New York Yankees radio voice John Sterling probably won’t be back in the WEEI broadcast booth after treating Boston fans to a famous call.
The New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox swapped radio play-by-play callers again for the “Rivalry in the Booth” in the fourth inning, and the timing couldn’t have been more perfect.
John Sterling joined Tim Neverett, and Boston’s Joe Castiglione filled in with Suzyn Waldman, setting up for a call of what should have been the main turning point of the game.
"You're not Joe!" pic.twitter.com/iaIsnSUGnB
— WEEI (@WEEI) September 21, 2018
With the Yankees down by two runs and the bases loaded, Giancarlo Stanton stepped up to the plate and game Sterling something to get excited about, hitting a grand slam that put the Bombers up 6-4.
Sterling did not hold back, delivering his usual Stanton home run call:
“Swung on and hit in the air to right field. Martinez back, on the track, near the wall—she’s gone! It’s a grand slam! Giancarlo, non si può stoparlo! He hits a home run, a line drive in the right field seats, a grand slam! And the Yankees now take, a 6-4 lead.”
The call caused even more broadcast booth madness, as Paul O’Neill left the YES Network TV booth to check whether or not Sterling had used his signature home run call on Boston’s WEEI.
The YES broadcast captured O’Neill fist bumping Sterling after verifying that the announcer had indeed broken out his home run celebration for Red Sox fans.
Paul O'Neill gets confirmation from John and Suzyn that John called the Stanton grand slam on Red Sox radio. This makes me so happy! @PaulONeillYES @YESNetwork @Yankees #WFAN pic.twitter.com/8SPywZXuqL
— Sarah Tillane (@TheWidowTillane) September 21, 2018
Just for a moment, it felt like the announcer trade had summoned the ghost of Babe Ruth and the Curse of the Bambino. The Yankees were on their way to a sweep that would inspire fear of a postseason showdown in their rivals.
But as quickly as Stanton’s liner gave the New York the lead, the Red Sox came back and plastered Chad Green, Dellin Betances, and Aroldis Chapman for six runs.
The letdown by the Yankees’ top relievers effectively transformed the incredible broadcasting situation into an afterthought in a terrible loss that clinched the Eastern Division for Boston.
If Boston and New York clash in the ALDS, maybe Sterling can sneak into the Red Sox broadcast booth and give the Yankees a little good luck.
