Angels Announcer Paid Perfect Tribute to John Sterling on a Mike Trout Home Run

Dan Gartland | Apr 16, 2024

Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports

New York Yankees radio broadcaster John Sterling’s announcement on Monday that he would be retiring from the job he has held for more than three decades sent shockwaves through the baseball world. The news elicited an outpouring of support not only from countless MLB fans but also from many of Sterling’s broadcasting peers. Mets announcers Gary Cohen, Ron Darling and Keith Hernandez spent several moments during Monday night’s game reminiscing about their crosstown colleague. Meanwhile, down in Florida, Los Angeles Angels announcer Wayne Randazzo had a different kind of tribute.

In the eighth inning of the Angels’ game against the Tampa Bay Rays, Mike Trout hit a two-run homer to give his team the lead and Randazzo busted out Sterling’s iconic “It is high! It is far! It is gone!” home run call.

“It is high! It is far! It is gone!”

Angels broadcaster Wayne Randazzo with a nod to John Sterling on this Mike Trout home run call pic.twitter.com/c0XVQ7sto7

— Talkin' Yanks (@TalkinYanks) April 16, 2024

If Sterling had one fault as a broadcaster it was that he too frequently started the “It is high...” call on balls hit shy of the fence, forcing him to conclude, “It is far! It is... caught at the wall.” But there was no doubt that Trout’s missile was destined for the seats.

Randazzo also used to work in New York, calling Mets games on the radio alongside Howie Rose before moving to Los Angeles last season.