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WFAN and the Yankees are set to hire Dave Sims, 71, to be their new radio play-by-player succeeding the retired John Sterling, according to sources briefed on the agreement. Sterling, 86, stepped away from the broadcast booth earlier this year but returned to be the team’s lead play-by-player for its postseason run.
Sims will team up with 78-year-old Suzyn Waldman on the broadcasts. His contract is for two years, according to the sources. There is a verbal agreement, and a signed deal is expected.
Sims, who has been the Seattle Mariners’ play-by-player since 2007, first emerged as a public candidate when a caller to WFAN’s “Boomer and Gio” program said that Waldman floated Sims’ name out there as a candidate.
Sims had formerly been a mid-day talk show host on WFAN with Ed Coleman from 1989 to 1993.
The New York Post first said that a deal was close. The Athletic had previously reported that the final two candidates were Sims and Yankees’ Spanish language announcer, Rickie Ricardo.
After Sterling retired in April of last season, Justin Shackil handled the bulk of the games with Emmanuel Berbari alongside Waldman. Ricardo emerged during the year, having put himself in contention for the job.
Ultimately, Sims, who wanted to return to New York for a long time, was given the job.
Required reading
- Yankees legend John Sterling on what he loves (and hates) about returning from retirement
- John Sterling stories: Yankees colleagues and friends share their favorites
- Fellow broadcasters honor Yankees legend John Sterling by replicating his calls
(Photo: Jeff Robinson / Getty Images)
