John Sterling was an American sportscaster best known as the radio play-by-play announcer for the Major League Baseball team, the New York Yankees, from 1989 to 2024. Sterling was renowned for his passion, his knowledge, and for exclaiming, “The Yankees win!” after every victory. The beloved voice of the Yankees for 36 seasons, Sterling passed away in May 2026 at the age of 87.
John Sterling Biography
| Full Name | John Strling (ne Sloss) |
| Nickname | John Sterling |
| Profession | Sportscaster |
| Date of Birth | 4 July 1938 |
| Age | 87 years old (at the time of death in May 2026) |
| Birth Place | New York City, USA |
| Nationality | American |
| School | Not know |
| College | Moravian College, Boston University Columbia University School of General Studies. |
| Education Qualification | College dropped out |
| Gender | Male |
| Zodiac Sign | Cancer |
| Ethnicity | White |
| Religion | Christianity |
| Death of Death | 4 May 2026 |
| Place of Death | Englewood, New Jersey, USA |
| Cause of Death | Heart Failure (at a hospital in New Jersey) |
John Sterling Age
John Sterling was born on 4 July 1938 in New York City, United States of America. He was 87 years old at the time of his death in May 2026, and his zodiac sign was Cancer.
John Sterling Wife, Children
| Marital Status | Divorced |
| Affairs/Girlfriend | Jennifer |
| Spouse/Wife | Jennifer Sterling (divorced. 2008) |
| Children | Son – Bradford (“Brad”) Sterling, and Derek Sterling Daughter – Abigail and Veronica Sterling |
John Sterling Family
| Father’s Name | Carl Henry Twonsend Sloss |
| Mother’s Name | Gladys Sterling |
| Brother’s Name | Not known |
| Sister’s Name | Jane |
Career
| Years | Role & Team | Notable Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| 1970-1971 | Baltimore Bullets (NBA) | Began professional play-by-play career |
| 1971 to 1978 | WMCA/Morgan State | Hosted a New York talk show and called Morgan State football |
| 1975 to 1980 | NY Nets/Islanders | Became known for his “Islanders goal! And “Nets win!” calls |
| 1981 to 1989 | Atlanta Hawks/Braves | Joined Truner Sports; called the “nuttiest game” on 4 July 1985 |
| 1989 to 2024 | New York Yankees | Served as primary radio voice for 36 season |
| 1989 to 2019 | Ironman Streak | Called 5,060 consecutive game without missing a single broadcast |
| 2005 to 2024 | Waldman Partnership | Formed a legendary 20-year due with partner suzyn Wldman |
| 2024 | Frist Retirement | Retired in April citing travel fatigue: returned briefly for eth 2024 postseason |
| 2025 | Talk Show Host | Hosted a Saturday afternoon talk show on WABC radio |
| 2026 | Passing | Died of heart failure at an Englewood, NJ hospital on May 4 |
John Sterling Height And Weight
| Height (approx) | In centimeters – 178 cm In meters – 1.78 m In feet & inches – 5’10” |
| Weight (approx) | In kilograms – 80 kg In pounds – 176 lbs |
| Eye Colour | Brown |
| Hair Colour | Gray |
John Sterling Net Worth
At the time of his death in May 2026, American sportscaster John Sterling’s estimated net worth was between $2 million and $4 million. He earned wealth through endorsements or business ventures; Sterling’s income was primarily derived from long-term radio contracts, broadcasting salaries, and media appearances.
| Net Worth (Approx) | $2 million to $4 million (at the time of death in May 2026) |
| Annual Income (Approx) | Not known |
| Salary (Approx) | $300,000 to $500,000 (annual) |
| Real Estate | Not publicly disclosed |
| Income sources | Salary, radio contracts, and media appearance, etc. |
Some Interesting Facts About John Sterling
- John Sterling was born and raised in New York City to Carl H.T. Sloss and Gladys Sloss.
- He grew up on Manhattan’s Upper East Side, and his father was an advertising executive.
- He briefly attended Moravian College, Boston University, and Columbia University School of General Studies.
- He left the college to begin his career in radio at the small station in Wellsville, New York.
- After changing his name to Sterling, he began his broadcasting career in Baltimore.
- Sterling hosted an hour-long Saturday talk show on WABC from 4:00-5:00 pm. He
- For the 1970-71 season, he served as the play-by-play announcer for the Baltimore Bullets.
- From 1971 to 1978, he did play-by-play for Morgan State University football.
- In 1971, Starling came to New York broadcasting as a talk show host with WMCA.
- He also did a stretch with the Yankees as pre-game host on WMCA and WINS radio.
- Sterling was also the host of the YES Network’s Yankeeography series from 2002 to 2013.
- Form 2013 through 2017 Sterling announced the Kitten Bowl on the Hallmark Channel.
- On 16 December 2018, Sterling called the Brooklyn Nets-Atlanta Hawks game on the YES Network.
- He was divorced in 2008 after 12 years of marriage to his wife, Jennifer, and is the father of four.
- In August 2020, Sterling was hospitalized for a blood infection.
- In February 2026, Sterling revealed he suffered a heart attack in January.
- John Sterling died from heart failure at a hospital in Englewood, New York, on 4 May 2026.
FAQ:
How old was John Sterling?
At the time of his death in 2026, John Sterling was 87 years old.
Who is John Sterling’s wife?
John Sterling was married to his wife, Jennifer Sterling, for over 12 years until their divorce in 2008.
What was John Sterling’s net worth?
At the time of his death, John Sterling’s net worth was between $2-4 million.
What happened to John Sterling?
John Sterling died on 4 May 2026 from heart failure.