Legendary New York Yankees radio voice John Sterling, 85, stuns fans by announcing he is RETIRING immediately... with Saturday to be his 5,632nd - and final - game in the booth

The New York Yankees have announced that legendary play-by-play commentator John Sterling is to retire with immediate effect at the age of 85.

Sterling is synonymous with fans in the Bronx and has been the radio voice of the Yankees since 1989, famously calling 5,060 consecutive games from September 1989 to July 2019.

In a statement released by the team on Monday afternoon, Sterling said: 'I am a very blessed human being. 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. I look forward to seeing everyone again on Saturday.'

Sterling has called 5,420 regular season Yankees games and 211 in the postseason, and he will appear in the booth one final time on Saturday, when New York hosts Tampa Bay.

John Sterling, pictured in July 2022, is hanging up the mic after one last call on Saturday

Sterling called five World Series wins for the Yankees, after beginning way back in 1989

He called Yankees games alongside long-time colleague Suzyn Waldman (right, in 2020)

He is known for his signature home run calls and Yankees victory call, in which he screams 'ballgame over! The Yankees win... theeeeeeee Yankees win!'

Revealing the news, a statement from the Yankees reads: 'Fans find a certain comfort in the daily rhythms of baseball. Day in and day out, season after season, and city after city, John Sterling used his seat in the broadcast booth to bring Yankees fans the heartbeat of the game, employing an orotund voice and colorful personality that were distinctly, unmistakably his own. 

'John informed and entertained, and he exemplified what it means to be a New Yorker with an unapologetic and boisterous style that exuded his passion for baseball, broadcasting and the New York Yankees.

'There is no shortage of adjectives to describe John and what he means to this organization and our millions of fans around the world. But what makes John a goliath of the sports broadcasting world was how sacred he held his role as voice of the Yankees. 

'Showing up to perform virtually every single day since 1989, he was a pillar for Yankees fans who relied on the comfort and familiarity of his voice to be the soundtrack of their spring, summer and fall. 

Sterling is also famously a former on-air partner of another voice of the Yanks, Michael Kay (L)

Last season, Sterling was hit by a foul ball inside the commentary booth at Yankee Stadium 

Then 84, he reacted with shock and clutched his face after the scary incident live on air

'Given the tremendous care he had for the team and his performance on the air, it's not a stretch to believe that our fans live and die with every pitch because John Sterling did the same.

'We congratulate John on a remarkable and illustrious career. His contributions to this great game and to the Yankees franchise will echo long into the future.'

Prior to his time with the Yankees organization, Sterling called Morgan State football for eight years and Washington Bullets basketball in 1981. He then worked for Atlanta's TBS and WSB Radio for nine years, calling Hawks basketball and Braves baseball.

Sterling has won 12 Emmy Awards since 2003, and is famous for his on-air partnership with another voice of the Yankees, Michael Kay.