Michael Neil Kay is an American sports broadcaster, journalist, and radio host best known as the longtime television play-by-play voice of the New York Yankees on the YES Network. He was born on February 2, 1961, in the Bronx, New York City.
Kay has called Yankees baseball since 1992, first on the radio and, since 2002, primarily on YES. His honours include 19 New York Emmy wins during his YES tenure and the 2018 Vin Scully Award for Excellence in Sports Broadcasting.
Quick Facts of Michael Kay
| Full Name | Michael Neil Kay |
| Profession | Sports broadcaster, radio host, journalist |
| Age | 65 years old |
| Date of Birth | February 2, 1961 |
| Nationality | American |
| Zodiac/Sun Sign | Aquarius |
| Birthplace | Bronx, New York City, New York, United States |
| Current Address | Greenwich, Connecticut, United States |
| Gender | Male |
Michael Kay Early Life and Education
Michael Kay was born and raised in the Bronx. Kay grew up in a working-class household in the Bronx.
He began reporting while attending the Bronx High School of Science and later continued broadcasting at Fordham University’s student radio station, WFUV.
Education
Kay graduated from Bronx High School of Science in 1978. He then attended Fordham University, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Communications in 1982.
| School | Bronx High School of Science |
| Alma Mater | Fordham University |
| Highest Qualification | Bachelor of Arts in Communications |
Michael Kay Personal Life
Michael Kay is married and has two children. His family has largely remained outside the daily sports media spotlight despite both Kay and his wife having well-known broadcasting careers.
Wife
Michael Kay married Jodi Applegate on February 12, 2011. Applegate is an American broadcast journalist whose career has included work with MSNBC, NBC News, WNYW, News 12 Long Island, and WPIX.
She anchored MSNBC Live and appeared on NBC’s Weekend Today, before holding several prominent local news positions. In New York, she also worked on Good Day New York and later became an anchor at WPIX.
Children
Michael and Jodi have two children:
- Daughter: Caledonia Rose Kay was born on January 5, 2013.
- Son: Charles Applegate Kay was born on November 12, 2014.
Parents
Michael Kay’s father was Charles Kay, and his mother was Rose Kay of Italian descent.
While his father came from a Jewish family, his mother’s family was Italian-American. Notably, his mother’s brother was the famous Academy Award-nominated actor Danny Aiello, making him Michael Kay’s maternal uncle.
Siblings
Michael Kay has one sister named Debbie. Unlike her brother, Debbie has largely stayed out of the public eye and media spotlight.
| Relationship Status | Married |
| Wife | Jodi Applegate Kay |
| Children | Daughter: Caledonia Rose Kay Son: Charles Applegate Kay |
| Parents | Father: Yet to be updated Mother: Rose Kay (née Aiello) |
| Siblings | Sister: Debbie |
Michael Kay Career
After graduating from Fordham in 1982, Kay worked for Sports Phone and served as a public address announcer for the New York Pro Summer Basketball League. That same year, he joined the New York Post as a general assignment writer.
He moved into sports coverage, handling college basketball beginning in 1984, followed by two years covering the New Jersey Nets. In 1987, he became the Post’s Yankees beat reporter.
Kay moved to the New York Daily News in 1989 and continued covering the Yankees. Around the same period, he began television work with MSG Network, reporting on the Yankees and later serving as a New York Knicks locker room reporter.
1992 to 2001: Yankees Radio with John Sterling
Kay’s career shifted permanently toward broadcasting in 1992 when he joined WABC Radio’s New York Yankees broadcasts.
For much of this period, Kay worked alongside longtime Yankees radio voice John Sterling, combining play-by-play and analysis. He remained on Yankees radio for ten seasons and called the team’s four World Series championship seasons of 1996, 1998, 1999, and 2000.
In 1998, he also began co-hosting the winter radio programme Sports Talk with John Sterling and Michael Kay. His work during this period established the broadcaster who would eventually become the Yankees’ principal television voice.
2002 to 2013: YES Network and The Michael Kay Show
When the YES Network launched in 2002, Kay became its lead television play-by-play announcer for Yankees games, a position he continues to hold. He also became the host of YES’s interview programme CenterStage.
CenterStage has featured figures from sports and entertainment including Serena Williams, Mike Tyson, Jay Z, Larry David, Adam Sandler, and many others. The programme’s first interview was with former NFL quarterback Steve Young.
Kay also launched The Michael Kay Show on ESPN New York in 2002. Don La Greca became his longtime radio partner, helping establish the show as a fixture of New York sports radio.
2014 to 2024: Radio, ESPN and KayRod Cast
Beginning in February 2014, The Michael Kay Show was simulcast on YES Network. Kay continued alongside Don La Greca, while Peter Rosenberg later joined the programme as another regular co-host. The trio remained together through the end of the programme’s longtime afternoon format in December 2024.
Kay expanded his national ESPN baseball work as well. In 2022 and 2023, he partnered with former Yankees star Alex Rodriguez for ESPN2′s KayRod Cast, an alternate presentation of Sunday Night Baseball.
He also handled ESPN play-by-play Major League Baseball postseason coverage, including American League Wild Card Series assignments in 2023 and 2024.
In 2022, Kay published the book CenterStage: My Most Fascinating Interviews from A Rod to Jay Z, drawing on memorable conversations from his YES interview programme.
