NEW YORK -- John Sterling, a New York Yankees broadcaster, was trapped in his car after he tried to drive home from a game. Rickie Ricardo, a Spanish radio play-by–play man, helped him out.
Sterling and Ricardo called New York's Los Angeles Angels game from Yankee Stadium, as the radio crews had not resumed travel with the team under COVID-19 protocols.
WFAN's Ricardo said that Sterling, aged 83, was the first one to leave the stadium following the conclusion of the game at 10 p.m. Ricardo stayed for a Spanish postgame program.
Ricardo stated that when he left Yankee Stadium, the lobby was filled with water to the ankles. He also encountered several streets closed because of flooding from Hurricane Ida. According to police, the storm claimed at least 12 lives in New York City. One person drowned in a vehicle and eleven more were trapped in basement apartments.
Suzyn Waldman was Sterling's broadcast partner. She called Ricardo while he tried to find a way to his New Jersey home. She told him that Sterling was stuck in a car on River Road in Edgewater just over the George Washington Bridge.
Ricardo stated, "I've seen how bad River Road in Edgewater floods, and with the amount of rain we had I can only imagine," So I said, "Suzyn! I'm on my journey." I know more or less where he is. "I'll find out where he is and see what else I can do."
Ricardo called Sterling, and kept him on the telephone until he found Sterling in one of approximately 25 vehicles that had been stranded in the flooding. Ricardo, a Jeep driver, pulled up beside Sterling's vehicle and helped him out. Although it took him an hour to locate a path to Sterling's apartment, which is about half a mile away, he finally got Sterling safely to his destination.
Television broadcaster Michael Kay said that he was having trouble getting home on Wednesday. He also tweeted that he would wait for the storm to pass at Fordham University in The Bronx. He also tweeted photos showing the Yankee Stadium outfield completely submerged during the game.
