Legendary announcer coming out of retirement for playoff run

John Sterling’s chair in the New York Yankees radio booth is being returned to its rightful owner for the postseason.

With the Yankees fully expecting to make the playoffs this season, we might not know who they will play, but we now know who will be calling the games on WFAN: Suzyn Waldman and the 86-year-old John Sterling, who announced his retirement in April.

The Athletic’s Andrew Marchand was first to report the news of Sterling’s decision to come out retirement. Marchand was also first to report the news that Sterling was interested in coming out of retirement for the playoffs. Last month, Sterling told Marchand he would “feel bad for the guys who have done the games this year” but noted, “the ball is in their court,” referring to the decision-makers.

Justin Shackil, Emmanuel Berbari, and Ricki Ricardo have done most of the games this year. Although Craig Carton did get in on the action last month. But as WFAN used a rotating cast of announcers to fill Sterling’s void, a big question loomed about the playoffs. That question has now been answered by Sterling himself and no one would argue that he didn’t deserve first pass at the open seat in the radio booth.

According to Marchand, Sterling is expected to call a few regular season games to prepare for the playoffs. Sterling is also expected to resume retirement after the playoffs.

Sterling announced his retirement in April, just two and a half weeks into the Major League Baseball season. And although the Yankees already held a ceremony to honor his career, consider this playoff cameo a more proper sendoff than the 83-inch TV the club gifted Sterling with.

The playoff schedule is undoubtedly less grueling than the regular season, but it will be interesting to see how Sterling is able to turn it back on after six months of retirement, particularly if the Yankees can go deep into the playoffs. But after a 64-year broadcasting career and 36 years of service to the Yankees, Sterling undoubtedly earned the right to take his chair back for one last October run.

[ The Athletic ]

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