When the new Yankees radio play-by-play voice was preparing for spring training games, he wasn’t nervous at all. Remember, this isn’t Dave Sims’ first radio rodeo. Now that the 2025 baseball season is underway, the broadcasting veteran is as comfortable as the old Kangol hat he likes to wear. But you’re replacing an iconic voice in John Sterling who helmed the mic for 36 years. How will you ever do that? Dave Sims chats with Yankees manager Aaron Boone (l.) before a game against the Brewers at Yankee Stadium last month. “Everyone asks me that,” says Sims from his home in Manhattan. “Was I supposed to roll over and get all queasy, come on.” He has now replaced two broadcasting legends. Dave Niehaus of the Seattle Mariners was the first. “If I was like 25 or 30, it’ll be a lot different,” Sims says. “This is my fourth decade of doing play-by-play.” The 72-year-old Philadelphia-born Sims made his mark right here in the Big Apple. He started at this very newspaper as a sports writer and then hosted “Sports Night,” a 1986 sports talk radio show at WNBC Radio. He had the big names on his show like Giants general manager George Young, broadcaster Merlin Olsen, ex-Yankee Sparky Lyle, future Hall of Famer Rod Carew and college football star Brian Bosworth. The show aired Monday-Friday from 7:30 p.m. to midnight and his producer was the future voice of the Knicks, Mike Breen, a 2021 inductee into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. That led to a myriad of jobs, doing NFL football and the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament on Westwood One Radio from 1998-2015. College basketball announcer Dave Sims on air before a college basketball game between the Marquette Golden Eagles and the Seton Hall Pirates at the Prudential Center on January 26, 2022 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) Sims also did the Daily News Golden Gloves on MSG, the 1988 Seoul Olympics for NBC, and don’t forget his long-running radio gig (1989-93) doing middays at WFAN with Ed Coleman. Remember “The Cole Man and the Soul Man?” There was also his stint as the weekend sports anchor on WCBS-TV (1995-2007). But baseball is the itch he had to scratch. When Sims worked for the Mariners for 18 years, he did it all. He’s a throwback and much like the Mets’ beloved broadcast trio of Bob Murphy, Lindsey Nelson and Ralph Kiner, Sims did TV and radio. “[Dave Niehaus] opened the TV and did the first three innings,” says Sims. “I would hand it over to Rick Rizzs [radio] and I would do color for three innings. Top four, we’d switch.” After Niehaus’ death in 2018, Sims became the man. So much so that he was named the National Sports Media Association’s Washington Sportscaster of the Year three times. He has paid his dues. “First of all, he is a top-notch broadcaster,” says his long-time friend, and now partner on the WFAN’s Yankees radio broadcasts, Suzyn Waldman. “Second, we see the same game. We grew up the same way, loving baseball in a certain way. We’re both emotional. “We both see people on the field as opposed to being bogged down by stats. We’ve known each other so long. It’s going to be terrific.” Being the radio voice of the Yankees comes with high expectations every year and 2025 will be no different. GM Brian Cashman reloaded the team that came up short in last year’s World Series with offseason acquisitions like starter Max Fried, closer Devin Williams, first baseman Paul Goldschmidt and outfielder Cody Bellinger. Not a bad haul considering the team lost superstar Juan Soto to the crosstown rival Mets. “Their Plan A and Plan B was just so successful,” says Sims. “I’m telling you that that was fantastic. Nobody expected that. Credit Cash and Omar [Minaya] and the front office staff. This is fabulous work.” A graduate of Bethany College in W. Va., with a degree in mass communications, Sims played football and baseball for the Division III school. He was a catcher for the Bisons. When he worked here at The News and at WFAN, did he ever see himself doing what he’s doing? “Oh yeah,” he says. “I wasn’t thinking along those lines [yet], but I knew I wanted to get into sports anchoring, and I wanted to do play-by-play. I was able to check all those boxes.” Indeed. While Sims is the radio voice of the Bronx Bombers, he’s had iconic voices advising him. Related Articles Yankees’ Marcus Stroman receives cortisone shot, Giancarlo Stanton ‘getting close’ to live at-bats Cody Bellinger’s bat, Will Warren’s first career win lead Yankees past Giants, 8-4, in rainy Bronx Yankees’ Marcus Stroman goes to 15-day injured list with left knee inflammation Yankees’ Clarke Schmidt ready to return from shoulder injury: ‘I feel good’ Mike Lupica: Elite closers were hard to find