"A New York Treasure" --Village Voice

“That’s baseball, Suzyn…”

In the spring of 1998 I was living alone in a small apartment in Long Beach, California. The internet was as awkward as a teenager back then, full of promise but lacking any direction or purpose. Radio stations were just beginning to stream their live content on line, and since Major League Baseball had not yet caught up with the technology, game broadcasts were available for free to anyone with an internet connection.

I quickly established a baseball driven routine. I’d get home by four or five o’clock each evening, log into AOL.com, and open their distant ancestor to today’s MLB Game Day. A tiny window no larger than two or three  postage stamps would keep me updated on the Yankee score as pixels danced across a miniature diamond to show me which runners were on base. Next I’d navigate my way to WFAN to listen to their live feed of that night’s game, not for a minute missing the irony that all this cutting edge technology was giving me nothing more than baseball fans had been enjoying for the previous eight decades — a simple radio broadcast.

Nineteen ninety-eight was a good year to be a Yankee fan, and as I listened to one win after another that spring, I came to know and love the deep tones of John Sterling. His radio partner in those days was a young Michael Kay, and while they worked well together, there always seemed to be the slightest bit of tension between them, with the younger Kay latching onto his three innings of play-by-play in the middle of the game with desperate ambition — or perhaps I was just imagining that.

Sterling, however, was the opposite of desperate. Perhaps it was a holdover from his brief time in Atlanta calling Braves games, but there was something in Sterling’s voice that brought to mind a tall glass of sweet tea, as unhurried as a summer afternoon. As such, his pairing with Suzyn Waldman, which began in 2005, made much more sense than his previous partnership with Kay.

Sterling and Waldman, he 85 and she 77, were often derisively referred to as Ma and Pa Kettle for their folksy banter and nostalgic view of the game, but none of that ever bothered me. I’ve been watching the Yankees on YES for about twenty years now, but one of my greatest pleasures is still listening to a game on the radio as two voices spin a description of the game unfolding before them.

Last week I got in the car and quickly found the game on the satellite radio, but someone different was talking to Suzyn, and it didn’t feel right. I wondered why Sterling would be taking off a home game, but now we know. John Sterling announced his retirement from broadcasting on Monday afternoon, and the booth will never be the same.

Sure, he’s tricked me dozens of times into celebrating a home run as he launched into his signature call (“It is high! It is far…”) only to have the ball fall harmlessly into a fielder’s glove at the warning track, but there’s far more that I’ll miss.

Each one of us has punctuated an important win by singing along, “Ball game over! Yankees win! Thuuuuuuuuh… Yankees! Win!” And don’t we all have a favorite individual home run call? (My favorite: “Downtown goes Frazier!” Simply a work of art.)

We’ll all miss those things, and if we’re being honest, we’ll even admit to missing his cranky nostalgia. “In my day, Suzyn, that ball was simply a ground ball to the shortstop, but now there isn’t a shortstop. There just isn’t a shortstop anymore!” Sure, sometimes it might’ve felt like you were listening to the game with your parents, but that wasn’t a bad thing.

I miss John Sterling already. I’m sure we’ll see him around from time to time, perhaps throwing out a first pitch or coming back to emcee Old Timer’s Day, and his trademark call will likely echo through the Stadium after Yankee wins for years to come, but it’s the natural progression of things. Veterans leave and younger players come along to replace them. That’s baseball, Suzyn.

[Photo Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.]

Categories:  1: Featured  Hank Waddles

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142 comments

Show/Hide Comments 1-100
1 Boatzilla   ~  Apr 16, 2024 12:18 pm

I came here looking for just this, and you delivered, Hank.
Thanks so much for your lovely essay.
I am sad that I missed hearing him call his last live game.
Yet, he's going out like a true Legend. On his on terms.

2 rbj   ~  Apr 16, 2024 4:04 pm

I didn’t realize he started in 1988, I lit out for Oregon in 1990, bouncing around ever since, not spending much time in NY. Hard to find the games on SiriusXM.

Wonder who I listened to in the early 1980s, especially the west coast games, working the overnight shift for my dad a few summers.

