Yankees: The ultimate list of John Sterling’s home run calls

For 31 seasons, and 5,060 consecutive games from April 1989 to July 3, 2019, John Sterling has been the radio voice of the Yankees, and has also been a key contributor in hosting “Yankeeography” (two Emmys) and “Yankees Classics.”

On July 4, 2019, John Sterling took his first game off in 31 seasons to recharge his batteries for the second half of the season, as Ryan Ruocco took over the reins on WFAN Radio with Suzan Waldman for the Yankees road trip to Tampa to close out the first half.

Sterling, at 81 years of age, has been the voice of Yankees baseball for three decades and has called five World Series championship teams (1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2009) in the process.

However, many Yankee fans over the years have become quite enamored with Sterling’s individual home run calls that he has developed for each player, as he has found ways to make fans excited after a longball, and also can make them laugh during the call.

Here is the ultimate list of John Sterling’s best, worst, most charismatic and most humorous homer calls over the years.

HIDEKI MATSUI: “IT’S A THRILLA…FROM GODZILLA!”

There have been many Yankees over the years that have caught the admiration of fans around the world, such as Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera, Alex Rodriguez and even Brett Gardner! But no player had the unique relationship that Hideki Matsui had with Yankee fans.

Coming over from Japan in 2003, Matsui immediately made an impact by launching a Grand Slam in the Yankees home opener against Minnesota. Godzilla would go on to hit .287 that year and play in all 163 games played that season for the Yanks and would follow it up with back-to-back seasons where he would play in all 162 games in ’04 and ’05.

Matsui’s most significant contribution to the club wouldn’t happen until the 2009 season, when the left-handed slugger was the focal point in bringing home championship No. 27 with his three home runs in the World Series, and six RBI performance in Game 6 against the Philadelphia Phillies, gifting him the World Series MVP trophy.

Unfortunately, 2009 was also the last season in which Matsui donned the pinstripes, and the last season in which Yankee fans listening on WFAN Radio got to hear John Sterling say, “It’s a thrilla, by Godzilla!” Matsui would become known as “Godzilla” over the years by fans due to the call and has since been one of the more revered Sterling calls of all time.

ALEX RODRIGUEZ: “IT’S AN A-BOMB, FROM A-ROD!”

It’s one of the more generic calls, however, one the most often called by John Sterling, given the number of home runs Alex Rodriguez clobbered during his 12 seasons in pinstripes.

Sterling was able to break out this call 351 times over 12 seasons, as Rodriguez went on to win multiple MVP awards (2005, 2007) for the Bombers, and was a key component to the Yankees 2009 Postseason success, launching three game-tying homers in October, including two against the Twins in the American League Division Series.

Sterling got to call important “A-Bombs”, milestone “A-Bombs” and even historic “A-Bombs” from 2004 to 2016, including Rodriguez’s 400th, 500th and 600th career homers, as well as the slugger’s 3,000th career hit, which came on July 12, 2015 against future hall of fame pitcher, Justin Verlander.

ROBINSON CANO: “ROBBIE CANO, DON’T YA KNOW?!”

One of the more catchier calls, Sterling really delivered on Robinson Cano’s home run call. When called up in 2005, the future All-Star second baseman struggled, hitting at the bottom of a Yankee order that featured the likes of Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez, Jason Giambi, Jorge Posada and Hideki Matsui.

In 2008, Cano struggled again, receiving a wake up call when his best friend, Melky Cabrera, was sent down to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Then in 2009, Cano would be re-invented, smashing 27 home runs en route to a world championship.

From 2010 to his final year in pinstripes, 2013, Robinson Cano was arguably the best hitter in the Yankees lineup — if not, one of the best hitters in the league, to go along with his slick play at second base.

NICK SWISHER: “JOLLY OLD ST. NICK! NICK IS POSITIVELY SWISH-A-LICIOUS!”

Like Hideki Matsui, not many Yankee players captivated the attention of the fanbase like Nick Swisher did.

Only playing four seasons in the Bronx (2009-2012), Swisher became an instant fan favorite with his over the top positivity and charisma, not to mention a scoreless inning of relief one night in Tampa Bay.

Swisher launched 29 home runs as an eight hole hitter in the Yankees in 2009, and consistently hit over 20 homers in each of his four seasons.

After finishing his playing career with the Indians and Braves, Swisher has not only joined FOX Sports as an analyst, but has also become a special advisor to Brian Cashman and the New York Yankees.

MARK TEIXIERA: “MARK SENDS A TEX-MESSAGE! YOUR ON THE MARK, TEIXEIRA!”

Brian Cashman signed Mark Teixeira to an eight-year deal, $180 million deal back in 2009, and boy was it worth it.

