RIP John Sterling

[2muchcoffeeman]

 

[Webster]

Certainly a quintessential New York institution who by all accounts was a very decent man. As a broadcaster, by all accounts he was a very decent man.

 

[wicked]

Even as a Sox fan, I had a soft spot for the guy. RIP.

 

[Baron Scicluna]

“Well, you know Suzyn, you just can’t tell when you’ll get that call to that great big broadcasting booth to the sky.”

He could be annoying at times, but he was there for so many great Yankees moments and sounds like he was a really good guy. RIP

 

[BitterYoungMatador2]

He was also on the call for the Braves wacky July 4th game in 1985.

 

[BTExpress]

He was also on the call for the Braves wacky July 4th game in 1985.

And he prefaced the Camp HR beforehand by saying, "Ernie, if he hits a home run to tie this game, this game will be certified as absolutely the nuttiest in the history of baseball."

 

[playthrough]

He was also on the call for the Braves wacky July 4th game in 1985.

To me he'll always be one of the voices on TBS, along with Skip Caray, Ernie Johnson and Pete Van Wieren. Absolutely terrific lineup.

 

[HanSenSE]

Not even a goodness gracious.

 

[MTM]

I'm going to Hell, but all that's running through me head is John Sterling died, Johnnnnnnnnnnnnnn Sterrrrrrrrrrrling died.

 

[HanSenSE]

I'm going to Hell, but all that's running through me head is John Sterling died, Johnnnnnnnnnnnnnn Sterrrrrrrrrrrling died.

Coupled in the wagering with "It is high! It is fair And he is outta here!"

 

[Slacker]

I guess I'd expect his time of death to be reviewed.

"And there he goes, off the charts and rising high. He's homeward-bound and heaven-sent. ... And now he bounces back like a hard smash off the left-centerfield wall. Incredible showing, a Yankee legend through and through. Nurses, gather 'round."

 

[Batman]

Not even a goodness gracious.

"GOODNESS GRACIOUS! Of all the things I've ever seen! John Sterling is in a pine box!"

 

[MileHigh]

The Pearly Gates have won! The Peeeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrllllllllllllllllllllllyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy Gates have won!

 

[DanielSimpsonDay]

I'm going to Hell, but all that's running through me head is John Sterling died, Johnnnnnnnnnnnnnn Sterrrrrrrrrrrling died.

He iiiiis...GONE!

 

[dixiehack]

OK, now it feels like a John Sterling thread on SJ.

 

[micropolitan guy]

Suzyn will be late for the funeral/memorial service and blame the traffic on the Major Deegan.

 

[DanOregon]

I don't know if I could ID a living announcer's home run call these days. You always heard Sterling's on the sports updates. It was kind of perfect for New York though. Very show-biz and obnoxious.

 

[BYH 2: Electric Boogaloo]

Not even a goodness gracious.

He could be...a handful to work with. The Charley Steiner stories are legendary. He drove Suzyn crazy too. But what broadcasting icons aren't persnickety?

I'm sure other markets have broadcasters/personalties who morphed from mocked/scorned into local icons, but I can't think of anyone who traveled that path for as long as Sterling. For so many of us non-Yankees people, there were years and years of mocking/scorning him, and then one day where we just got it and understood he was part of the experience for Yankees fans. I suppose there might be another Sterling down the road if the Steinbrenners hang on to the team, but it's hard to envision. RIP.

 

[Della9250]

Towards the end he was a near impossible listen with all the mistakes but in your 80s understandable. But that late 90s stretch he was really, really good.

 

[da man]

To me he'll always be one of the voices on TBS, along with Skip Caray, Ernie Johnson and Pete Van Wieren. Absolutely terrific lineup.

I loved listening to all those guys — except Sterling. And he was awful on the Hawks. But that doesn’t mean this is not a sad occasion.