John Sterling recovering from heart attack, but 'all things are good'
John Sterling, play-by-play announcer of the Yankees, speaks at a press conference before an MLB game between the Yankees and the Tampa Bay Rays at Yankee Stadium on April 20. Credit: Kathleen Malone-Van Dyke
Former Yankees radio announcer John Sterling revealed on Sunday that he suffered a heart attack last month and is on the mend despite some issues with his legs.
Sterling, 87, gave his health update during an appearance on Rickie Ricardo's show on WFAN.
“For people who don't know — there isn't any reason to hide it — at the beginning of January, I had a heart attack, and that's fine, the heart is fine,” Sterling said. “Sometimes it affects your legs and has affected my legs. So kind of waiting . . . and I can get back out there. I'm very fortunate. All things are good, and it's great to be on with you.”
Sterling was the radio voice of the Yankees from 1989 before retiring in April 2024. He returned later that season and called Yankees games all the way to the World Series before retiring for good.
Anthony Rieber covers sports media and business and professional sports (you know, games and trades and things). He has worked at Newsday since Aug. 31, 1998, and has been in his current position since Jan. 1, 2026.
