Bob Sheppard

[Jim Vaz]

After watching a few of the final Yankee games at the end of regular season and last nights division game I have noticed that the voice of the great Bob Sheppard Yankees PA announcer since what seems like the Civil War has been missing, replaced by some bad impression of his. Did anyone else here this?

What is the deal with that? I'm sure now since Bob is older his presence has lessened, and I know he know longer does NY Giants games as well, but I just don't understand why they have to make almost a mockery of the great voice by adding some off sounding impression.

Why not start with a new voice? It doesn't have to be one of these annoying loud DJ type of PA announcers that we have become so used to at many venues today, just someone with a good solid voice.
Nobody will ever be able to replace the great voice of Yankee Stadium and I just think its kind of tacky to carry on with his voice.

[nymdan]

I was at the Jets-Giants game yesterday (Giants home game) and a Bob Sheppard imitator announced at that game too.

I wouldn't call it a mockery, really. More of a testiment to how legendary he is that they want to continue announcing in his style even when he's not there.

[sflnyc]

I read in the paper that he wasn't doing well and saw on the broadcast that he was missing his first Yankee Stadium game since he started in 1951. For someone in his high 90's he has carried on very well.

And then I heard the PA announcement on the broadcast and did a double take. I would rather just hear the new PA talk his/her normal voice than try to imitiate Bob Sheppard. Imitiation is the highest form of flattery, but now... meh! Maybe they just did it at Giants Stadium & Yankee Stadium this Sunday because it just happened and it was a tribute. If they do it again tonight at Game 4 or at the next Big Blue home game, it wouldn't sit right with me, but that's just me.

Now batting, the rightfielder... Reggie... Jackson...

Just classic!!!

Get well soon, Bob!

[Yankeefan90]

Everytime Bob Sheppard isn't there they have that same guy who tries to imitate his voice. It really is kinda annoying, because you know it's not him, but the guy is trying his hardest to sound like him. It'll be sad when Mr. Sheppard passes because their will never be another PA announcer that's classy like he is. As for the football Giants announcements I never knew that they had a guy that tries to sound like Bob Sheppard. I knew he did broadcasting for them, but I didn't know he was that loved by even the football Giants fans. Interesting.

[nymdan]

I read in the paper that he wasn't doing well and saw on the broadcast that he was missing his first Yankee Stadium game since he started in 1951. Get well soon, Bob!

Maybe his first playoff game, but he's definitely missed other games.

[Urbanshocker13]

I do miss Bob Sheppard, Thank god he was at the last Yankees game I went to So I could hear him hopefully not for the last time. When someone gets as old as he is you always worry when they get sick, I hope he can get better at least for one more year. It would be only fitting that the voice of Yankee Stadium should go the same time the Original Stadium does, But I hope that he stays around too the New Stadium. They showed the fill in guy on tbs last game, I think that is just the way he talks but he does sound like a cheap impression of Bob Shepard, I think he will be his replacement. I think they want to at least keep the same style of PA announcer the deep voice of god type. They better if I hear an annoying DJ style PA Announcer at Yankee stadium I will personally go up to the pressbox and kill them!! I really hope Bob gets well soon how can you replace a voice like that?

[Mattingly]

Everytime Bob Sheppard isn't there they have that same guy who tries to imitate his voice. It really is kinda annoying, because you know it's not him, but the guy is trying his hardest to sound like him. It'll be sad when Mr. Sheppard passes because their will never be another PA announcer that's classy like he is. As for the football Giants announcements I never knew that they had a guy that tries to sound like Bob Sheppard. I knew he did broadcasting for them, but I didn't know he was that loved by even the football Giants fans. Interesting.
I'd only known that Sheppard did announcing for them also. When Giants owner Wellington Mara passed on, I wondered aloud what Bob was doing there. As it turned out, from the '50s or so until about 15+ years ago, the Giants played at Yankee Stadium before moving one state west to the Meadowlands in New Rutherford, NJ.

[dabx]

I believe Bob Sheppard had retired from Giants PA announcing two years ago.

