“Everything about him is unique,” she said. “He’s one of a kind. You can’t even describe his personality because that would diminish it.”

When asked what kind of legacy Sterling leaves behind, Waldman described his passion for the Yankees and what he’s meant to their fans.

She hopes that the Bronx faithful reciprocates the affection that Sterling has always shown before and during Saturday’s game against the Rays.

“There will never be another one,” Waldman said. “There’ll never be another person like that. To have that kind of love for a team and that kind of love for his fanbase — I hope Saturday that everybody shows him that because there’s three generations who know nothing about Yankee baseball except for John Sterling. And he has wanted to do this since he was a very little boy, and that’s a really long time ago. I hope people understand that, that he lived a dream that none of us really get to do.”

Yankees baseball without Sterling will be different, more so for Waldman than anyone else.

Often referred to as the grandma and grandpa of Yankees baseball, the two will be forever connected, even as the pioneering Waldman adjusts to new partners in the booth. But she knows there are things Sterling wants to do besides calling baseball games.

While she nor the Yankees spoke on Sterling’s health, Waldman noted that he’s reached “a certain age, and he deserves to enjoy the rest of his life.” Travel has gotten tougher on Sterling, and Waldman mentioned that he has a daughter that he wants to walk down the aisle in a year. He has other children who recently graduated college.

“I don’t want him to be tired,” Waldman said. “I want him to be able to see his kids get married and have kids. It’s very important.”

With all that in mind, Waldman is glad that Sterling is leaving on his own terms.

“That’s the worst thing that you can ever have happen to you, I think, is somebody telling you, ‘That’s enough. You can’t do it anymore,’” she said. “I think this is the greatest way you can go out, to make the decision on your own. Be really clear and be happy about it.

“He knows what he’s done in this industry. And he knows that most people just love him because there will never be another.”

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