Suzyn Waldman is so committed to the Yankees’ radio broadcasts that rarely, if ever, does she miss a game anywhere. But with Yom Kippur tonight, Suzyn won’t make it to Texas. Judge or no Judge, Waldman committed herself to a higher authority as the old Hebrew National ad said about the kosher hotdog. So it’s been 18 years between now and then and she’s always been there. You can count on it or her. For Sterling, not doing road games must feel sinful. You’ll need a crane to get him out.

The fact that Waldman who turned 76 last month and Sterling 84, are New York institutions at this point. I’m  quite sure that team executives and members of its flagship station, WFAN, want Sterling to limit his schedule and for the two to retire entirely at some point soon. After gently showing John directions and lightening his work-load palpably he already sounds better and more relaxed. His voice is now in better fettle than ever.

Andrew Marchand of the New York Post reported in the summer that John’s schedule was being pared to for the most part to just home games but Sterling kept pushing and the Yankees agreed stubbornly to a beefier schedule.

After all that, Aaron Judge elbowed himself into the Roger Maris race. As of this morning, Judge sat tied with Roger Maris at 61. Anticipating the excitement, Sterling called Chris Oliviero, a decent man, who manages the New York radio market for Audacy. He asked him if he can call the closing road games in Texas. According to Marchand who works the beat with dogged perseverance, WFAN had to rescind the assignment from Ryan Rucco, 35, so that he can tell Sterling he can call it.

Last night, the former Orioles’ relief pitcher, Jeff Nelson, 55, sat near John in the Arlington booth. The color man talked a lot, meaning Nelson. Lately it sounds like John is tiring late in games. Coming down to his final career strokes, Sterling understandably wants to call the 62nd if there is one.

**

Announcers who generally take off for Yom Kippur are or were Marv Albert, Mel Allen, Len Berman, Bruce Berman, Ian Eagle, Marty Glickman, Barry Landers, Howie Rose, Brad Sham (Cowboys), Spencer Ross, Bill Mazer, Sam Rosen and Warner Wolf. I’m sure there are others.

October 3rd

1999: Mark McGwire Wins 2nd Straight HR Title

In a season where a two-man race came down to the wire between power hitters Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa, the St. Louis first baseman, hit his 65th home run of the year.  This title was ironically claimed against the Chicago Cubs, where Sosa hit his 63rd home run of the season. While the home run title is certainly not an award at which to scoff, this came in the steroid era of baseball, where only two years later Barry Bonds hit 73 home runs; a record that holds an asterisk to this day. Yankee outfielder Aaron Judge chases Roger Maris’ home run record of 62, an event so idolized that ESPN is cutting to his at-bats while broadcasting other sporting events to show the potential record-breaker live. Eras of baseball come and go, but it is still certain that the long ball is king in the major leagues.

But 62 didn’t crackle any Texas windows last night.

Our publisher, David Halberstam, wrote a piece for USA Today a number of years ago on how Red Barber called it on TV. It was typical of Red. He spent more time talking about the “young fellow,” as he dubbed him, won $5,000 from a Staten Island businessperson for retrieving the ball. The Yanks’ Phil Rizzuto had an emotion call , one for the the archives and it’s continued to thrive there for 61 years. Holy Cow!

USA Today article can be linked here.  LA Times on Red Barber’s call of Roger Maris’ 61st

October 4th

1962: Willie Mays Ends Whitey Ford’s World Series Consecutive Scoreless Inning

The 1962 World Series matched two of baseball’s greatest players in the game’s history, Willie Mays led the Giants against Whitey Ford’s Yankees. Ford was the pitching ace of the Yankee staff, recording a 33 and ⅔ scoreless inning streak in the World Series. Despite the fact that they lost the series, Mays’ hit in the second inning broke this legendary streak. Ford had a career era of 2.75 which ranks him as one of the greatest pitchers in baseball history, and Mays’ .302 batting average made this a duel for the ages. On NBC Network TV, two historic legends called all seven games, Mel Allen and Russ Hodges. In 1946, Hodges came to New York and was Allen’s sidekick. By 1954, Russ became his own head at the Polo Grounds. On network radio. Joe Garagiola and George Kell worked NBC national radio.

October 5th

2003: Chicago Cubs Win Their First Postseason Series Since 1908

Known as a team with perennial bad luck, the Chicago Cubs pivotally defeated the Atlanta Braves in the NLDS to win their first postseason series since the 1908, a victory 95 years in the making.  Led by Sammy Sosa, the ‘03 Cubs won 88 regular season games and eventually lost in the NLDS to the Florida Marlins.  While the winning game did not take place at Wrigley Field, it marked some of the most success the North Side had seen since they won 116 regular season games in 1906. The Cubs would finally meet their destiny in 2016 when the Cubbies won the Series, knocking off the Indians, now the Guardians. Fox had the Series with Joe Buck and Tim McCarver. On ESPN Radio, Jon Miller and Joe Morgan hooked up.

October 6th

1993: Michael Jordan Announces His Retirement from Basketball

Arguably, the athlete who changed the culture of sports more than anyone, was Michael Jordan with the Chicago Bulls. He won six NBA Championships and five MVP awards.  Jordan announced his retirement at a large press conference alongside Bulls’ owner Jerry Reindorf, completely, reshaping the media landscape of the NBA. This retirement, however, only lasted two seasons and Jordan returned on March 18th, 1995. He would go on to initiate another three championship ship stint, from 1996-1998 and two more MVPs.  Whether it be his on-court swagger, athletic ability, or just wanting to be “Like Mike,” Michael Jordan helped make the NBA a global juggernaut, as the digital was just beginning to erupt. Moreover, in the years ahead, Jordan became one of the critical pillars in American culture.

October 7th

1984: Walter Payton Passes Jim Brown as NFL’s Leading Rusher

In a game between the Chicago Bears and the New Orleans Saints, legendary running back Walter Payton passed Jim Brown, for most career rushing yards. Payton would end his career with 16,726 rushing yards, second all-time behind only Emmitt Smith. The call was made by Joe McConnell and Brad Palmer, where at the time, viewers at home watched on the TV with muted audio but listened on the radio.  Walter Payton is still honored in football today with the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award, given to the player who has made a lasting impact in their team’s community.