Michael Kay Honors John Sterling with Tribute to Aaron Judge's Homer NEW YORK – The Yankees’ Monday night game against the Orioles was marked by a heartfelt tribute to the late John Sterling, whose legacy was honored through a pregame ceremony and moments during the contest. The Yankees completed a four-game sweep with a 12-1 victory, with Aaron Judge delivering a key home run in the first inning. Judge, who had been working to regain his rhythm after a slow start to the season, said the tribute brought him emotional closure. Judge followed an emotional pregame ceremony by hitting his 14th home run of the season, a blast that landed in the right-field bullpen. The homer, which came on a full-count pitch from Shane Baz, was described by Judge as a moment that “hit home” for Sterling, who was a longtime Yankees fan and broadcaster. “To do that there in the first, I was chuckling around the bases, thinking about what he was probably saying,” Judge said. The tribute began with a moment of silence as Michael Kay and Suzyn Waldman laid bouquets across home plate before the first pitch. Both teams paused to honor Sterling, who passed away at 87. After the final out, a recording of Sterling’s signature “Yankees win, theeee Yankees win!” call was played. Judge expressed hope that the phrase would become a permanent tradition at Yankee Stadium. “I think it’d be a nice little tip of the cap to John and what he meant to so much of this franchise and this fan base,” he said. Yankees manager Aaron Boone suggested the call should precede the playing of Frank Sinatra’s “Theme from New York, New York” after each victory. “I’d love it, yeah – right on into Frank,” Boone said. Each Yankees player wore Sterling’s initials on the back of their caps, and organist Paul Cartier played Broadway show tunes throughout the night.#aaron_judge #yankees #yankee_stadium #michael_kay #john_sterling
Larry David Collaborates with YES Network on Yankees Promotion Larry David, the iconic comedian and Seinfeld co-creator, has joined forces with the YES Network in a promotional campaign aimed at encouraging fans to watch Yankees games. The collaboration centers around Michael Kay, the network’s play-by-play announcer, who has a long-standing relationship with David. Kay, who has previously interviewed David on the network’s CenterStage talk show, has shared a friendly rapport with the comedian, often exchanging messages and even receiving texts during live broadcasts. The YES Network, entering its 25th season of broadcasting Yankees games, sought to elevate its offerings for the milestone. The campaign, which features David, was conceived recently and leverages Kay’s connection with the comedian. Initially hesitant to involve a friend in a promotional role, Kay eventually agreed after David’s enthusiastic support. “Anytime you go after legends, it’s on their terms, and he’s only going to do something if he believes in it,” said Bill Bergofin, the network’s head of marketing & creative. David, a lifelong Yankees fan, has expressed his admiration for the team’s legacy, and the campaign aims to highlight the network’s commitment to delivering high-quality coverage. Kay noted that while celebrity sports fans often lack in-depth knowledge, David’s expertise makes their interactions meaningful. The partnership is seen as a natural fit, blending humor with sports enthusiasm to engage fans. The campaign’s potential to go viral on social media has been humorously compared to the rise of Ted Lasso, a sports comedy series that originated as a promotional skit for NBC’s Premier League coverage. Kay joked that if the YES Network’s ad gains traction, it could inspire similar creative ventures.#yankees #yes_network #larry_david #michael_kay #bill_bergofin
