John Sterling's final Yankees home run call ever was an iconic one

Yankees announcing icon John Sterling retiring immediately ostensibly robbed fans of one last chance to say goodbye, at first blush. But what they might not realize is he actually left them one more perfect gift before departing. They just weren't aware at the time.

Sterling will be honored in a pregame ceremony on Saturday, prior to the Yankees' game against the Rays, meaning his final home run call came in the last home game he was in the booth for two weekends prior against the Toronto Blue Jays.

And it was a pretty monumental one. The Yankees managed to go home victorious that afternoon, despite Angel Hernández's best intimidation tactics, thanks in large part to a Giancarlo Stanton grand slam that defied logic and transported us briefly back to 2017.

Sterling was, naturally, on the mark, with one final, "That ball sure traveled far, Giancarlo!"

Yankees announcer John Sterling's final home run call was a masterpiece (Giancarlo Stanton's grand slam)

It's a bit ironic that Sterling's final home run was way outta here, meaning nothing was left up to interpretation and he could start his signature call upon the crack of the bat. We wouldn't have it any other way.

And, of course, the Yankees taking home the victory meant he got to win warble that day as well. Fitting in all respects for a subtle exit from a man who was decidedly (and hilariously) un-subtle every other step of the way.

It's quite likely that Sterling's current two caddies during recent series, Justin Shackil and Emmanuel Berbari, will continue in the role opposite Suzyn Waldman moving forward. Just like Sterling's extremely appropriate departure from the airwaves, Waldman's reaction was so quintessentially her, too.

"Nothing will ever be the same. It can't be. Life goes on, and we all go on, but nothing will ever be the same," Waldman sorrowfully stated, speaking for all of us with an incredibly personal touch.

There's only one thing left to do for the 2024 Yankees: win the whole damn thing, so that Sterling could accurately claim he was part of the fabric of a championship season one more time. Then, of course, have him narrate the Championship Film.