Shocking video emerges of Yankees broadcaster John Sterling being hit in face by foul ball before heartwarming gesture
FOOTAGE of the moment a foul ball struck New York Yankees broadcaster John Sterling has emerged.
The long-time voice of Yankees broadcast got hit in the head while calling New York’s 3-1 victory over the Boston Red Sox on Saturday.
Twitter / @wfan660A video of New York Yankees announcer John Sterling being hit by a foul ball has emerged[/caption]
APSterling got hit by the wayward ball before finishing announcing New York’s 3-1 win over the Boston Red Sox on Saturday[/caption]
Red Sox star Justin Turner sent a foul ball all the way up to the broadcast booth in the ninth inning, hitting Sterling, 84, in the forehead.
WFAN radio listeners could hear the broadcaster screaming “Ow!” in pain live on air after the accident.
The following day, the station released a video of the moment Sterling was struck.
It showed the announcer grabbing his head after the collision with the ball making a loud thud when it reached the booth.
Sterling then took his glasses off and said: “It really hit me. I didn’t know it was coming back that far.”
But the broadcaster, still without his glasses, remained in his seat to proclaim the Yankees’ win – gesturing vigorously if nothing happened.
Later, he could be seen acknowledging to his listeners that he had really been hit by Turner’s wayward foul ball.
“So, I took one for the team,” Sterling added.
Finally, in a heartwarming moment, the announcer was told that Yankees catcher Kyle Higashioka wanted to make sure he was okay.
“Yes, I am okay,” Sterling responded.
“Just a glancing blow.”
Fellow Yankees broadcaster Suzyn Waldman then revealed Turner reached out to Sterling and signed a ball for the announcer.
Sterling then put a bandaid on the ball before holding it up for a picture.
The announcer was back in the booth to call New York’s 3-2 loss to the Red Sox on Sunday.
And, with a bandaid on his forehead, he told fans he was “fine” in a video recorded for the Yankees, thanking them for all the love and support he had received.