In addition to the playoffs, he also missed the last couple regular seasons games. I hope he gets well soon. We already lost a voice of the Yankees this year (Scooter)

[The Monument]

Bob Sheppard is suffering from a bronchial infection or upper respiratory problem. I'm pretty sure we've heard the last of him for this year. Hopefully he'll be back next year, but he is 92 years old.... Sometimes these things turn into more serious ailments. His replacement is Jim Hall. He's trying to keep it dignified, but it comes off sounding like an imitation. Bob has missed games before, but not post season games. He did the NFL Giants games from the 50's thru 1972 or '73 at the Stadium, then did the games at the Yale Bowl and Giants Stadium until the late 90's or early 2000's. It sure won't be the same when he is gone. I hope the Yanks continue to use his " Good afternoon {or evening}, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to Yankee Stadium" on tape.

[Gary Dunaier]

His replacement is Jim Hall. He's trying to keep it dignified, but it comes off sounding like an imitation.
From Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Hall_%28announcer%29) (bold face added by me):
Jim Hall is the public address announcer for New York Giants football games at Giants Stadium, located at the Meadowlands Sports Complex, East Rutherford, New Jersey.

After serving as the backup to longtime legendary Yankee Stadium PA announcer Bob Sheppard since the opening of Giants Stadium, Hall was awarded the Giants Stadium position beginning with the 2006 season following Sheppard's retirement from the role.

Hall continues to serve as Sheppard's backup at Yankee Stadium. He has done so for nearly forty years. He was pressed into duty in mid September 2007 when Sheppard could not appear due to laryngitis. This was Sheppard's first absence since the beginning of the 2006 season when he missed the Yankees' opener due to a hip injury.

Hall was a tenured professor at St. John's University for forty-five years, before retiring in 2004.

It is also of note that his voice is quite similar to Bob Sheppard's.

Jim Hall is no Bob Sheppard wannabe they just plucked off the streets of River Avenue. If he's been Bob's understudy for almost 40 years, I'm sure he has Bob's blessing... and who knows, maybe he's even gotten some tips and pointers from the man himself over the years.

[Gary Dunaier]

Jim Hall was not the PA announcer at Yankee Stadium for tonight's ALDS game (Mon 10-08-07). I don't remember the man's name, but TBS gave him his "moment" when they patched his introduction of the singing of God Bless America though to the TV broadcast.

This gentleman didn't sound like he was trying to imitate Bob Sheppard's voice, but he did come across with the "sedate" Yankee Stadium style you would expect from Sheppard.

[jimmyjimjimz]

Jim Hall was not the PA announcer at Yankee Stadium for tonight's ALDS game (Mon 10-08-07). I don't remember the man's name, but TBS gave him his "moment" when they patched his introduction of the singing of God Bless America though to the TV broadcast.

This gentleman didn't sound like he was trying to imitate Bob Sheppard's voice, but he did come across with the "sedate" Yankee Stadium style you would expect from Sheppard.

I think he sounds a lot like Bob Sheppard, but I don't think he's trying to immitate him.

[Mario Mendoza...HOF Lock]

Vintage Sheppard from 1976

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YmKaPYJGxhQ

Amazing contrast between eloquent Sheppard and the blowhard Cosell

[Elvis]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DK799W6AhBk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Ly-wGAhAuo

[Gary Dunaier]

Am I the only one who would be interested in buying an audio CD of Bob Sheppard PA announcements? Ideally, he'd go into a recording studio (for maximum sound quality) and recreate some of the great lineups and other various and sundry announcements and admonishments (like the vintage 1976 one Mario Mendoza posted), then they could add some echo and (very little) crowd noise to simulate the effect of being at the Stadium, and I think you'd have something every Yankee fan - well, I'd better change that because I'm not a Yankee fan I'm a Mets fan, so let's make it "every ballpark fan" - and I think you'd have something every ballpark fan would treasure.

I'm serious.

Besides, it would go well with the 1997 CD by the late Yankee Stadium organist Eddie Layton.

http://img.shopping.com/cctool/PrdImg/images/pr/177X150/00/77/55/6d/bb/2002087355.JPG

[The Real McCoy]

Bob Sheppard has had a long and amazing life and career, debuting as the Yankee PA announcer on the same day Mickey Mantle came up to the team. Sheppard, quite obviously, has put into practice "the Mick's", late in life, lament: "If I had known I was going to live this long I would have taken better care of myself."

[philipthegreat]

I wonder if in the future when he dies there are going to use recording from very players.

Something like this.

they would take the letters and put them make to together for different names. That way they'll never need a new PA announceer.

[Gary Dunaier]

I don't think they'd be able to digitally recreate Bob Sheppard's voice, if that's what you're trying to say. If nothing else, you need to have a live announcer for when the unexpected happens.

