Former Peoria Rivermen broadcaster front-runner for Yankees radio job, says NY Post

PEORIA — As a kid, Brendan Burke once sat in the New York Yankees radio booth between broadcasters John Sterling and Michael Kay.

Now the former Peoria Rivermen play-by-play voice appears to be on his way to moving one chair over.

Burke, the New York Islanders television play-by-play voice and an emerging star in the NHL ranks, is reportedly the heir-apparent to take over the Yankees play-by-play job from 84-year-old icon Sterling, according to a New York Post story published in late July.

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Sterling has been reducing his schedule this season on WFAN. Burke took over for a five-game road trip July 1-6, making his major league debut at Cleveland. Yankees longtime radio commentator Suzyn Waldman was alongside Burke in the booth over the weekend.

It was a dream come true for the former Rivermen voice, who grew up watching the New York Yankees from the left field grandstand at Yankee Stadium while his father, Don, worked as a Yankees beat writer for two New Jersey newspapers.

"This is my great white buffalo, if you will," Burke told WFAN after his five-game stint was announced earlier this summer. "This is where I got the spark for being a sportscaster."

The Post reported the Yankees' transition to Burke could pick up in intensity as soon as next season. He could function in a dual role as the voice of the Yankees and Islanders.

Howie Rose, another New York broadcasting legend, held such a role when he called Islanders and Mets games. It was Rose who Burke succeeded in the Islanders booth. Imagine, a former Rivermen play-by-play guy going on to succeed both broadcast icons Rose and Sterling.

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Burke joined the Rivermen when they were the St. Louis Blues top affiliate in the Triple-A American Hockey League in 2008-09. He was voice of the Rivermen through the 2012-13 season, and went on to become the New York Islanders TV broadcast play-by-play man in the 2016-17 season.

He works for MSG Networks, NBC Sports (NHL postseason games), Turner Sports, has called events in the Olympics and was a voice on the inaugural broadcast team for the Premier Lacrosse League on NBC.

Dave Eminian is the Journal Star sports columnist, and covers Bradley men's basketball, the Rivermen and Chiefs. He writes the Cleve In The Eve sports column for pjstar.com. He can be reached at 686-3206 or deminian@pjstar.com. Follow him on Twitter @icetimecleve.

This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Report: Ex-Rivermen broadcaster front-runner for Yankees radio job