Sox-Yanks rivalry takes backseat after announcer hit with foul ball

Boston Red Sox designated hitter Justin Turner Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

Red Sox-Yankees rivalry takes backseat after announcer hit with foul ball

By Victor Barbosa | Last updated 6/12/23

Justin Turner is still relatively new to the Boston-New York rivalry after joining the Red Sox over the winter.

The infielder/designated hitter learned over the weekend that even the most historic rivalry in baseball sometimes has to take a backseat to more pressing matters, such as when it comes to the well-being of an icon like longtime Yankees radio broadcaster John Sterling.

The video everyone has been asking for.

No, a foul ball cannot stop John Sterling from calling a Yankees win #SterlingCam pic.twitter.com/avHu9w6XfY
— WFAN Sports Radio (@WFAN660) June 11, 2023

Suzyn Waldman gifts John Sterling the infamous foul ball that hit him with a special message from the batter, Justin Turner pic.twitter.com/smbZb3hqAK
— WFAN Sports Radio (@WFAN660) June 12, 2023

Turner was the final batter during Saturday's game between the Red Sox and Bronx Bombers. Boston trailed 3-1 in the top of the ninth inning with a runner on first base when the two-time All-Star fouled back a full count offering from New York's Clay Holmes that made its way into the home team's radio broadcast booth and ricocheted hard off of Sterling's forehead.

The 84-year-old Sterling was without his longtime broadcast partner Suzyn Waldman at the time, as she had already left to go down to the field for postgame interviews. Sterling didn't have much time to recover before the next pitch, but fortunately, the game ended on a Turner groundout shortly thereafter.

According to a report from Brendan Kuty of The Athletic, Sterling said he had some minor bleeding but wouldn't be "going on the IL" and that he'd be good to go for Sunday night's contest. The Yankees radio voice since 1989 was indeed back on the call for the series finale, which the Red Sox won, 3-2, in 10 innings.

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