The voice of the Yankees is no more. The voice defined by operatic theatricality, highly personalized player catchphrases, and unbridled enthusiasm, which called some of the most legendary games for the New York Yankees, has gone far beyond the foul line. John Sterling, the name who once called all to rise for Aaron Judge, passed away on Monday, May 4, 2026, at the age of 87.

And with him, the era of one of the most recognizable voices for the Bronx Bombers came to an end.

“An era of New York Yankees baseball is remembered through his voice. John Sterling’s passion and energy left a lasting mark on the game. Gone, but never forgotten. Rest in peace, John,” ESPN New York shared via X.

Sterling disclosed in February that he suffered a heart attack in early January, which affected his legs, though he stated his heart was in good shape at the time. There were no other reports about his health. While WFAN announced the news, the actual cause or location was not revealed.

Born on July 4, 1938, he had built a reputation, especially in New York and Atlanta, even before joining the Yankees.

Between 1970 and 1980, he called games for the NBA’s Bullets, the NHL’s Islanders, and the ABA/NBA’s Nets, while hosting on WMCA. He also served as the voice of the NBA’s Atlanta Hawks and covered the Atlanta Braves between 1981 and 1989. However, the Yankees and Sterling’s partnership was bound to happen, and it did in 1989, when he started broadcasting Yankees games on WABC radio.

Since then, he hadn’t missed a game through July 2019, spanning 5,060 consecutive ones! That’s for over a decade when fans knew who was taking on the broadcasting booth. In total, he called 5,631 Yankees games, including eight World Series appearances. By the time of his retirement, Sterling was known as “The Voice of the Yankees.”

“I am a very blessed human being,” John Sterling said before finally retiring in 2024. “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.”

In between, the Yankees fans witnessed some of the most memorable moments from the broadcasting booth.

He famously used the phrase “All Rise! Here comes the Judge!” following Aaron Judge’s MLB debut in 2016.

Then again, when Judge scored his 60th homer in 2022, Sterling remarked, “He’s tied the Babe! It’s a Judgian blast… All rise! Here comes the Judge!”

And in their Monday game against the Baltimore Orioles, Aaron Judge presented the perfect moment for the team’s current broadcasters to honor the Hall of Famer.

Following Judge’s two-run homer in the bottom of the first, the Yanks’ play-by-play announcer Michael Kay did his best Sterling impression.

“It is high! It is far! It is gone! Aaron Judge! A Judgian blast! Here comes the Judge!”

Even before the game, Kay, with his co-announcer, Suzyn Waldman, paid their respects to Sterling by placing white flowers on home plate. The Bombers also wore caps with John Sterling’s initials stitched into the back. Former Yankees’ players, too, extended their regards.

“John Sterling is as much a part of the fabric of the New York Yankees organization as any player. It was an honor to have him call every one of my games during my career and an absolute pleasure to get to know him on a personal basis. My thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends. He will be deeply missed,” wrote Derek Jeter.

And then, fans poured in their respects.

Fans bid adieu to John Sterling

Heaven will now surely echo with John Sterling’s voice, and fans hope he’ll continue to bring his signature energy there as well. “Ballgame over. Godspeed, Mr Sterling, Godspeed,” one wrote.

“A very sad, dark day in Yankees history. Nobody could ever question his passion for the game and the team. Rest in peace to a legendary figure of the Yankees franchise,” another fan added. Remember his intense, theatrical, and highly physical reactions in the broadcast booth. Sterling had personalized home run calls for players. “An A-bomb from A-Rod” for Alex Rodriguez and “Robbie Cano, don’t you know?” for Robinson Cano. He viewed himself as a performer on a stage rather than just a reporter. He used his physical expressions to fully engage with the rhythm of the game.

Keeping aside the golden rules of baseball commentary, the Yankees may not have another John Sterling who could create those intense theatrics in the booth with his signature victory call, “Ballgame over! The Yankees win! Thuuuuuuuuh Yankees win!” A user agreed, “His calls will live with the Yankees forever.”

“The Yankees win, the Yankees win, THEEEEE YANKEEEEESSSSS WIIIIIINNNNNN absolutely f—–g iconic,” another recalled. Let’s time-travel to the 1998 World Series Game 4.

The Yankees are winning against the Padres with Mariano Rivera’s groundout to third base, and Sterling calling, “Brosius throws to first… in time! Ballgame over! World Series over! The Yankees win! The Yankees win! For the second straight year, the third time in the last four years, and the 25th time in their history, the Yankees reached the pinnacle of sports.”

The Yankees’ 90s fans could recall how that victory call felt.

“RIP John. Some of the best Yankee calls of all time,” one fan bid adieu.

It’s a loss for MLB and the Yankees. As John Sterling has left for the heavenly world, we pray that eternal rest grant unto him. Baseball will miss you!