A LEGACY OF SACRIFICE: THE QUIET STRENGTH BEHIND THE ICONIC MICROPHONE
NEW YORK, NY—Tonight, the lights of the broadcast booth were turned on the woman who has defined the sound of Yankees baseball for decades. Suzyn Waldman, the pioneering voice of the Bronx Bombers, was presented with a Lifetime Media Award, a prestigious honor recognizing her forty-year journey from a musical theater stage to the Radio Hall of Fame.
However, the most moving moment of the evening came when Waldman’s family, led by a rare and emotional tribute from her husband, revealed the quiet sacrifices that paved the way for her historic career. While fans hear the “meritorious” calls on the radio, tonight was about the woman behind the microphone and the family that stood by her through every roadblock and triumph.
BREAKING BARRIERS: A TIMELINE OF FIRSTS
Suzyn Waldman’s career is a masterclass in perseverance. As the first woman to ever host an NBA pre-game show and the first full-time female color commentator in MLB history, her legacy is etched into every stadium she’s entered.
| Milestone | Year | Impact |
| WFAN Pioneer | 1987 | The first voice ever heard on the first all-sports radio station in America. |
| Earthquake Heroism | 1989 | Won an International Radio Award for reporting live from the upper deck during the SF earthquake. |
| The Booth Debut | 2005 | Became the first woman to hold a full-time color commentator role for a Major League club. |
| Radio Hall of Fame | 2022 | Inducted as a pioneer for women in sports media. |
| Meritorious Service | 2025 | Honored alongside John Sterling by the BBWAA for “Long and Meritorious Service” to baseball. |
THE FAMILY SACRIFICE: “WE JUST WANTED HER TO BE HEARD”
During the award presentation, Waldman’s husband spoke of the “invisible hours”—the cross-country flights, the missed holidays, and the relentless battle against a 1980s industry that told her she didn’t belong.
“People see the pioneer,” he said, his voice wavering with pride. “But we saw the woman who would come home from a double-header, study scouting reports until 3:00 AM, and do it all again the next day. The sacrifice wasn’t just hers; it was ours together, but we knew the world needed to hear her voice. We just wanted her to be heard.”
MA PINSTRIPE: A SYMBOL OF MERIT
Known affectionately by fans as “Ma Pinstripe,” Waldman’s legacy is built on a foundation of “merit over gender.” In her acceptance speech, she recalled a time when she was removed from press rooms simply for being a woman.
“I was told I was just a ‘radio girl,'” Waldman told the crowd. “But I had a support system that told me my knowledge had no gender. This award belongs to my family, who held the fort at home so I could help build a new one in the booth.”
As she prepares to continue her journey in 2026 alongside her new partner, Dave Sims, this award stands as a definitive “thank you” from a sport that she helped modernize—one call at a time.
