In a heartfelt tribute to their legendary radio voice, the New York Yankees revealed on Tuesday their plans to don a commemorative patch on their uniforms for the remainder of the season in memory of John Sterling. The beloved broadcaster, who passed away at 87 on Monday, will be honored with this patch starting May 18. Until then, the team will pay homage to Sterling by featuring “JS” on the back of their caps.
The patch design has been unveiled as part of the tribute.
“I love it,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said about the Sterling patch. “I think it’s appropriate. Glad we’ll be able to honor his legacy throughout the rest of the season.”
A native of New York City, Sterling began his storied tenure with the Yankees in 1989 and continued until his retirement in 2024. Over the years, he became synonymous with Yankees baseball, passionately narrating the team’s journey through five World Series championships. His incredible career spanned 5,631 games, more than 5,000 of which were consecutive broadcasts.
In a poignant statement released Monday, the Yankees remarked, “John Sterling brought energy and vibrancy to Yankees games for 36 years, wearing his love for both the sport and the team proudly. He connected with fans through his dramatic and distinct style, captivating generations with his broadcasts.”
The statement continued, “John cherished his role as the voice of the New York Yankees. His broadcasting flair was a perfect match for our city and fans. The harmony between John and his audience was truly special, and his well-loved calls will echo in our memories as long as the pinstripes endure — especially after every Yankees victory.”
Sterling’s legacy includes his iconic home run calls, each tailored to individual Yankees players. For instance, Alex Rodriguez’s home runs were celebrated with “An A-bomb for A-Rod.” Sterling’s signature phrase for a Yankees win, “the Yankees win,” was delivered with an unmistakably prolonged “the,” capturing the excitement of victory.
The Yankees played Sterling’s “thuh-uh-uh-uh Yankees win” call following the final out of Monday’s win at Yankee Stadium. Manager Aaron Boone and star Aaron Judge said they would like the team to continue that moving forward.
