John Sterling out of hospital after blood infection, plans to return to Yankees on WFAN on Tuesday
Yankees radio broadcaster John Sterling prior to a game between against the Mets at Yankee Stadium on Aug. 4, 2016. Credit: Jim McIsaac
John Sterling said he is “as happy as I could be,” having returned home after a hospital stay to treat what he described as a blood infection.
“I’m fine, I’m home and I’m doing great,” the Yankees’ longtime radio play-by-play man told Newsday late Monday afternoon.
Sterling has been out since last Wednesday’s game against the Orioles. Rickie Ricardo has filled in alongside Suzyn Waldman.
Sterling planned to call Tuesday’s scheduled game against the Phillies, but the rainout of the game pushed back his return until Wednesday's doubleheader in Philadelphia.
“I’ve felt so humbled, really bringing a tear in my eye,” Sterling said of the outpouring of concern for him in recent days. “I must have gotten 800 calls, and the people I didn’t get are the people who text Suzyn, every broadcaster in the league, saying, ‘Tell John I hope he’s OK.’”
Sterling, 82, had not missed a game in 30 years until being forced to by illness last season.
He said he was treated with antibiotics until his infection cleared. He said doctors were relieved when it was determined the infection did not reach his heart.
The New York Post reported that Sterling tested negative for COVID-19.
It has been a strange season for local baseball broadcasters, including calling road games from home stadiums.
Sterling said it has “certainly been very tough” logistically, but as he watched games on YES and SNY in his hospital room he was reminded that every announcer is dealing with the same thing.
One key, he said, is to wait a beat after seeing the ball come off the bat until the camera angle switches to show where the ball is headed.
“This is such a crazy year for all of us, for the entire world,” Sterling said. “It is a world war [against the virus], and everything has been turned upside down, so we just have to get through it.”
Neil Best first worked at Newsday in 1982, returned in 1985 after a detour to Alaska and has been here since, specializing in high schools, college basketball, the NFL and most recently sports media and business.
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