Legendary New York Yankees radio broadcaster John Sterling has passed away at the age of 87, WFAN announced Monday—just two years after he retired from the booth. For generations of Yankees fans, Sterling's voice was the soundtrack of summer, calling over 5,600 games from 1989 through the 2024 season.

"I am a very blessed human being," Sterling said in his retirement statement in April 2024. "I have been able to do what I wanted, broadcasting for 64 years. As a little boy growing up in New York as a Yankees fan, I was able to broadcast the Yankees for 36 years. It's all to my benefit, and I leave very, very happy."

What truly set Sterling apart—and made him a beloved figure in sports broadcasting—were his personalized home run calls. Every Yankee had their own signature moment in the booth, whether it was a part-time player like Eric Hinske ("Hinske with your best shot!"), a superstar like Aaron Judge ("All rise! Here comes the Judge!"), or a legend on his way to Cooperstown like Derek Jeter ("El Capitan!").

The anticipation of a new Sterling call became a winter tradition for Yankees fans. Whenever the team added a player in the offseason, fans would spend months guessing what creative, often unpredictable phrase Sterling would unleash. His calls could reference former Yankees, baseball history, pop culture, Broadway musicals, or even a little mangled Italian. And it wasn't just fans who played this game.

"We'll be sitting on the bus and we trade for somebody new or it's somebody's first game, we'd always go back and forth, 'Hey, what's John going to come up with this time?'" Aaron Judge told Newsday.

Here, in rough chronological order of when they debuted, are 10 of the most iconic John Sterling home run calls. Each one captures a moment in Yankees history—and a little bit of baseball magic.

"Bern baby Bern" – Bern Williams wasn't the first Sterling call, but it started the craze. Williams made his MLB debut in July 1991 and became a cornerstone of the late-1990s dynasty. This timeless classic still echoes in the minds of fans.

"The Giambino!" – A Babe Ruth/Great Bambino pun that Sterling got plenty of mileage out of. Jason Giambi's call was a perfect blend of history and whimsy, and for a while, Sterling went with "The S" before settling on this gem.