Yankees honor late broadcaster John Sterling with jersey patch

The New York Yankees are debuting their commemorative jersey patch for legendary Yankees radio broadcaster John Sterling, who died earlier this month at the age of 87.

They officially debuted the circular patch on Monday against the Toronto Blue Jays and will wear it on their jerseys for the rest of the season.

“I think it’s pretty cool. He was here for a long time,” infielder Jazz Chisholm Jr. said about the patch. “He represented the Yankees well. We all, in our childhood, had that John Sterling call ringing in our ears. I think it’s pretty cool that we as a team and an organization get to recognize him for all the great things that he’s done here.”

After starting in 1989, Sterling spent nearly 36 years as a broadcaster for the Yankees, building a reputation as a fan-favorite with his one-of-a-kind nicknames and home run calls.

“Through his unique style and passionate play-by-play calls, Sterling endeared himself to generations of players and fans as radio voice of the Yankees from 1989 to 2024,” the MLB said in a statement after his death. “His signature punctuation of Yankees victories included calling the final out of five World Series championships.”

Sterling called over 5,000 Yankees games in a row, including five world series championship wins, and ultimately retired in 2024.

James Parker is a sports writer for Ball Exclusives, follow him on X @TheJames_Parker

About the Author Published May 18, 2026

JAMES PARKER

James Parker is a sports reporter and writer for Ball Exclusives. With a bachelor's degree earned at the age of 19, he’s spent years working as a sports journalist, including an award-winning stint at The Appalachian. He has never used AI for his work in any way, shape or form.