NEW YORK — Dave Sims knew stepping into John Sterling’s chair would not be easy. The 71-year-old broadcaster took over one of Major League Baseball’s most iconic radio roles in November 2024, joining WFAN as the New York Yankees’ new play-by-play voice. Nearly a year later, surveys show that the transition has been more difficult than many expected.
Sims faces criticism in first season as Yankees voice
An Awful Announcing survey ranked the Yankees radio booth 16th out of 30 across the majors. The poll, which gathered more than 6,400 votes from baseball fans nationwide, gave Sims and longtime analyst Suzyn Waldman a 2.22 grade on a four-point scale.
The middle-of-the-pack placement reflects both praise and concern for Sims’ first season in the booth. While some listeners appreciate his enthusiasm and chemistry with Waldman, others say his calls lack the descriptive detail required for radio.
Transition troubles highlighted by listeners
Much of the criticism focused on Sims’ move from television to radio. He spent 18 years calling Seattle Mariners games on TV before returning to New York for the Yankees’ job. The difference between the two mediums has been apparent to some listeners.
“Sims has struggled to make the transition from TV to radio, which is a shame since he was so good on TV,” one survey respondent wrote. “He has good chemistry with Suzyn, but too often it is hard to follow the action because he isn’t describing the action.”
Other comments raised similar concerns, pointing out that he sometimes sounds like he is calling a television broadcast. Listeners noted that he does not always give the score often enough, a key requirement on radio.
Another voter summed it up bluntly: “Sims’ freewheeling nature doesn’t work as well on radio as it does on TV.”
Chemistry questions with longtime partner
Sims was paired with Waldman, who worked alongside Sterling for nearly 20 years. The survey showed mixed feelings about their on-air relationship.
Some praised the duo, saying they have “meshed well with each other” and “work great together.” Others disagreed, arguing that they “don’t have the same chemistry as Sterling and Waldman” and in some cases “have almost no chemistry.”
Sterling and Waldman built a legendary reputation with Yankees fans. Their exchanges, including Sterling’s memorable “That’s baseball, Suzyn” line, became a staple of Yankees radio broadcasts. Building that kind of familiarity takes years, and the adjustment has been noticeable to listeners.
Waldman herself received solid reviews in the survey. Respondents described her as “a hoot to listen to” and even gave her individual grades as high as an “A.”
Mixed grades reflect divided opinions
While criticism drew attention, the survey results showed a more complex picture. The most common grade for the Yankees booth was a B, received from 27.7 percent of voters. Out of 278 total responses, 77 gave a B, 54 graded an A, while 38 handed out an F.
Those numbers compared reasonably well to the team’s television booth, which earned fewer A grades (17.3 percent) and more F grades (18.9 percent).
Praise emerges alongside criticism
Despite negative reviews, Sims has also received strong support. Some respondents described him as “very good” and a “solid pro.” Others went further, calling him an “excellent choice to replace John Sterling.”
One voter declared, “Best booth in baseball before (with Sterling), best booth now (with Sims).” Another said Sims had “exceeded expectations” in his first season.
Fill-in announcer Emmanuel Berbari, who stepped in for occasional games, also earned positive marks, including an A grade from one listener.
Sterling’s enduring legacy
Replacing Sterling was always going to be one of the toughest jobs in baseball broadcasting. Sterling retired in April 2024 after 36 years behind the microphone, though he returned briefly for postseason duty. He called 5,060 consecutive games, eight American League pennants, and five World Series titles.
His signature calls, from “Thhhhhhhhe Yankees win!” to creative home run celebrations, made him a New York icon. Sterling and Waldman’s run together since 2005 established a connection with fans that will be difficult to replicate.
Sterling, now 87, has not fully stepped away from the airwaves. He currently hosts a Saturday program on 770-WABC-AM.
Radio demands different skills
The fan survey highlighted the challenge of transitioning from television to radio. Unlike TV, which allows the pictures to tell part of the story, radio requires constant description of the action, updates on the score, and painting the atmosphere for listeners.
Sims made his name in television. He called Mariners games for nearly two decades and was recognized three times as Washington state Sportscaster of the Year. His resume also includes stints with ESPN, where he covered college basketball and football, and play-by-play work for NFL games on Westwood One.
He is no stranger to New York. During the late 1980s and early 1990s, Sims worked at WFAN and served as a reporter for the New York Daily News.
Middle-of-the-pack ranking reflects adjustment period
The 16th-place finish in the survey placed the Yankees booth in the league’s middle tier. While their 2.22 score landed slightly below the 2.39 league average, it shows both room for growth and the difficulty of replacing a figure like Sterling.
Survey methodology assigned numerical values to letter grades: four points for an A, down to zero for an F. This marked the first time Awful Announcing applied its ranking system to MLB radio booths.
Sims remains respected in the industry. He has been nominated for the 2025 Ford C. Frick Award, given annually to broadcasters who make significant contributions to the game. As he continues his debut season, the reviews show that many Yankees fans are still adjusting to life without Sterling’s voice. Whether Sims can win them over fully will depend on how well he adapts to the unique demands of the radio booth.
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