NEW YORK (VINnews) — John Sterling, the longtime radio voice of the New York Yankees known for his distinctive home run calls and decades behind the microphone, has died. He was 87.

His passing was announced Monday by WFAN, where he became a defining presence for generations of listeners.

Sterling began calling Yankees games in 1989 and remained a fixture on the air for more than three decades, covering championship seasons and thousands of consecutive broadcasts. His animated style and signature phrases helped shape the soundtrack of Yankees baseball for fans across New York and beyond.

Over the years, he developed personalized calls for star players, including Alex Rodriguez and Aaron Judge, adding flair to his play-by-play and further cementing his connection with the team’s audience.

Before returning to New York, Sterling’s broadcasting career included work with multiple professional teams, among them the Baltimore Bullets, New York Islanders and New York Nets.

He retired in 2024 after more than 60 years in broadcasting. Earlier this year, Sterling had experienced a heart attack but was said to be recovering.

Reactions from across the sports world highlighted his lasting impact, with many noting that his voice became inseparable from the Yankees’ modern era.