The New York Yankees ignored the adage ‘If you don’t have anything nice to gift, don’t gift anything at all’ when they gave John Sterling a big-screen TV for his retirement.
Last week, Sterling made the surprising announcement that he was retiring from his 36-year post as radio voice of the New York Yankees, concluding a legendary broadcast career spanning more than six decades. The Yankees organization quickly put together a lovely ceremony to honor Sterling, celebrating his career before last Saturday’s afternoon game in the Bronx. And someone from the team seemingly stopped at Best Buy to grab Sterling a last-minute gift on their way to the stadium Saturday morning.
Sterling joined the latest episode of Jimmy Traina’s Sports Illustrated Media Podcast where the now-retired play-by-play voice was asked about the gift that was perceived by many as being “cheap” from the Yankees.
“I can’t believe all the fuss and feathers about my retirement,” Sterling said, acknowledging he didn’t need any gift at all. “And the Yankees staged a beautiful day, my kids were all there, and it was great. I didn’t want any gifts. And as far as the TV, we don’t know what we’re gonna do with it yet, but we’ll think about some things. I don’t have any room for it in my place.”
The Yankees had little time to prepare for Sterling’s retirement considering it came less than one month into the regular season, his 36th with the team. And they deserve credit for putting together a nice ceremony in such a timely manner. But the 83-inch TV presented on behalf of the team was odd and unnecessary. No one would have complained if the Yankees conducted the celebration without giving Sterling a gift. The TV, however, was an easy target for fans to mock.
Nothing like receiving an 83-inch TV from the whole Yankees team for your retirement pic.twitter.com/JlfhVqFqrh
— Talkin’ Yanks (@TalkinYanks) April 20, 2024
First of all, Sterling probably already furnished his residence with whatever his TV needs are, he didn’t simultaneously announce that he’s moving into a new and empty house now that he’s retired. As it turns out, not only does Sterling already have a TV, he has five of them. Second, there’s no guarantee Sterling can even fit an 83-inch TV in his Edgewater, New Jersey luxury apartment. You need a pretty large wall, free of mantles, windows, and pictures to hang a TV that large. And as Sterling told Traina, he can’t fit the big-screen TV in his apartment.
So, now what happens to it? Does he return it for cash value? Does he give it to one of his kids or list it for sale on Facebook Marketplace? No. Sterling should donate it to the New York Yankees Museum inside Yankee Stadium.
This gift took on such a life of its own, with Yankees fans believing the team cheaped out on their beloved broadcaster. Let those fans forever remember Sterling and his retirement ceremony by taking a picture next to the 83-inch TV. Sterling doesn’t need it, nor does he even really seem to want it.
Put it in the Louvre, as they say.
