John Sterling sent Yankees fans to Google Translate following Anthony Volpe’s first career home run in MLB.
The rookie shortstop led off the game Friday night with his milestone blast in what became a 4-3 loss to the Twins at the Stadium.
Sterling, the longtime radio play-by-play man for the Yankees, historically has specific home run calls he uses for each player.
As a result, any time a player hits his first homer for the Yankees, much of the attention turns to Sterling as he officially unveils the new home run call.
He gave an ode to Volpe’s Italian heritage.
“Anthony Volpe! A spettacolo oggi! Oh, the fox socks one to left,” Sterling said. “And the Yankees take an immediate 1-0 lead.”
John Sterling made an ode to Anthony Volpe’s Italian heritage in his first home run call for the prized rookie. Getty Images
Anthony Volpe reacts after hitting his first career home run during the Yankees’ game against the Twins on April 14. Robert Sabo for the NY Post
“Volpe” means “fox” in Italian, while “A spettacolo oggi” can be translated to “Putting on a show today.”
Volpe’s great-great grandfather on his father’s side emigrated from Naples, Italy to America, he announced in a speech at the Italian American Baseball Foundation last year.
His mother, Isabelle, was born and raised in the Philippines before emigrating to the United States.
To start his home run call, Sterling, as always, went to his trademark.
“Swung on, a high fly to deep left-center,” Sterling began. “It is high. It is far. It is gone. Anthony Volpe’s first home run in the major leagues.”
Sterling uses the expression “it is high, it is far, it is gone” to describe every home run, regardless if it actually matches that description.
It certainly wasn’t the first time Sterling went to another language for a home run call.
When Giancarlo Stanton homers, Sterling says “Giancarlo, non si può de stoparlo.”
In 2021, Sterling used “You are Odoriffic!; Je t’adore, Odor,” while calling Rougned Odor’s first homer with the team.
Anthony Volpe launches his first career home run during the Yankees’ game against the Twins on April 14. Robert Sabo for the NY PostThe 84-year-old Sterling has been calling Yankees games since 1989, and the Yankees expect him to call most, but not all, of the team’s games this season, the The Post’s Andrew Marchand reported.
Last year, Sterling cut back on the amount of games he worked.
He had to wait a bit to break out his home run call for Volpe.
Volpe has mostly struggled through the early stages of his rookie season, entering Friday night with a .158/.256/.237 slash line.