Teixeira finished second in AL MVP voting behind Twins’ slugger, Joe Mauer, in 2009, connecting for 39 long balls, and driving in over 120 runs. Teixeira was on the receiving end of the final out of the 2009 World Series, which would be Tex’s only championship season.

In eight seasons, Teixeira sent a lot of Tex-messages. Despite battling injuries later on in his career, the Gold-Glove winning first baseman launched 206 career home runs in pinstripes, including a walk-off grand slam for is final career blast against the Red Sox in 2016.

BERNIE WILLIAMS: “BERNIE GOES BOOM! BERN, BABY, BERN!”

Just like “The Grandy-man,” Sterling’s call, “Bern, baby, bern” resinated with a lot of Bombers’ fans over the years as Bernie Williams was a massive contributor to four world championships, spanning from 1996-2000.

In 1998, Williams led the American League with a .339 batting average, winning the American League batting title, as the Yankees finished that season with an MLB-best 114 wins, in the regular season.

Williams, alongside Jeter, Rivera, Pettitte and Posada, were considered the Yankees “Fab Five” before Williams left after the 2006 season, not receiving a contract offer to return to the Bronx.

From launching a walk-off homer in Game 1 of the American League Championship Series in 1996, to catching the final out off the bat of Mike Piazza in the 2000 World Series at Shea Stadium, Bernie Williams is, and forever will be, one of the fan favorites in Yankees lore. “Bern, baby, bern!”

RAUL IBANEZ: “RAUL, SO COOL!”

In 2012, Raul Ibanez played his only season as a Yankee, however, the left-handed slugger would make the most of it, becoming a hero in the Bronx during the final stretch of the season and into the Postseason.

In September, alone, Ibanez would launch three game-tying homeruns in the 9th inning and beyond, including a two-run blast in extra innings against the Oakland A’s in September 2012, and a pinch-hit two-run blast against the Red Sox on October 2, 2012.

That would only be the beginning for Ibanez, as in Game 3 of the American League Division Series against the Orioles, Joe Girardi would call Ibanez off the bench, to pinch hit for a struggling Alex Rodriguez, down 2-1 with one out in the bottom of the 9th inning.

After working the count to 1-1 on Jim Johnson, Ibanez lined a game-tying blast into the right-field seats, sending Yankee Stadium into a frenzy. After a few scoreless innings in extras, Ibanez would get another chance to hit, this time, against left-hander, Brian Matuz.

Ibanez clobbered a walk-off home run into the second deck in right, for his second homer in two plate appearances, giving the Yankees a 2-1 series lead!

However, Ibanez wasn’t done, as in Game 1 of the American League Championship Series, down 4-0 in the bottom of the 9th, the Bombers would strike, as Ichiro Suzuki connected for a two-run blast of his own to cut the Tigers lead to 4-2, bringing Ibanez to the dish with two outs and one on against Jose Valverde.

Down to his final strike, Ibanez skied a deep fly ball into right field that would land in the first row over the auxiliary scoreboard in right field. Ibanez had done it again, sending Yankee Stadium into another frenzy. For the 2012 season, alone, Raul will always be “cool” with Yankee fans.

EDUARDO NUNEZ: “NOONEY, TO THE MOONEY!”

Coming up through the Yankees organization, Eduardo Nunez got his licks in with the Bombers from 2010-2013, before moving on to the Minnesota Twins.

Despite Nunez not being known for his power at the plate, the idea of John Sterling screaming “Nooney, to the mooney!” will have fans chuckling for sure.

Eduardo Nunez has since gone on to play third base for the Minnesota Twins, San Francisco Giants, and most recently, the Boston Red Sox, winning the 2018 World Series over the Los Angeles Dodgers in Bean Town.

BRIAN McCANN: “OH McCANN CAN, OH YES, McCANN CAN!”

Despite his lack of success during his three seasons in pinstripes, Brian McCann was a leader in the Yankees clubhouse and came up in key spots at the dish, including a walk-off three-run home run on July 3, 2015, against the Tampa Bay Rays at Yankee Stadium with fireworks going off in the background.

McCann was traded out of New York during the 2016-2017 offseason, to the Houston Astros, where the catcher would hurt the Yanks big, lacing a two-run double down the right-field line in Game 7 of the American League Championship Series to help give the Astros the American League pennant over the Bombers.

STEPHEN DREW: “STEPHEN DREW, HOW DO YOU DO! HE SERVES A DREW-SKI!”

Like Brian McCann, Stephen Drew struggled during his short tenure in the Bronx (2014-2015) hitting just .187 in 177 career games.

Drew would launch 20 home runs, however, giving fans a treat when listening on the radio, as John Sterling’s “Drew-ski” was sure to be a hit from the start.

GIANCARLO STANTON: “OH GIANCARLO, NON SI PUO DE STOPARLO!”

