Yankees’ Sterling abruptly retires in year 36 in booth
NEW YORK » John Sterling, the hyperexcitable New York Yankees broadcaster known for decades of indelible, personalized home run calls, announced his immediate retirement Monday at age 85.
Sterling made the unexpected decision a few weeks into his 36th season as the Yankees’ radio playby-play voice. He had cut back his schedule in recent years and was not with the team for its current trip to Cleveland and Toronto.
He called 5,420 regular-season games, the last against the Blue Jays on April 7, plus 211 postseason games. Sterling broadcast 5,060 consecutive games from September 1989 through July 2019.
“I have been able to do what I wanted, broadcasting for 64 years,” Sterling said in a statement. “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.”
Holtzmann, who threw two no-hitters, dies at 78
CHICAGO » Ken Holtzman, MLB’s winningest Jewish pitcher who threw two no-hitters for the Chicago Cubs and helped the Oakland Athletics win three straight World Series championships in the 1970s, has died, the Cubs announced Monday on social media. He was 78.
Holtzman’s brother Bob Holtzman told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch he died Sunday night after being hospitalized for three weeks. He had been battling heart issues.
Holtzman grew up in the St. Louis area and starred at the University of Illinois before becoming a two-time All-Star. The lefthander posted a 174-150 record and 3.49 ERA from 1965 to 1979 with the Athletics, Cubs, New York Yankees and Baltimore Orioles.
Holtzman won nine more games than the Dodgers’ great Sandy Koufax, who was 165-87 over 12 seasons.
Holtzman played his first seven years with the Cubs, a stretch that included back-to-back 17win seasons and no-hitters against Atlanta at Wrigley Field on Aug. 19, 1969, and at Cincinnati on June 3, 1971. His nohitter against Atlanta remains the most recent in the majors thrown without a strikeout.
Marlins flip Burger onto IL
MIAMI » The Marlins placed infielder Jake Burger on the 10-day injured list because of a left intercostal muscle strain, another setback for Miami during a nightmarish start to the season.
Burger leads the Marlins in RBIs with 15 and is tied for the team lead in homers with three. Miami is 3-13, the worst record in the NL.
“I think I feel kind of where I thought I was going to feel this morning,” Burger said. “In the positive outlook, I don’t feel worse. Obviously, I wish I’d be feeling better. Now it’s just taking care of it and trying to get back as quick as possible. It doesn’t seem to be worse than what we thought.”
Seeking spark, Mariners call up Clase
SEATTLE » The Seattle Mariners called up top prospect Jonatan Clase on Monday, looking to help spark an offense that has underperformed in the first 2 ½ weeks of the season.
Clase was in the lineup batting eighth and playing left field in Monday’s opener against Cincinnati. He said it was surreal seeing a locker waiting for him in the Seattle clubhouse.