From Bronx schoolboy to the voice of the Yankees: the career of Michael Kay

History · Published 6 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Born and raised in the Bronx, Michael Kay grew up idolizing Yankee players and writing school assignments about the team. Today, he is a fixture of New York sports media, serving as the lead television play-by-play announcer for the Yankees and hosting his own long-running daily radio program.

Michael Kay’s path to the broadcast booth began at the Bronx High School of Science and Fordham University, where he honed his reporting skills. His professional journey started in 1982 as a general assignment writer for the New York Post, eventually leading to a dedicated role covering the Yankees in 1987. By 1992, he transitioned into broadcasting, partnering with John Sterling for radio coverage of Yankees games, a collaboration that lasted a decade. When the YES Network launched in 2002, Kay moved to television, becoming the lead play-by-play announcer, a role he has held ever since.

Beyond his primary duties with the Yankees, Kay has built a significant presence in sports talk radio and television. He launched The Michael Kay Show in 2002, which evolved through various formats, including a recent shift to a solo hosting role in January 2025. His versatility is further demonstrated by his work on ESPN, where he called postseason games and co-hosted an alternate Sunday Night Baseball broadcast with Alex Rodriguez from 2022 to 2023. His industry contributions have been recognized with multiple New York Emmy Awards, including honors for his work on the YES Network and his interview program, CenterStage.

Known for his distinct personality, Kay is also recognized for his highly specific dietary habits. He famously avoids fish, seafood, and soup, and he did not eat his first egg until December 2023 at age 62. Recently, he has expanded his public persona into new media, launching a series of “chicken tender reviews” in 2025 that mirror the style of popular pizza critiques. Despite health challenges, including vocal cord surgery in 2019, Kay remains a central figure in New York’s sports landscape, balancing his broadcasting commitments with a life that includes his wife, journalist Jodi Applegate, and their two children.

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