John Sterling rejected many chances to announce one last Yankees game

Sterling announced his retirement earlier this week, citing health reasons.

He indicated that he enjoyed calling the games, but that traveling had caught up with him after 64 years on the air.

“Well, going there, I’m going to think, ‘Boy, I hope I don’t screw up on the field.'” Prior to Saturday, Sterling expressed to The Post’s Steve Serby that he would experience a sense of accomplishment upon returning home. “And, beginning on Sunday, I won’t have to go anywhere I don’t want to. I don’t want to tell you what I’m going to say since I improvise it. But what I’m saying is probably something you’d say. Here I was, this young guy, this little street urchin Yankee fan, rooting for the Yankees and taking the IRT up to the Stadium, and suddenly, just more than halfway through my career, the Yankee job fell into my lap! And then see how things turned out. Oh my God, are you luckier than I am? I have to put all of my feelings aside and deal with my brief speech before moving on.”

Michael Kay: "Do you think there's gonna be a time where you say, gee I wish I was there to make that call?"

John Sterling: "No… my tank is empty." pic.twitter.com/fDmNezNzbx

— Talkin' Yanks (@TalkinYanks) April 20, 2024

Sterling informed Serby that he had no interest in returning to call another Yankees game.

No, after the ceremonies on Saturday, I’m going to go upstairs with Suzyn to say goodbye to the crowd,” Sterling explained. “I don’t want to keep playing the same games over and over. It is over. Let’s box it up and ship it somewhere.”

Kay, who aired Yankees games on the radio alongside Sterling from 1992 to 2001, agreed with Sterling’s evaluation of his career on Saturday when asked by commentator Jeff Nelson.

“You needed to be on your toes. “He could say anything,” Kay explained. “With John, the conversation could go anywhere, and that’s what made him great.”