Let's remember, when he started out Bob Sheppard was not the legendary voice of Yankee Stadium - he was just the new guy behind the mike. I'm sure the Yankees already have some kind of plans for when Bob Sheppard retires, and those plans may well include making sure the new guy becomes "Bob Sheppard" for the next generation or two in terms of longevity.

[woodmont]

I think he sounds a lot like Bob Sheppard, but I don't think he's trying to immitate him.

The first substitute was long time Bob Sheppard back up and the Giants PA announcer Jim Hall, Jim is excellent.

The other substitute, who I never heard before was Tim Beach, He was no Jim Hall let alone Bob Sheppard!!

[Gary Dunaier]

I'm sure the Yankees already have some kind of plans for when Bob Sheppard retires, and those plans may well include making sure the new guy becomes "Bob Sheppard" for the next generation or two in terms of longevity.
Y'know, gang, given what happened to Joe Torre, I'm wondering if the public address announcer is the only job within the Yankee organization that has any actual job security...

Well, that and equipment manager... Pete Sheehy held that job from 1927 to 1985...

:nod:

[DMR67442]

How Is Bob Shepard Doing? Is He Anouncing Any Games? When Iwas There In April I Know He Was Not There But Was Told He Might Be Returning Soon?

[Kentucky Bomber]

How Is Bob Shepard Doing? Is He Anouncing Any Games? When Iwas There In April I Know He Was Not There But Was Told He Might Be Returning Soon?

If I was a a betting man I'd say there will be some way found to have him announce the All-Star lineups. If he doesn't make an appearance then, you can pretty well forget it. Unless he can recover enough strength to give the opening lineups in the New Stadium.

Let's be blunt: this is a man about 90-95 years old. It is miraculous he lasted as long as he did (his first game was Mickey Mantle's first game!) I know that he obviously is the only voice of the Stadium all of you know, but consider I was born only 7 months before he started the job and he's the only voice I've known.

I don't know that it's necessary to have a new guy who is trying so hard to sound like Shepard, but God forbid they hire a screaming idiot to replace him (THE SHOOOOOOOOOOOOOORTSTOOOOOOOOP: DEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEK JEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEETER RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

[Yankees2k6]

Bob sheppard is the greatest of all time

[nymdan]

Sheppard will not be able to announce during the all-star game.
http://www.nj.com/sports/ledger/index.ssf?/base/sports-2/121566450730800.xml&coll=1

[six4three]

Am I the only one who would be interested in buying an audio CD of Bob Sheppard PA announcements? Ideally, he'd go into a recording studio (for maximum sound quality) and recreate some of the great lineups and other various and sundry announcements and admonishments (like the vintage 1976 one Mario Mendoza posted), then they could add some echo and (very little) crowd noise to simulate the effect of being at the Stadium, and I think you'd have something every Yankee fan - well, I'd better change that because I'm not a Yankee fan I'm a Mets fan, so let's make it "every ballpark fan" - and I think you'd have something every ballpark fan would treasure.


I would love it.

Email the Yankees a couple years ago suggesting that they put some downloads on the site - even as simple as "Welcome to Yankee Stadium" would be great.

In this era of ringtones and desktop themes, you'd figure this is a natural.

[Jim Vaz]

If I was a a betting man I'd say there will be some way found to have him announce the All-Star lineups. If he doesn't make an appearance then, you can pretty well forget it. Unless he can recover enough strength to give the opening lineups in the New Stadium.

Let's be blunt: this is a man about 90-95 years old. It is miraculous he lasted as long as he did (his first game was Mickey Mantle's first game!) I know that he obviously is the only voice of the Stadium all of you know, but consider I was born only 7 months before he started the job and he's the only voice I've known.

I don't know that it's necessary to have a new guy who is trying so hard to sound like Shepard, but God forbid they hire a screaming idiot to replace him (THE SHOOOOOOOOOOOOOORTSTOOOOOOOOP: DEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEK JEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEETER RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)


I don't see that happening. I would think the Yankees are smart enough to realize it would be an abomination to replace the great Bob Sheppard with a Raceway Park ad screamer. I know that a lot of the noises and music that permiate other stadiums have made their way to Yankee stadium but a good voice I would hope will remain. My only thing has been stop trying to mimic Bob, have someone new and good in there at the new stadium and allow that person to be the new voice of Yankee Stadium.

