John Sterling retires, worked for Atlanta

The New York Yankees announced the retirement of their longtime playby-play radio voice, John Sterling, effective immediately.

The Athletic reported that Yankees officials and WFAN employees believe Sterling decided to retire due to issues concerning his health.

Sterling, 85, has called 5,420 regular-season Yankees games and 211 in the postseason. He will be recognized in a pregame ceremony Saturday and will make an in-game appearance to the WFAN booth during the matchup against the Tampa Bay Rays.

“I am a very blessed human being,” Sterling said in a prepared statement. “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.”

Sterling, who joined the club during the 1989 season, called 5,060 consecutive games from September 1989 to July 2019. His final game this season was the Yankees’ 8-3 win over Toronto on April 7.

“Fans find a certain comfort in the daily rhythms of baseball,” the Yankees said in a statement. “Day in and day out, season after season, and city after city, John Sterling used his seat in the broadcast booth to bring Yankees fans the heartbeat of the game, employing an orotund voice and colorful personality that were distinctly, unmistakably his own . ...

“We congratulate John on a remarkable and illustrious career. His contributions to this great game and to the Yankees franchise will echo long into the future.”

Prior to joining the Yankees, Sterling called Atlanta Hawks basketball (198189) and Atlanta Braves games (198287) as well as the New York/New Jersey Nets (1975-80) and the NHL’s New York Islanders (1975-78).

Sterling also called Morgan State Football (eight years) and Washington Bullets basketball in 1981.