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Calling another 
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Following a season where the New York Yankees were not playoff-bound for the first time since prior to the Joe Torre Era--- 2009 was a homecoming of sorts.

But John Sterling, who has been the Yankees’ radio play-by-play announcer for every pitch since 1989, said any expectations based on last year’s disappointing performance are dead wrong.

“I think the bar is set so high for the Yankees. I think the Yankees are held to a higher standard.”

However, Sterling acknowledged, “For me personally, I think they’ve had a great year and I hope they win a playoff round or two.”

Winning a playoff series, though, would go a long way to changing the course of the Yankees’ recent post-season direction. The winningest franchise has suffered through three consecutive first-round losses. If they have the same result in 2009, losing to the Tigers or Twins in the American League Division Series, Sterling said, “It wouldn’t be a failure in my eyes. But it would be a failure in the eyes of the … players or certainly the people who are covering them.”

In the end, Sterling, 61, said everyone needs to have the proper perspective.
“I think you have to enjoy your life on a daily basis.”

Despite those quick exits, the Yankees have been a model of consistency year in, year out. But Sterling said a good play-by-play announcer takes nothing for granted.

“You have to make the game that day important. The fact that the Yankees have been winning for all these years … just helps a broadcaster.”

As the Yankees begin their quest for a 27th World Series ring, Sterling, who broadcasts the games on WCBS-AM, was quick to share a few of his fondest memories from the victories he’s witnessed first-hand.

“I think that ’96 was a very special year because they were not expected to win. They stayed in first place for months. Every time they were threatened, they did something right to win,” Sterling recalled.

He went on to document two standout moments from that season’s ALDS against Texas.

The Yankees, who lost the opening game of the series, were forced to play catch-up to win games two and three. Once onto the League Championship Series and the Orioles, Sterling remembered it starting out with a controversial Derek Jeter home run (forever linked with Jeffrey Meier), and finishing with a Bernie Williams walk-off home in the 11th inning.

That game stands the test of time in Sterling’s memory.

Add a dramatic, come-from-behind World Series against Atlanta and, “…that whole year was unbelievable,” Sterling said.

The sportscaster-extraordinaire also cited the privilege it was to call “non-October” perfect games of David Cone and David Wells in back-to-back (and a belly-to-belly) years. “The game is great for the pitcher. It’s very exciting to broadcast, … If they lose the no-hitter, I feel sorry for the pitcher, but it doesn’t affect me,” Sterling realized.

“I’m so lucky. I have nothing to do with it. The broadcaster is just lucky if his team is good. And this team has been good for so long.”

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