[The Real McCoy]

actually Sheppard's tones still resonate each Yankee home game. Derek Jeter's at bats are introduced with a recording of Sheppard doing the honors.

[Jim Vaz]

actually Sheppard's tones still resonate each Yankee home game. Derek Jeter's at bats are introduced with a recording of Sheppard doing the honors.

Yea Jeters introduction is the only one where Bob Sheppard is prerecorded, all others are by a live PA person. I don't know if it has to do with him being the captain or something to that matter, I don't know.

[LetsGoMets687]

Yea Jeters introduction is the only one where Bob Sheppard is prerecorded, all others are by a live PA person. I don't know if it has to do with him being the captain or something to that matter, I don't know.

It's because he requests it.

[Kentucky Bomber]

Yea Jeters introduction is the only one where Bob Sheppard is prerecorded, all others are by a live PA person. I don't know if it has to do with him being the captain or something to that matter, I don't know.

Umm, let's see: all time Yankees in hits - 1. Gehrig 2. Ruth 3. Jeter

Derek gets a perk.

[Jim Vaz]

That helps some I guess :)

[Gary Dunaier]

In the new DVD "Yankee Stadium: Baseball's Cathedral" there's an amusing moment where Bob Sheppard is discussing his style and how he doesn't believe in going the hype way; he demonstrates this by doing a normal Derek Jeter call, and then giving a "DERRRRREK JEEEEEEE-TERRRRRRRR" call. It sounds very weird to hear that coming from Sheppard.

[six4three]

I'll have to check it out - that sounds fun.

[CMart]

Just a thought: I am not sure about how exactly his speaking ability is at this point being how sick he is, but if his voice were in fact in good shape, I just wonder maybe if Steinbrenner sent somebody over to his place to record him to some degree. The player intros perhaps? Wouldn't that be a nice little surprise for us all tonight if that happened?

Or perhaps they could play a recording of him saying "Good Evening, and Welcome to Yankee Stadium"; I'd be fine even with that.

He is part of the history of the stadium and his voice should be there in some respect.

[Kentucky Bomber]

Just a thought: I am not sure about how exactly his speaking ability is at this point being how sick he is, but if his voice were in fact in good shape, I just wonder maybe if Steinbrenner sent somebody over to his place to record him to some degree. The player intros perhaps? Wouldn't that be a nice little surprise for us all tonight if that happened?

Or perhaps they could play a recording of him saying "Good Evening, and Welcome to Yankee Stadium"; I'd be fine even with that.

He is part of the history of the stadium and his voice should be there in some respect.

His voice is his monument, more than his plaque in the Park could tell. Your idea has great merit, if he's in condition to do it. I'm afraid that if he isn't up to doing even one game that a studio session is beyond him as well. :(

[Kentucky Bomber]

Since it's pretty obvious we'll never see Bob Sheppard again, unless there's an open coffin at his funeral, you might as well meet his successor:

A Yankees Announcer Gets His Chance to Start
By JAMES BARRON
Jim Hall could make it across the parking lot at Yankee Stadium unrecognized, unless he opened his mouth. The deep-but-not-that-deep voice would give him away.

Unlike the players, who are there to be seen but not heard, he is there to be heard but not seen. He is the backup announcer for the Yankees, and with the venerable Bob Sheppard sidelined by illness this season, he has been at the public-address microphone regularly of late. Giants fans know him, too — he took over for Mr. Sheppard as their announcer three seasons ago.

So he has one of those voices that everybody knows. That puts him in a league with Don LaFontaine, the movie-trailer announcer who died on Monday after 30 years of putting the ominousness in a simple phrase like “In a world where ...” Or Don Pardo, the 90-year-old announcer on “Saturday Night Live.” Or Alan Kalter, who took over for Bill Wendell as the deep voice that puts that drawn-out A in the host’s name on the “Late Show with David Letterman.”

Mr. Hall, who has been the Yankees’ backup announcer since the mid-1960s, channels Mr. Sheppard’s elegant, careful enunciation when he is behind the microphone. “When I started,” he said on Wednesday, sounding less formal on the telephone, “Bob’s one requirement was that he didn’t want the fans to hear anything markedly different from what they were used to. People think I try to imitate Bob. There’s no way I could imitate that voice, but I do use that same style.”

