Yankees find new voices as Sterling, Kay recover

For someone like myself, the only two voices I’ve heard on a Yankees broadcast were Michael Kay and John Sterling.  Sterling has done radio for the Yankees since 1989 and has compiled an incredible streak of over 5,000 straight games.  He hasn’t missed a game in my entire lifetime.  Michael Kay has been the voice of the Yankees starting in 1992, first on radio with Sterling and then on television.

It’s been a wild season for the Yankees, between the injuries, the travel schedule (London Series) and all the winning despite the mounting odds against them.  What will be even more strange for Yankee fans is hearing a different voice on the radio and on television for an extended period of time.

John Sterling will be taking off his first game as a Yankee broadcaster this holiday weekend, and will be recuperating while he celebrates his birthday, July 4th.  He will use the long weekend to catch up on rest after a grueling travel schedule that included a trip across the pond to England for the London Series.  Sterling, who turned 81 on Thursday, hasn’t missed a beat in his 30 years of calling games, regardless of circumstance.

Kay on the other hand will be recovering from vocal cord surgery, which according to him was recommended after he saw a specialist.  Kay had been sounding raspy over the past few weeks so it made sense that it was a lingering issue rather than a cold.

Just wanted to tell everyone what is going on. I went to see a specialist in Boston today and he recommended I have surgery to correct an issue with my vocal cord. I will have the surgery next week and will be out for about a month, starting with today’s game and radio show.

— Michael Kay (@RealMichaelKay) July 3, 2019

It will most certainly be a change of pace for Yankee fans but it’s just another twist in what’s been a season of twists and turns.  The Yankees have been on their third string player at pretty much every position and although they haven’t been healthy they’re still in first place by six and a half games.  Best wishes to John Sterling and Michael Kay as they recover.  Ryan Ruocco will be doing double duty in the meantime, filling in for Sterling on the radio while also calling some games for YES.  Ruocco is one of the best young broadcasters in the business and more than deserves this opportunity.