With John Sterling retired once again, WFAN and the Yankees have settled on a replacement for the legendary broadcaster.
Dave Sims has been named the team’s new radio play-by-play man, Audacy, WFAN’s parent company, announced on Thursday night. The move is a homecoming of sorts for the 71-year-old, as Sims began his career as a sportswriter with the Daily News in 1975 and hosted a midday talk show on WFAN with Ed Coleman from 1989-1993, among other local jobs.
“The radio voice of the Yankees is a storied position in the history of baseball,” Chris Oliviero, Audacy’s New York market president, said in a statement. “From Allen and Barber to Rizzuto to Sterling, the names are synonymous with the pinstripes. Dave Sims is a worthy successor to that lineage. We are honored to have Dave join the incomparable Suzyn Waldman in the booth in the Bronx.”
Sims, known for signature calls such as “Hey now” and “Giddy up, baby,” had been the Mariners’ television play-by-play man since 2007. Now the Philadelphia native is looking forward to working with the 78-year-old Waldman, Sterling’s longtime broadcast partner.
“It’s great to be home,” said Sims, an Emmy Award winner. “What an honor to be part of the iconic Yankees franchise. New York is where it all started for me, and I can’t wait for Opening Day and to work with my good friend Suzyn!”
The feeling is mutual, as Waldman and Sims have known each other for a while and get along well.
“I’m really excited about this,” Waldman told The News. “Dave and I have been and have remained very good friends since the old WFAN days! I’m really thrilled that this is happening.”
WFAN is close on a deal to hire Dave Sims as John Sterling’s replacement. He served as the Mariners TV announcer and has delivered some INCREDIBLE calls 🔥
pic.twitter.com/mO5GryJsfk — Fireside Yankees (@FiresideYankees) November 14, 2024
According to The Athletic’s Andrew Marchand, Sims received a two-year contract from WFAN. Rickie Ricardo, the Yankees’ Spanish language radio announcer, was also a finalist for Sterling’s old job.
Sterling, 86, retired from the Yankees’ radio booth a few games into the 2024 season. Justin Shackil and Emmanuel Berbari then handled the majority of the remaining regular season games alongside Waldman before Sterling unretired for the Yankees’ playoff run to the World Series.
Sterling, who called Yankees games for 36 years, and Sims were both named finalists for the Baseball Hall of Fame’s Ford C. Frick Award in October.