank Messer. You could tell White thought Rizzuto was a little crazy but he was very subtle about it in a funny way. And White was a very straight shooter about the baseball side of it. Messer was kind of the straight man between those two and did a lot of the PBP.
Even when straight shooting, White still was fun, especially with Rizzuto. And Messer was a good play by play guy. Back then, they used to rotate 1 guy to the radio as well and rotate.
A real gem was the rare occasions where they got Scooter to just talk baseball. It was usually something like a rain delay. When he would reminisce he was amazing. He had very clear memories and really was great at telling them. No "huckleberry" or birthdays or even "Holy Cow!" Just pure baseball and he was a great listen. For all the times he would be all over the place in the booth, these occasions, he could talk pure baseball for an hour straight and not miss a beat and with great detail.
Is my memory faulty, or did they do Scooter a little dirty, forcing him out?
Is my memory faulty, or did they do Scooter a little dirty, forcing him out?
He was upset when he wasn't allowed to skip a game to go to Mantle's funeral in 1995 (he was so upset he couldn't even make it through the game), and announced his retirement at the end of the season. Ultimately he was convinced to come back in 1996, and then retired for good that fall.
I hate how much he annoys me. Fully admit the guy knows his shit at least on some level and he's earned his way (from what I can tell at least) as he was a writer back in the 80s all the way to hosting YES shows. But he's awful. His voice literally makes me angry.
If Sterling goes through with his retirement, it is expected to go into effect immediately.
Yup, he became a charicature of himself a long time ago, but have to admit there’s something strangely endearing about him. He may be an insufferable doofus, but he’s our doofus
And in the end, the guys spent about 50 years broadcasting Yankee games…a career many only dream of
You can't predict it.
I like John, but Suzyn grates on me. She's also been repeating herself a lot recently, like things she said seconds ago she'll say again like it was the first time. That's not a particularly good sign.
Same here.
I guess I misremembered, lol. Could have sworn I listened to him in HS in the '60's but it says he started in NY in '71, at WMCA, by the way. Must have been confusing the early years with Bill Mazer
Quote:
years covering pro sports. Remarkable.
I guess I misremembered, lol. Could have sworn I listened to him in HS in the '60's but it says he started in NY in '71, at WMCA, by the way. Must have been confusing the early years with Bill Mazer
It's being reported (and everything I can find corroborates this) that his professional career began in 1970 covering the Washington Bullets. Not saying you're wrong, that's before my time.
This is definitely health related. He hasn't done a game in 2 weeks and the first one he missed was the home opener due to illness.
Don't ever say it on the Yankees reddit. You'd think all of the posters there are blood relatives of Sterling, because they swarm if anyone even hints at criticism
Quote:
I didn't want to say it, but you did!
Don't ever say it on the Yankees reddit. You'd think all of the posters there are blood relatives of Sterling, because they swarm if anyone even hints at criticism
Quote:
I didn't want to say it, but you did!
Don't ever say it on the Yankees reddit. You'd think all of the posters there are blood relatives of Sterling, because they swarm if anyone even hints at criticism
This is so true.
From just behind me, someone took my program. I turn and it's Sterling, about to sign it. I politely said, "No thank you" and started to take it back. He bellowed out, "YOU don't want MY autograph?!" I again said no thank you, I'm waiting for Abbott. He turned and stormed off to the parking lot.
@BryanHoch
John Sterling is retiring, effective immediately.
“I am a very blessed human being. I have been able to do what I wanted, broadcasting for 64 years. As a little boy growing up in New York as a Yankees fan, I was able to broadcast the Yankees for 36 years. It’s all to my benefit, and I leave very, very happy. I look forward to seeing everyone again on Saturday.”
THIS!!!!
Ryan Ruocco, whom I'm assuming takes over permanently, will do a fine job.
You misspelled “Suzyn”.
Ryan Ruocco, whom I'm assuming takes over permanently, will do a fine job.
Quote:
Huh...I haven't listened to many radio broadcasts in the past few years, so I hadn't noticed.
I may be wrong, but I don't recall. I remember when they announced sometime in July that Sterling wouldn't be doing road games, but would do all home games, the general consensus among fans and media alike was Ruocco would be taking over. Then, every time I listened it was Shackil.
Although, he did fill in last year for Kay when he was out.
A real gem was the rare occasions where they got Scooter to just talk baseball. It was usually something like a rain delay. When he would reminisce he was amazing. He had very clear memories and really was great at telling them. No "huckleberry" or birthdays or even "Holy Cow!" Just pure baseball and he was a great listen. For all the times he would be all over the place in the booth, these occasions, he could talk pure baseball for an hour straight and not miss a beat and with great detail.
Is my memory faulty, or did they do Scooter a little dirty, forcing him out?
He was upset when he wasn't allowed to skip a game to go to Mantle's funeral in 1995 (he was so upset he couldn't even make it through the game), and announced his retirement at the end of the season. Ultimately he was convinced to come back in 1996, and then retired for good that fall.