John Sterling’s storied 36-year career as the radio voice of the New York Yankees has paralleled one of the franchise’s most successful eras. From his perch in the broadcast booth, he has called 25 playoff runs and five World Series championships, accruing a treasure trove of team-related memorabilia in the process.
During an interview on the “Foul Territory” podcast, hosted by former MLB catcher AJ Pierzynski, Sterling, 86, reflected on his collection of championship rings. Pierzynski noted the broadcaster’s 2009 World Series ring, prompting a candid response from Sterling about his nonchalant approach to keepsakes.
Sterling revealed that while he occasionally wears one of his rings, the other four are tucked away in a closet. Despite owning iconic items such as Emmy Awards for his contributions to Yankeeography and various Hall of Fame honors, Sterling admitted to a lack of sentimentality toward memorabilia, characterizing his collection as more of a happenstance accumulation than a source of personal pride.
“I don’t really do much with them,” Sterling shared, describing how these prestigious items now mostly gather dust. He noted plans to have the collection appraised someday, emphasizing a practical outlook on preserving the legacy of his remarkable career rather than a deep emotional attachment to the artifacts.
“Five. I wear one, and the others are somewhere in my closet, one of my closets,” the long-tome Yankees voice said. “I have a lot of great memorabilia for someone who does not collect at all in any way, shape or form. But you know, all the Emmys from ‘Yankeeography’ and the different Hall of Fames. Anyway, I have a lot of that stuff. One day I’m gonna have someone come up and give me an appraisal for it because, frankly, all those things do is collect dust. You know, they’re a corner of the living room, and they collect dust. That’s all.”
John Sterling’s laid-back approach to his memorabilia collection drew surprise from former Yankees catcher Erik Kratz, who expressed disbelief at the broadcaster’s casual dismissal of items many fans would consider priceless pieces of baseball history.
Sterling cites Scully to justify his plan
Sterling, 86, offered insight into his perspective, citing the influence of the late Vin Scully. The iconic Dodgers broadcaster famously auctioned more than 300 items from his storied 67-year career late in life, a decision Sterling said had left an impression. However, he admitted uncertainty about taking a similar step, emphasizing that personal values play a significant role in how one views such possessions. Sterling reiterated his view of his collection as “just things collecting dust.”
“I think I got this thought because Vin Scully did that near the end of his long, long career,” he said. “I think he sold all of his memorabilia. I don’t know if I will do that or not, but it depends on the person you are, what’s important to you, and it doesn’t really do anything for me. As I said, it just sits there and collects dust.”
Scully’s auction, held shortly before his passing, showcased a treasure trove of baseball history, underscoring the emotional weight such items can carry for fans and collectors alike.
Sterling’s own broadcasting legacy includes an astounding 5,420 regular-season games and 211 postseason matchups, highlighted by a streak of 5,060 consecutive games called from September 1989 to July 2019. While he transitioned away from full-time duties in recent years, he continued to call select games, including playoff contests, with his final broadcasts taking place during the 2024 season.
With Sterling stepping aside, the Yankees’ radio booth has officially entered a new era. Dave Sims, 71, has been named his successor and will join longtime analyst Suzyn Waldman for the upcoming season, marking the end of Sterling’s historic run as the voice of the Yankees.
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