3 rbj   ~  Apr 16, 2024 6:21 pm

Al Leiter’s kid makes his ML start Thursday.

4 Ara Just Fair   ~  Apr 16, 2024 6:26 pm

2nd terrible start in a row. Ugh. Thanks for the write up, Hank. I will miss Sterling for sure.

5 Ara Just Fair   ~  Apr 16, 2024 6:39 pm

What the? Stanton scored. Lol...

6 rbj   ~  Apr 16, 2024 6:40 pm

Dang, Stanton really is a station to station base runner. Lucky he wasn’t out.

7 rbj   ~  Apr 16, 2024 7:09 pm

Phew, that could have been much worse.

8 cult of basebaal   ~  Apr 16, 2024 7:16 pm

I'm going to go out on a limb and say when your 1-3 hitters are 0 for 6 with 5 strikeouts, that's not a great thing.

9 cult of basebaal   ~  Apr 16, 2024 7:27 pm

I'll also say Carlos Rodon STILL fills me with ZERO confidence every 5th day.

10 Ara Just Fair   ~  Apr 16, 2024 7:28 pm

Certainly feels like a 3 game losing streak to me. 1 run yesterday and a gifted run tonight. Oi!

11 rbj   ~  Apr 16, 2024 7:30 pm

Two runs in 13 innings doesn’t win you games.

12 cult of basebaal   ~  Apr 16, 2024 7:39 pm

Make that 0-7 with 6 strikeouts.

Barf

13 cult of basebaal   ~  Apr 16, 2024 7:44 pm

Is Luke Weaver the official white flag of the 2024 Yankees?

14 Ara Just Fair   ~  Apr 16, 2024 8:00 pm

Stanton and most of the others have no fucking chance against this dude.

15 Ara Just Fair   ~  Apr 16, 2024 8:15 pm

Gleyber's Shite Day. E2? Sure.

16 cult of basebaal   ~  Apr 16, 2024 8:15 pm

Clue the circus music.

17 cult of basebaal   ~  Apr 16, 2024 8:25 pm

OMG ... 2nd & 3rd ... NO OUT!!!!!

How will we squander it?

18 cult of basebaal   ~  Apr 16, 2024 8:34 pm

Well ... 2 runs in ... OK ... but yeesh, golden sombrero for Tony tonight.

19 cult of basebaal   ~  Apr 16, 2024 8:45 pm

That's it for me.

20 Ara Just Fair   ~  Apr 16, 2024 9:04 pm

Fucking Bollocks!

21 rbj   ~  Apr 17, 2024 2:08 pm

Oh, afternoon game today.

22 rbj   ~  Apr 17, 2024 2:22 pm

Blech, Gleyber.

23 rbj   ~  Apr 17, 2024 2:40 pm

A base stealing catcher?

24 rbj   ~  Apr 17, 2024 2:51 pm

Generous single. Bad defense by the Yankees of late.

25 rbj   ~  Apr 17, 2024 2:55 pm

That’s better Oswaldo

26 rbj   ~  Apr 17, 2024 3:29 pm

Might I trouble the Yankees for some offense?

27 rbj   ~  Apr 17, 2024 3:35 pm

Thank you Soto

28 jaynek   ~  Apr 17, 2024 4:07 pm

Bats need to wake up. Let's Go Yankees!

29 rbj   ~  Apr 17, 2024 4:30 pm

Double Blech

30 jaynek   ~  Apr 17, 2024 4:47 pm

stantonian!

31 rbj   ~  Apr 17, 2024 4:47 pm

Stantonian. Do the Yankees have a rally in them?

32 rbj   ~  Apr 17, 2024 4:57 pm

Trevino ties it up!

33 rbj   ~  Apr 17, 2024 5:04 pm

Jeez o blue

34 rbj   ~  Apr 17, 2024 5:05 pm

Judge!

35 jaynek   ~  Apr 17, 2024 5:07 pm

Judge thankfully came through! He needed that!