That confuses people. “They think, ‘He’s trying to mimic’ — some people in the press or on television will use that word,” Mr. Hall said. “There’s no intention on my part to do that.” Certainly not: He and Mr. Sheppard both taught public speaking, “and we believe that you should pronounce each word carefully and not rush it the way many radio people do.”

Two words he can pronounce carefully, without rushing, are Derek and Jeter. But he says them only once a game, at Mr. Jeter’s request. The request came before the first postseason home game last year. Mr. Sheppard had gotten up that morning and realized that his voice was gone. The diagnosis was bronchitis. The nonagenarian Mr. Sheppard ended up in the hospital.

At the stadium, Mr. Jeter asked if the Yankees had a recording of Mr. Sheppard introducing him.

“Of course they said yes,” Mr. Hall said. “He said, ‘I would like that played every time I come up to bat.’ ”

The request did not bother Mr. Hall. “Oh, listen, Bob is an idol,” Mr. Hall said. “Anything that honors him, I have no objection to whatsoever. When I go through the starting lineups for each team, I do Derek, but once the game starts, every time he comes to bat, it’s Bob.”

Mr. Sheppard has been the Yankees’ announcer since 1951, Joe DiMaggio’s last year with the team and Mickey Mantle’s first. And it was Mantle who, in a way, brought him together with Mr. Hall.

As a high school student, Mr. Hall had met Mr. Sheppard: “He would judge me when I was competing in speech and debate events,” he said. Like Mr. Sheppard, he became a high school teacher and later moved to St. John’s University, where Mr. Hall was the chairman of the Department of Speech, Communication and Theater for 12 years out of a 45-year tenure.

“Two of my students knew that I was a Mickey Mantle nut,” he said. “They had had Bob as a coach in high school. They called him and asked if there was any way that I could get to meet Mickey Mantle. Somewhere around 1964, give or take a year, he arranged for me to go to the stadium and meet Mickey. I sat in his booth for the game.”

“A few days later Bob called, and says” — here Mr. Hall slipped into that voice from the stadium — “‘Jim, there are times I need a backup announcer. Would you be interested?’ After I picked myself up off the floor, I said, ‘You bet.’ ”

Mr. Hall has opinions about how the Yankees are playing this season — “It’s a mystery how that much talent could be so inconsistent,” he said on the phone. But he keeps his opinions to himself when the microphone is on at the stadium, just as Mr. Sheppard would want him to.

He has to press a foot pedal to activate the microphone at the stadium. That and a red light serve as reminders that the mike is live, “so I don’t make some derogatory statement like, ‘Why didn’t you catch that ball, you idiot?’ ”

“There are times when I do get exasperated,” he said, “but I wouldn’t want the fans to hear I’m involved in rooting.”

[locke40]

Since it's pretty obvious we'll never see Bob Sheppard again, unless there's an open coffin at his funeral, you might as well meet his successor:

That was actually a nice, little article. I have a whole new respect for Mr. Hall; I am glad he is our announcer, rather than some gimicky charlatan.

[dabx]

That was actually a nice, little article. I have a whole new respect for Mr. Hall; I am glad he is our announcer, rather than some gimicky charlatan.

I think it would be a great tribune to him would be to have his pre-recorded voice welcoming us to Yankee Stadium at the beginning of every game - thats it!

[Mattingly85MVP]

I think it would be a great tribune to him would be to have his pre-recorded voice welcoming us to Yankee Stadium at the beginning of every game - thats it!

Agree 100% with you on that...that would be a great tribute

[six4three]

I third the motion.

[TinoM24]

speaking of Sheppard...

http://www.newsday.com/sports/baseball/yankees/ny-spjimb0905,0,6266413.column
Everyone knows the only fitting way to close Yankee Stadium is with Bob Sheppard returning to be the public-address announcer for the final game. His health has kept him from doing a single Yankees game this season - which would have been his 58th - but rest assured he has visions of returning for the finale.

"If I can be there, I shall be there."

That's what he said by phone Thursday morning from his Baldwin home, and he spoke those words using the same tone, diction and precise pronunciation that became synonymous with Yankee Stadium many decades ago. He was jovial and upbeat during our 10-minute conversation, sounding no different than he has for decades.

"The doctor is questioning my stamina," Sheppard said. Then he repeated the word stamina while slowly and carefully annunciating all three syllables. "Sta-min-a."