2025 to Present: Solo ESPN Show and 35th Yankees Season
In January 2025, Kay moved into a new chapter at ESPN New York. He signed a multiyear agreement and began hosting a solo version of The Michael Kay Show from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. on weekdays on 880 ESPN New York.
The 2026 MLB season is his 35th season broadcasting Yankees baseball, consisting of ten years on radio followed by 25 years on YES.
For the 2026 YES television lineup, Kay remains the main Yankees play-by-play announcer. His principal game analysts are David Cone, Paul O’Neill, and Joe Girardi, while Ryan Ruocco serves as the backup play-by-play announcer and Meredith Marakovits continues as the clubhouse reporter.
Michael Kay Awards and Achievements
YES Network reports that Michael Kay has earned 19 New York Emmy wins during his time with the network. His notable awards and honours include:
- 1995: Dick Young Award for Excellence in Sports Media, awarded by the New York Pro Baseball Scouts.
- 1996: New York Emmy, as part of the MSG Network team, for Outstanding Live Sports Coverage, Single Program, covering Dwight Gooden’s no hitter.
- 1997: New York Emmy, as part of the MSG team, for Outstanding Live Sports Coverage, Single Program, for The Battle for New York: Yankees vs. Mets.
- 1998: New York Emmy, as part of the MSG Network team, for Outstanding Live Sports Coverage, Series.
- 2000: New York Metro Achievement in Radio Award, Best Sports Reporter.
- 2003: New York Metro AIR Award, for The Michael Kay Show.
- 2004: New York Metro AIR Award, for The Michael Kay Show.
- 2011: CableFAX Program Award, for his hosting work on CenterStage.
- 2013: CableFAX Program Award, for his hosting work on CenterStage.
- 2015: New York Emmy Award, Sports Play-by-Play Yankees telecasts on YES.
- 2016: Inducted into the New York State Baseball Hall of Fame.
- 2017: New York Emmy Award for hosting CenterStage.
- 2018: Inducted into the inaugural Bronx High School of Science Alumni Hall of Fame.
- 2018: Inducted into the New York State Broadcasters Association Hall of Fame.
- 2018: Vin Scully Award for Excellence in Sports Broadcasting, presented by WFUV.
- 2018: Lou Gehrig Sports Award, presented by the Greater New York Chapter of the ALS Association.
- 2020: New York Emmy, as CenterStage won Best Interview or Discussion Show.
- 2022: Italian American Baseball Foundation Media Award.
- 2022: New York Emmy, as part of YES’s Yankees team for Single Game Coverage.
- 2023: New York Emmy, as part of YES’s Yankees pre-game coverage team.
- 2023: National Honoree, Stamford Old Timers Athletic Association.
- 2024: New York Emmy, as part of YES’s season-long coverage team.
Michael Kay Controversy
- 2018, Clint Frazier comments: During a radio discussion about Yankees injuries, Kay criticised players who were unavailable and said “shame on Clint Frazier for not getting healthy.” Frazier was recovering from concussion-related problems and publicly objected. Kay later said his wording had been clumsy, apologised, and spoke with Frazier by phone. Yankees manager Aaron Boone subsequently described the matter as resolved.
- 2023, Ray Santiago exchange: Kay drew criticism after reacting to an ESPN New York producer, Ray Santiago, who had commented negatively about the ratings of The Michael Kay Show. Kay suggested on air that he could make a phone call that would cost Santiago his job. He later walked back the statement and characterised the on-air remark as performative rather than a genuine effort to have Santiago dismissed.
- 2023, bat boy hair comments: During a Yankees game against Cleveland, Kay questioned why a long-haired boy wearing a Yankees uniform appeared not to follow the club’s grooming rules. The comments generated attention on social media. It later emerged that the bat boy, Nate Rosenhaus, was actually employed by the Guardians rather than the Yankees. Kay discussed the situation again during the following broadcast.
Net Worth
The estimated net worth of Michael Kay is around $3 million.
| Net Worth (Approx.) | $3 million |
Michael Kay Height, Weight, and Physical Appearance
Below are the physical stats of Michael Kay:
| Height | In centimetres: 193 cm In meters: 1.93 m In feet and inches: 6 feet 4 inches |
| Weight | In kg: Yet to be updated In lbs: Yet to be updated |
| Hair Color | Brown |
| Eye Color | Green |
Michael Kay X
@RealMichaelKayFAQs
How old is Michael Kay?
Michael Kay is 65 years old. He was born on February 2, 1961, in the Bronx, New York City, New York, United States.
What is the full name of Michael Kay?
Michael Kay’s full name is Michael Neil Kay.
Who is the wife of Michael Kay?
Michael Kay’s wife is Jodi Applegate Kay, an American broadcast journalist. They married on February 12, 2011.
How many children does Michael Kay have?
Michael Kay has two children: daughter Caledonia Rose Kay and son Charles Applegate Kay.
Where did Michael Kay go to college?
Michael Kay attended Fordham University, graduating in 1982 with a Bachelor of Arts in Communications.
What does Michael Kay do now?
Michael Kay remains the main television play-by-play broadcaster for New York Yankees games on YES Network and hosts The Michael Kay Show on 880 ESPN New York from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. on weekdays.
