NYC Radio: John Sterling To Cut Back on Yankees Games

John Sterling

Legendary Yankees radio play-by-player John Sterling will miss 25-30 road games in the second half of the season as he, the team and its flagship station, WFAN, manage his schedule, The NY Post reports.

Sterling, who turns 84 on July 4, will call all the Yankee home games and take trips to Fenway Park, Camden Yards and Citi Field. 

“It is just to recharge my batteries,” Sterling told The Post. “I’ve been doing road games with teams for 52 years. I love this game, but I hate being on the road.”

Sterling said he is following the example of the Mets’ Howie Rose, who is missing some trips. Sterling mentioned a host of play-by-players, including Vin Scully, who cut down on travel in their later years before retiring.

The Yankees and WFAN have identified candidates, including YES/ESPN’s Ryan Ruocco, Yankees’ digital reporter and Jomboy host Justin Shackil, Yankees Spanish language play-by-player Rickie Ricardo and they have thrown around the idea of radio analyst Suzyn Waldman maybe moving over to call a game or two, according to sources. 

Ruocco’s commitments to ESPN – he’s the lead voice on the WNBA, among other gigs – may limit his availability. Shackil could end up with the bulk of the games.

The expectation is that Sterling would call all the games, home and road, during the Yankees’ anticipated playoff appearance. 

Sterling and Audacy New York market president, Chris Oliviero, recently met at Yankee Stadium to plan out the rest of the season. The two had discussions prior to the season about lessening Sterling’s game load.

Sterling is in Minnesota for the Yankees’ three-games series with the Twins that begins on Tuesday.