The voice of the Yankees is feeling more and more like an Old Timer.
Michael Kay, 65, revealed that he doesn’t expect to be calling games as he moves deep into his golden years, even wondering about how long he will be around anyway.
“You know what? I always use this line,” Kay began in a recent podcast appearance on Awful Announcing. “I think that Vin Scully used that; that’s where I got it from.
‘God laughs at those that make plans.’ I very seriously doubt I’ll be living in my 80s. I’m just amazed that John [Sterling] made it as long as he did. I don’t think I would be, but you never rule anything out.”
Kay is referencing legendary Yankees radio broadcaster John Sterling, who called Yankees games from 1989-2024, before finally retiring in April 2024 at the age of 85.
Sterling died in May 2026 at the age of 87 as one of the greatest voices in sports history, though Kay doesn’t see himself going for another 20 years.
“I never was asked these questions at 63 or 64, but 65 seems to be a magic number. And I’ve actually been thinking about the end. When do you walk away? When is it the right time? Because of my children’s ages, it’s kind of awkward,” Kay said. “My son’s 11, my daughter’s 13. You want to be there for them. I’m there all the time in the winter, every single day, because the radio station, four days a week, allows me to do the radio show at home. But then when Callie goes to college in five years, and Charlie goes to college in seven years, what am I going to do if I retire? It’s an awkward time. I don’t see myself being alive in my 80s. And if I was, I don’t see myself doing the games, but I guess you can’t rule anything out.”
Kay started as a Yankees announcer in 1992, initially working for WABC in the radio booth before transitioning to the flagship television station YES Network in 2002.
The Yankees have a rotating group of analysts alongside Kay between Paul O’Neill, David Cone and Joe Girardi.