for Mets, Yankees this week “[Long-time Reds announcer] Marty Brennaman once told me, ‘God damn it, David, just call it,’” says Sims. “I always called him Coach. ‘Alright Coach. I was thinking along those lines.’” “You can’t come to baseball late,” says Waldman who has covered sports in New York for almost 40 years and has been the Yankees radio color analyst since 2005. In fact, Waldman and Sims always texted each other during their respective games with the Yankees and Mariners, though miles away, to see what was going on at their games. “You have to be embedded and both of us were little children when we both started loving baseball,” she says. “We both are ingrained in the stories and the history. I am scared to death that that is going be lost with the way baseball is looked upon now. “Don’t forget, this is radio. [Listeners] can’t see it. You can’t take it for granted that everybody knows everything. “It’s important that you are the voice.” Another radio voice of the Yankees, since 2014, is Rickie Ricardo, the team’s Spanish language broadcaster. It came down to him or Sims replacing Sterling and there’s no animosity from Ricardo because, “Dave’s a class act. “What does he not bring to the booth?” asks Ricardo. “He brings the wisdom of knowing what today’s Major League Baseball is all about. This is a very different game to call as it was in the ’80s, ’90s and even the 2000s. He understands the intricacies of the different ways baseball is looked at today and he’s evolved. “I told people if I don’t get it because Dave does,” says Ricardo, who also does the Spanish language broadcasts for the Philadelphia Eagles, “I’ve got no complaints.” Sims also knows the difference between making a call on TV as opposed to radio. “On TV, call it and get the hell out of the way,” he says. “On radio, give it a few seconds, especially if it’s a big crowd reaction. Because nothing beats that and then you bring your partner, in this case, Suzyn, back in and she can react to it.” Like all baseball fans, there are voices you grew up with and Sims is no different. “My list of broadcast heroes goes back. There was “The Game of The Week” with Curt Gowdy and Tony Kubek,” says Sims. “In Philly, it was Bill Campbell, Byrum Saam, then Harry Kalas and Richie Ashburn. “I came to New York and it’s Bill White, Kenny Singleton, Lindsey Nelson, Ray Scott. You know … ‘Starr … Dowler … Touchdown!’” Sims lets out a laugh for all the old timers. He even learned from legendary New York broadcaster Marty Glickman. “He had such a distinctive voice, and he mentored me,” says Sims with pride. Sims also has a popular growing side gig. Since July, and taping every Monday, Sims and his sons Jarett (41) and Jordan (37) put out the “Hey Now! Podcast.” They have had typical A-List guests including Harold Reynolds (the first guest), Ken Griffey Jr., Curtis Granderson, Ken Singleton, Bob Costas, AL Manager of the Year Stephen Vogt of the Guardians and comedians Bill Burr and Jeff Garlin. There is also a bit of a renaissance man in Sims. When on the road in Chicago for instance, he expands his knowledge using his time wisely. “I got to see [painter] Georgia O’Keeffe’s exhibit and checked out [blues icon] Buddy Guy’s place,” he says, “and I’ve got to get to reading outside of sports. “I want to read the Robert Moses book, “The Power Broker,” and see what he did to New York.” For all those who think broadcasting is in their future, here’s some timely Sims advice. “Be there early, stay late, keep your ears open and be a good person,” says Sims. “Go down and interact with the players in the clubhouse and the batting cage. “You’re not going to get everybody every day, but if you get two, three, four guys, get a couple of nuggets, work them into your broadcast. That is so key.” Some things won’t change for Sims like wearing his signature hat in the booth. “Absolutely,” he says. “When it’s summertime, I gotta represent and wear my Panamas.” Then there is the issue of a catchphrase. Some of the greatest broadcasters in New York have had classic catchphrases. Marty Glickman had his “Good like Nedick’s!” (look it up). Mel Allen: “How a-bout that!” Marv Albert: “Yes!” Mike Breen: “Bang!” Sometimes, Breen gives you a memorable double “Bang!” like when then-Knick Donte DiVincenzo hit a game-winning three back in March of last year. Sims’ signature catch phrase has been, “Hey Now!” How will it play in New York? “I’m not going to beat it to death,” Sims says with a laugh noting he’d save a double “Hey Now!” for a really important moment. Not a bottom of the ninth win, or a division or pennant clincher … think winning World Series championship No. 28. That euphoria might merit the rare triple “Hey Now!” ...read more read less