When Brian Cashman completed the deal that sent 2017 National League Most Valuable Player, Giancarlo Stanton to the Yankees in December of 2017, Yankee fans were salivating to see Aaron Judge and Stanton hit side-by-side.

However, in two seasons thus far, Judge and Stanton have had trouble constantly staying in the same batting order, as each player has dealt with multiple injuries since the start of 2018.

Despite injuries, Stanton clubbed 38 home runs in ’18, as Yankee fans got to listen to John Sterling leaving his comfort zone, trying out a new language (Italian) in the process.

“Non Si Può De Stoparlo” meaning “You can’t be stopped” has become one of Sterling’s more popular with the new roster, as Stanton picked up the pace during Judge’s absence from July-September in 2018.

Stanton’s 2019 campaign has not gone according to plan, as the slugger has only played in nine games, dealing with injuries to his bicep, shoulder and knee.

GLEYBER TORRES: “IT’S GLEYBER DAY! AND LIKE A GOOD GLEYBER, TORRES IS THERE!”

Gleyber Torres has been one of the most consistent bats in the Yankees order since jumping the scene in April 2018, finishing third in AL Rookie of the Year voting behind Miguel Andujar and Shohei Ohtani — and has been on a tear throughout the 2019 season as well. Just ask the Baltimore Orioles (12 home runs).

The world first got to bear witness to Sterling’s home run call for the young phenom in May of 2018, when Torres launched his first career longball against the Cleveland Indians, screaming “It’s Gleyber Day! He’s the Gleyber of the month!”, prompting Suzan Waldman to chime in, “Gleyber Day?! I like that!”

AARON HICKS: “HICKS, HITS ONE TO THE STICKS!”

When first acquired in 2016, Aaron Hicks struggled to adjust, hitting just .216 with eight home runs. However, coming off a career season in 2018, featuring 27 homers and 79 runs batted in, Hicks has become more-loved by the Yankee faithful and recently signed a seven-year extension with the club.

Despite battling injuries (back) in 2019, Hicks has hit nine balls to the “sticks” and has played exceptionally well in centerfield, showing off one of the strongest arms in the league.

BRETT GARDNER: “GARDNER PLANTS ONE! GARDY, GOES YARDY! IT’S A GARDY PARTY!”

The home run calls from John Sterling for Brett Gardner have evolved quite a bit over the years, and why wouldn’t they?

Gardner has been the mainstay in the Yankees organization, being only one of two players (C.C. Sabathia) who still remains from the Yanks last World Championship roster back in 2009.

“Gardner plants one” was the first home run call for the Yankee speedster, clever because of Brett’s last name being “Gardner” and a Gardy being someone who works with plants (good work, John).

Sterling has since used “Gardy, goes yardy!” and most recently in 2017, “It’s a Gardy party”, which has resinated with fans as well.

CLINT FRAZIER: “DOWN TOWN GOES FRAZIER! THAT FRAYZAH, WILL AMAZE YA!”

Despite having a rocky relationship and playing career in the Bronx thus far, Clint Frazier has arguably the best John Sterling home run call on the roster (for real).

“Downtown goes Frazier” is reminiscent with George Foreman’s knockout against Joe Frazier with Howard Cosell’s infamous “Down goes Frazier!” call at the end of the historic fight and one of the best broadcasts of all-time.

Frazier was the key acquisition in the Yankees trade with the Indians that sent Andrew Miller to Cleveland back in 2016, and quickly made an impact in the summer of 2017, connecting for a solo blast in his first career game, and launching a three-run walk-off homer against the Milwaukee Brewers during the first week of his career.

The red-headed slugger has not made too many positive headlines lately, as the outfielder has struggled mightily in right field, and refused to talk to the media in June after a three error performance on Sunday Night Baseball against Boston.

Despite Frazier’s exceptional performance at the plate (.283/.330/.513), the slugger was sent down to Triple-A Scranton following the acquisition of Edwin Encarnacion in June.

HONORABLE MENTIONS

MASAHIRO TANAKA: “The Sun Will Come Out, Tanaka! Bet Your Bottom Dollar With, Tanaka!”

DIDI GREGORIUS: “Oh, yes, in-Didi! Gregorius makes Yankee fans euphorious!”

DJ LEMAHIEU: “DJ LeMahieu! David John makes it long gone!”

DEREK JETER: “El Capitan! It’s a Jeter jolt!”

JORGE POSADA: “Jorgie Juiced One!”

ANDRUW JONES: “Andruw Jones makes his bones!”

AARON JUDGE: “Here comes the Judge! He’s judge and jury. And this is judgment day.”

AUSTIN ROMINE: “Austin powers one! Everything is fine…with Romine!”

MIKE TAUCHMAN: “Tauchman, the sock-man!”

LUKE VOIT: “Voit! Hits one to Beloit! Cool hand Luke!”

GIO URSHELA: “Gio Urshela! The most happy fella!”