36 rbj   ~  Apr 17, 2024 5:12 pm

Ana one

37 rbj   ~  Apr 17, 2024 5:15 pm

Ana two

38 rbj   ~  Apr 17, 2024 5:18 pm

Ana three! Ballgame

39 Ara Just Fair   ~  Apr 17, 2024 6:21 pm

The replay duded had to use their imagination to overturn that call. Booo.

40 Hank Waddles   ~  Apr 17, 2024 9:44 pm

By the way, I listened to chunks of the first two games on SiriusXM, which always uses the home team's broadcast. It's fun to hear the different teams around the league. Anyway, Toronto's guys are phenomenal. I actually looked forward to listening to the second game. As you can probably imagine, some opposing broadcasts are insufferable.

41 rbj   ~  Apr 18, 2024 12:19 pm

Jack Leiter strikes out the first MLB hitter he faces.

42 rbj   ~  Apr 19, 2024 8:16 pm

Hey, offense.

43 rbj   ~  Apr 20, 2024 12:38 pm

Thanks for that out

44 rbj   ~  Apr 20, 2024 1:24 pm

Walking the terrorists didn’t work

45 rbj   ~  Apr 20, 2024 1:35 pm

Great outing by Nestor. Don’t waste it.

46 rbj   ~  Apr 20, 2024 1:41 pm

Sigh.

47 rbj   ~  Apr 20, 2024 2:06 pm

Time for a walk off

48 rbj   ~  Apr 20, 2024 2:21 pm

Crap

49 rbj   ~  Apr 20, 2024 2:33 pm

Great start wasted.

50 rbj   ~  Apr 21, 2024 12:41 pm

Psst, Yankees, how about some offense today

51 rbj   ~  Apr 21, 2024 1:01 pm

Ok one run so far.

52 rbj   ~  Apr 21, 2024 1:12 pm

Line drive in the box score.

53 rbj   ~  Apr 21, 2024 1:27 pm

Aw jeez, a balk.

54 rbj   ~  Apr 21, 2024 2:10 pm

Tired pitcher for the Rays. Verdugo!

55 Ara Just Fair   ~  Apr 21, 2024 2:10 pm

2 out ribeyes! Rejoice! AGAIN! WHoo-hoo!

56 rbj   ~  Apr 21, 2024 2:10 pm

And Trevino

57 rbj   ~  Apr 21, 2024 2:11 pm

Oswaldo joins the party

58 Ara Just Fair   ~  Apr 21, 2024 2:23 pm

Throw strikes, FFS!

59 rbj   ~  Apr 21, 2024 2:23 pm

Good job, Gil.

60 IL Yankee Fan   ~  Apr 21, 2024 2:23 pm

Two out walks and singles. Nice!

61 rbj   ~  Apr 21, 2024 2:26 pm

Not good defense today

62 rbj   ~  Apr 21, 2024 2:31 pm

phew

63 IL Yankee Fan   ~  Apr 21, 2024 3:04 pm

There goes most of that lead. Yikes

64 IL Yankee Fan   ~  Apr 21, 2024 3:06 pm

Time for some insurance please!

65 rbj   ~  Apr 21, 2024 3:25 pm

Glad I left to do some online banking. Dang but Zelle is confusing

66 jaynek   ~  Apr 22, 2024 12:22 pm

I like day games. Let's go yankees!

67 rbj   ~  Apr 22, 2024 1:29 pm

Took parents grocery shopping, lunch, walked the terrorists, and now Rocco & Flash?

68 jaynek   ~  Apr 22, 2024 1:48 pm

[67] also known as Flashco

69 rbj   ~  Apr 22, 2024 2:11 pm

Phew, strikeout!

70 jaynek   ~  Apr 22, 2024 2:22 pm

I wish judge wasn't a black hole in the lineup right now.

71 rbj   ~  Apr 22, 2024 2:23 pm

Sigh, another fine start wasted.

72 Ara Just Fair   ~  Apr 22, 2024 2:24 pm

That's the first pitch I've seen this game.

73 rbj   ~  Apr 22, 2024 2:40 pm

Blech.

74 jaynek   ~  Apr 22, 2024 2:40 pm

sigh

75 Hank Waddles   ~  Apr 22, 2024 2:46 pm

It’s nice to be 15-8, but man — this offense has some issues.

