Nearly a month after taking a foul ball to the noggin, on July 4th, Yankees broadcaster John Sterling celebrated his birthday. Not to worry, Sterling won’t let all the praise get to his head.
Players donned t-shirts – that displayed the bandaged broadcaster with the words “Team Player” on the bottom – around the clubhouse and during batting practice.
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Even Giants owner John Mara joined in on the fun sending the revered broadcaster a Giants helmet. “To keep him safe from foul balls,” tweeted Yankees TV broadcaster Michael Kay.
The Yankees also chipped in by beating the Baltimore Orioles 8-4, giving Sterling a chance to repeat his patented end-of-game catchphrase – Yankees win! Thaaaaaa Yankees win! – as Adley Rutschman grounded out to end the game on his birthday.
Sterling was struck by a foul ball in the ninth inning of 3-1 Yankees win over the Red Sox on June 10th. Boston’s Justin Turner looped a line drive over the screen behind home plate on a 3-2 pitch from closer Clay Holmes, catching Sterling off guard.
“I took my eye off it,” Sterling said on Sunday, a bandage draped over his left eyebrow. “I should have caught it or knocked it down. Oddly it hit my left eyebrow and it didn’t hurt. Is that weird? My head is full of muscle, that’s why.”
Video of the incident posted on social media by the Yankees showed the baseball fly into frame, bouncing off Sterling’s desk before hitting him hard on the side of his head. Fans listening live heard Sterling call out in pain as he frantically adjusted his glasses.
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“Ow! Ow! Ow!” Sterling yelped on the air. “It really hit me! I didn’t know it was coming back that far.”
Despite being alone in the booth — longtime analyst Suzyn Waldman was down on the field, getting ready for her postgame interview — Sterling plowed forward. He called the final few pitches of the game…
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