Yankees' John Sterling shut out of Hall of Fame consideration on baseball broadcast award

Pete Caldera | MLB Writer

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NEW YORK – In the annals of New York broadcasting, John Sterling is a legend.

But when it comes to consideration for Cooperstown, the Yankees’ longtime play-by-play man somehow can’t even get to first base.

On Friday, the Hall of Fame announced that eight of baseball’s “beloved voices have been named as the finalists for the 2020 Ford C. Frick Award,’’ in the “Current Major League Markets’’ category.

None of them was Sterling.

All are worthy candidates: Boston’s Joe Castiglione, longtime Montreal Expos’ play-by-play man Jacques Doucet, Cleveland’s Tom Hamilton, the legendary Ken Harrelson, current Chicago Cubs’ announcer Pat Hughes, former Red Sox voice Ned Martin, St. Louis Cardinals legend Mike Shannon and Tampa Bay Rays’ announcer Dewayne Staats.

Whether you love him or not or if you’re just an indifferent observer, Sterling obviously belongs in this group.

And the same can be said for Sterling’s radio partner, Suzyn Waldman, a pioneer in the industry, and the Mets’ Gary Cohen, one of the best play-by-play broadcasters around, period.

Next year, the “National Voices’’ category will be up, followed by the “Broadcasting Beginnings’’ ballot in 2021.

So, the next time Sterling, 81, can even be nominated for the Frick award is in 2022.

When reached for his comment on Friday, Sterling simply said: "I wish to congratulate all of the nominees.''

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This past season, Sterling's 30-year streak of calling Yankees games came to end.

If the committee feels he's more schtick than style, then consider Sterling's enduring appeal (not to mention his endurance) and the endless imitations of his famous catch phrases and personalized home run calls.

The following is from the Hall of Fame's press release on Friday:

As established by the Board of Directors, criteria for selection is as follows: “Commitment to excellence, quality of broadcasting abilities, reverence within the game, popularity with fans, and recognition by peers.”

Final voting for the 2020 Frick Award will be conducted by an electorate comprised of the 11 living Frick Award recipients and four broadcast historians/columnists, including past Frick honorees Marty Brennaman, Bob Costas, Jaime Jarrín, Tony Kubek, Denny Matthews, Tim McCarver, Jon Miller, Eric Nadel, Vin Scully, Bob Uecker and Dave Van Horne, and historians/columnists David J. Halberstam (historian), Barry Horn (formerly of the Dallas Morning News), Ted Patterson (historian) and Curt Smith (historian).

The 2020 Frick Award ballot was created by a subcommittee of the voting electorate that included Costas, Matthews, Nadel, Smith and Van Horne.

To be considered, an active or retired broadcaster must have a minimum of 10 years of continuous major league broadcast service with a ball club, network, or a combination of the two. More than 200 broadcasters were eligible for consideration for the 2020 Frick Award based on these qualifications.

Now, tell us again how Sterling doesn't make that final eight?

Pete Caldera is the Yankees beat writer for NorthJersey.com. For unlimited access to all Yankees analysis, news, trades and more, please subscribe today and download our app.

Email: caldera@northjersey.com Twitter: @pcaldera