76 rbj   ~  Apr 22, 2024 3:21 pm

Two shutouts in three days? Not good.

77 RIYank   ~  Apr 22, 2024 6:08 pm

Haven't been by for a few days.
About Jack Lester: I liked the NYT article about his friendship with our boy Volpe. Among other things, it said that they met "on a playground on the Upper East Side." I figure that's the playground in Carl Schurz Park, a few blocks from the apartment where I grew up and where my mom still lives. Because I'm not sure there are any other playgrounds you'd describe that way -- of course there are a couple in Central Park that you could consider to be on the East Side, but surely you'd say "playground in Central Park."
Anyway, it gave me a little thrill. Good luck, Jack!

And, of course, farewell, John.

78 IL Yankee Fan   ~  Apr 22, 2024 7:48 pm

Man, 4 of their 8 losses, they have been shut out. Seems like that could bite them this year.

79 rbj   ~  Apr 23, 2024 6:09 pm

How soon does Boone get ejected tonight?

80 rbj   ~  Apr 23, 2024 6:24 pm

Stanton!

81 rbj   ~  Apr 23, 2024 6:28 pm

And Rizzo!!

82 rbj   ~  Apr 23, 2024 6:41 pm

Hmm, me no like.

83 rbj   ~  Apr 23, 2024 6:41 pm

Ok, phew.

84 rbj   ~  Apr 23, 2024 7:07 pm

Yeesh

85 rbj   ~  Apr 23, 2024 7:30 pm

Fuck you blue.

86 Ara Just Fair   ~  Apr 23, 2024 8:36 pm

[85] That top 9th inning caught looking agrees with you. 2 down!

87 rbj   ~  Apr 23, 2024 8:38 pm

Nice, 4 held up.

88 cult of basebaal   ~  Apr 24, 2024 5:57 pm

So ... been away for a few days ... how will this offense ... offend tonight?

89 rbj   ~  Apr 24, 2024 6:08 pm

[88] Offensively

90 cult of basebaal   ~  Apr 24, 2024 6:23 pm

Well, Volpe's been pretty offensive since they moved him to #1 in the lineup ... we're off to an appropriate start.

91 rbj   ~  Apr 24, 2024 6:27 pm

All rise

92 Ara Just Fair   ~  Apr 24, 2024 6:27 pm

That was a borderline gift.

93 cult of basebaal   ~  Apr 24, 2024 6:33 pm

[91] I was away ... dealing with a tentacle ... I credit my absence for those runs.

94 rbj   ~  Apr 24, 2024 7:12 pm

Rats.

95 rbj   ~  Apr 24, 2024 7:26 pm

Volpe with a triple!

96 Ara Just Fair   ~  Apr 24, 2024 7:49 pm

The ol' shutdown inning.

97 rbj   ~  Apr 24, 2024 7:49 pm

Well that sucks.

98 cult of basebaal   ~  Apr 24, 2024 7:49 pm

Good ol' 5 inning Schmidt

99 rbj   ~  Apr 24, 2024 7:57 pm

Gotta walk the terrorists

100 cult of basebaal   ~  Apr 24, 2024 8:06 pm

Ugh ... if Aaron Judge's career died because of a fucking Dodgers' shitty bullpen gate?

I'm going to be a very, VERY angry person for a long, LONG time.

Show/Hide Comments 101-142
101 rbj   ~  Apr 24, 2024 8:23 pm

Insurance runs

102 rbj   ~  Apr 25, 2024 6:09 pm

Oh, on MLBN tonight.

103 rbj   ~  Apr 25, 2024 6:16 pm

Bases loaded, no outs? Yankees will be lucky to get one.

104 rbj   ~  Apr 25, 2024 6:19 pm

I hate being optimistic

105 Ara Just Fair   ~  Apr 25, 2024 6:19 pm

Who could've predicted? A Yankees classic.

106 rbj   ~  Apr 25, 2024 6:29 pm

Sigh, Gleyber.

