On Thursday, the New York Yankees announced that Dave Sims would succeed John Sterling as their radio announcer. Sims was the television and radio play-by-play announcer for the Seattle Mariners for the past twenty years. He was born in Philadelphia and began his play-by-play career calling basketball for the Temple Owls. National audiences will remember Sims as the play-by-play announcer on the radio for “Sunday Night Football” back in the early 2000s. Other notable stints include ESPN and Westwood One.
Storied History Of Yankees Radio Announcers
The list of New York Yankees radio announcers is a literal who’s who of Yankees history and of broadcast journalism. Starting in 1946, with Mel Allen, the list of Titans occupying the New York Yankees booth includes Russ Hodges, Red Barber, Phil Rizzuto, Frank Messer, Bill White, and John Stewart. Sterling, now age 87, has been calling Yankees games since 1989, usually with Michael Kay, with whom YES Network regulars are quite familiar, in addition to the occasional FOX game of the week.
By following Sterling, Sims is replacing a New York icon. In addition to calling New York Yankees games for the past four decades, Sterling also had stints announcing the New York Islanders and the New Jersey/Brooklyn Nets. There are some big shoes to fill in the tradition of Allen and Sterling. Sims welcomes the challenge.
New York Yankees Dream Job
In reporting the news of Sims’s hiring, MLB Network sought historical context. “The radio voice of the Yankees is a storied position in the history of baseball,” said Chris Oliviero, Audacy’s New York market president. “From [Mel] Allen and [Red] Barber to [Phil] Rizzuto to Sterling, the names are synonymous with the pinstripes. Dave Sims is a worthy successor to that lineage. We are honored to have Dave join the incomparable Suzyn Waldman in the booth in the Bronx.”
MLB further reported a statement by Sims himself. “It’s great to be home,” Sims said in a statement. “What an honor to be part of the iconic Yankees franchise. New York is where it all started for me, and I can’t wait for Opening Day and to work with my good friend Suzyn!”
Dave Sims Is a Classy Guy
When every new door opens an old one closes. How someone closes the door says a lot about their character. Like his announcing style or not, Sims is a classy guy. Here is what he said upon departing the Seattle Mariners, as reported by SI.
“By now you’ve probably heard the news. I’m coming home to New York,” Sims said. “I thoroughly enjoyed my 18 years in Seattle. I loved becoming part of Mariner Nation in the Pacific Northwest. So many great memories, so many good people. From the bottom of my heart, I thank you for having this interloper coming in and being part of your culture. I really enjoyed it and I wish everybody in Seattle and the Pacific Northwest all the best as we move forward. Go Mariners and Go Yankees.”
The New York Yankees are losing a legend in Sterling, but Dave Sims is more than up for the task.
