John Sterling will step away from the microphone effective immediately after serving as the voice of the Yankees since 1989, but fellow broadcaster Michael Kay wondered why the legendary voice won’t call one final game before hanging up his headphones.
Kay was reacting to the announcement during Monday’s “The Michael Kay Show” on ESPN New York and YES Network when he wondered out loud why Sterling wouldn’t give the fans one final chance to hear him call a game.
“I don’t know why he won’t do one more game just to give people closure,” Kay said during his radio program. “People want to hear that one final game. They experienced that one final game and they didn’t know it was his one final game.”
While he won’t be back behind the mic calling a game, the Yankees will honor Sterling with a ceremony on Saturday, and he will make his way to the WFAN booth during the game that day.
Still, “The Michael Kay Show” co-host Don La Greca agreed with Kay on wishing Sterling would do one more game, while Kay added later in the show that he’d love to call a game with Sterling later in the season on YES.
“We can’t say we’re surprised by this announcement because he’s going to be 86 years old.” La Greca explained. “The day was going to come sooner than later, I just think people thought they’d know the last game. And I just wonder when he sees the outpouring of emotion from the fans, whether given the opportunity to do just one last game, whether he would take that opportunity.”
Sterling hasn’t been behind the mic on a Yankees radio broadcast since April 7 when the Bombers defeated the Blue Jays 8-3 at Yankee Stadium.
His final call was Dennis Santana striking out Cavan Biggio.
“Now the right-hander will deal the payoff,” Sterling could be heard on his final call. “Strike three is called. Ball game is over. And Yankees win. The Yankees win. They win it 8-3. They defeat Toronto two out of three and they go 8-2.”
Sterling’s final home run call in that same game when Giancarlo Stanton hit a grand slam in the bottom of the third.
“Non dimenticar! That ball sure traveled far! Giancarlo!” Sterling sang as part of the home run call that afternoon.
In an interview on WFAN’s “Evan and Tiki,” Sterling seemed to indicate the thought of retiring had been something that was on his mind for some time and he expressed regret in not making the decision earlier than he did.
“I just don’t want to do any more work,” he said. “I’ve worked for 64 years and in July I’ll be 86, so let’s face it, my time has come.”