107 rbj   ~  Apr 25, 2024 6:30 pm

Jose can you see!

108 Ara Just Fair   ~  Apr 25, 2024 7:18 pm

I laugh to keep from crying. Fucking bollocks!

109 IL Yankee Fan   ~  Apr 25, 2024 7:30 pm

Should have sent Stanton, I guess?

110 rbj   ~  Apr 25, 2024 7:52 pm

Well at least the Yankees aren’t getting shut out.

111 Ara Just Fair   ~  Apr 25, 2024 8:03 pm

This 8th is starting well. A blown strike 3 call. A bunt that winds up in center field. Sweet.

112 IL Yankee Fan   ~  Apr 25, 2024 8:21 pm

13 base runners and 1 run??

113 IL Yankee Fan   ~  Apr 25, 2024 8:27 pm

Last licks. Let's go Yankees!

114 Ara Just Fair   ~  Apr 25, 2024 8:33 pm

Yankees lose game in 1st inning. News at 11:00.

115 rbj   ~  Apr 26, 2024 8:58 am

And tonight they’re in Milwaukee. 8 pm start.

116 rbj   ~  Apr 26, 2024 7:15 pm

Soto goes boom

117 rbj   ~  Apr 26, 2024 7:30 pm

So does Verdugo.

118 rbj   ~  Apr 26, 2024 7:42 pm

Ugh, boo.

119 rbj   ~  Apr 26, 2024 8:21 pm

What’s a Trent Grisham? Not that I’m complaining

120 rbj   ~  Apr 27, 2024 7:01 pm

Gleyber! What is this sorcery, RISP with bases loaded?

121 Ara Just Fair   ~  Apr 27, 2024 7:52 pm

Huzzah! Judge with the 2 run bomb.

122 IL Yankee Fan   ~  Apr 27, 2024 7:55 pm

15 baserunners and 11 runs. That is much better.

123 rbj   ~  Apr 27, 2024 7:59 pm

Just back from walking the terrorists and its double digits!

124 rbj   ~  Apr 28, 2024 1:15 pm

All rise,

125 rbj   ~  Apr 28, 2024 1:58 pm

Dinner, feed the terrorists, and then walk them. No offense, rats.

126 rbj   ~  Apr 28, 2024 2:16 pm

Volpe!

127 rbj   ~  Apr 28, 2024 2:31 pm

Boooo urns

128 rbj   ~  Apr 28, 2024 2:48 pm

Interesting, I’d have called a double play there.

129 rbj   ~  Apr 28, 2024 2:56 pm

Thank you Gleyber

130 RIYank   ~  Apr 28, 2024 3:17 pm

Here's a headline I would prefer never to read:

"Yanks trade for Uribe"

But it's awfully nice to see our guys swing the bats against him.

131 RIYank   ~  Apr 28, 2024 3:22 pm

Good lord. Come on, Ian, for chrissakes.

132 RIYank   ~  Apr 28, 2024 3:23 pm

Acceptable.

133 rbj   ~  Apr 28, 2024 3:25 pm

That was a nice nap. Hey double digits again

134 RIYank   ~  Apr 28, 2024 3:33 pm

Lol.
Rizzo was not, in fact, in "scoring position".

135 IL Yankee Fan   ~  Apr 28, 2024 3:40 pm

This lineup seems to work (at least against these pitchers).

136 rbj   ~  Apr 28, 2024 3:56 pm

300 for Rizzo. Back to back 15 runs

137 RIYank   ~  Apr 28, 2024 4:20 pm

lol

Bauers is the Brewers' player of the day.

138 RIYank   ~  Apr 28, 2024 4:32 pm

GG.
Although I wanted to see Oswaldo pitch the ninth.

139 rbj   ~  Apr 28, 2024 4:32 pm

Ballgame. Nice win.

140 rbj   ~  Apr 29, 2024 5:48 pm

Boo

141 rbj   ~  Apr 29, 2024 6:07 pm

Thanks for that out O’s

142 rbj   ~  Apr 29, 2024 6:34 pm

Some nice, easy innings for Clark

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"This ain't football. We do this every day."
--Earl Weaver