"In other words, can I leave my home in Baldwin at 4 o'clock in the afternoon and get home at midnight and not suffer any relapse?"

Sheppard, who has steadfastly refused to reveal his age but is believed to be in his late 90s, missed the playoffs last season with bronchitis. His weight subsequently dropped, leading to a hospital stay in the winter. Ever since he has been recovering at home, with the goal always being to return to work at Yankee Stadium. (The Yankees signed Sheppard to a two-year contract before the season.)

"Each day I'm getting a little bit better," Sheppard said. "Each day from January until now there has been an improvement in my weight, in my stamina, and in my outlook."

The hard part now is staying home from work. "Mentally, emotionally, intellectually, I'm ready," he said. "But the doctor says whether I'm deficient is in stamina."

How does someone improve his stamina? That's what Sheppard recently asked his doctor.

"He said, 'How many steps between your ground floor and your upstairs bedrooms?' I said 15 steps. He said, 'Go up and down those 15 times a day. That will build up your stamina!' " he said, laughing some more. "I haven't done it yet. I mean, I go up and down normally, the way you do in your place, wherever you live. The 15 steps is not a problem. But to do it 15 times a day would be a little much at this stage."

So, really, the only thing Sheppard can do is wait and see. And there are other options. Sheppard said his backup Jim Hall, who has filled in for Sheppard all season, is willing to sit by his side during the final game. "And if I begin to get too tired, he would be my relief speaker, like a relief pitcher," he said.

Barring a miracle finish by the Yankees that gets them into the postseason, the final game at Yankee Stadium will be played two weeks from Sunday. Every time he leaves the house for the past few months, it seems he runs into another Yankees fan that asks him about his work plans.

Sheppard wants you to know he's trying his best.

"In church in the morning when Mary and I go to mass, people always say, 'When are you going back? When are you going back?'

"If I'm shopping with my wife at Waldbaum's, they say, 'When are you going back? When are you going back?'

"I say, 'When I'm ready!'

"That's the only answer I can give you, and the readers of Newsday."

[Yankees12]

speaking of Sheppard...

http://www.newsday.com/sports/baseball/yankees/ny-spjimb0905,0,6266413.column

I really hope he can make it to that last game. Even if he doesn't do the entire thing, to hear his voice at the Stadium with which he has become so synonymous in its last game ever would be so amazing.

[Gary Dunaier]

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In the Newsday article quoted by TinoM24, Bob Sheppard said:
"The doctor is questioning my stamina . . . . . In other words, can I leave my home in Baldwin at 4 o'clock in the afternoon and get home at midnight and not suffer any relapse?"
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

If travel is the doctor's biggest concern, maybe the Yankees can somehow set up a live remote where he can at least introduce the starting lineup from home. If all he has to do is sit down and recite a lineup, and they can arrange so that he can do it from his house, maybe his doctor will sign off on that.

[Gary Dunaier]

Bob Sheppard was given the honor of pulling the Countdown Lever for yesterday's game, counting the number of remaining games from 2 to 1.

His appearance was pre-recorded, and it appeared to have been done out of doors.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3267/2874994242_83a3a7cae6.jpg?v=0
(Photo taken September 20, 2008. © Gary Dunaier. Link to upload on Flickr.com: here (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14504460@N02/2874994242/in/photostream/))

[Yoda]

Has he called any of the games this year?

When I went to YS I had no idea they had just found some replacement. :confused:

[doctor_gogol]

According to WIkipedia, he's 97. 98 in October

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Sheppard

[YankeeFanBx]

Bob Sheppard gave the last Yankees lineup at Yankee Stadium.
No one else could have.

[CMart]

Does anyone have an update on how Mr. Sheppard is doing? Is the plan still to have him back this season?

[Jim Vaz]

Yea I haven't heard much on his health. I'm sure at his age it probably has not gotten any better.

Hopefully though they get him in for one more! If not god bless him a few or more! :clapping

[The Monument]

I'm sure that we'll hear something in March as Opening Day approaches.

[Swoboda4]

Bob Sheppard is on with Ed Randall right now, talking about his throat condition. He was down to 103 lbs, at his frailest. He is back up to 145, which is the weight his Dr. told him he neededto get back to before he would allow him to go back to work.

He sounds sharp as a tack, and raring to go. I am one Met/Giant fan that wants to hear him back where he belongs! New YS and Giants Stadium.

[Swoboda4]

Bob also said he is working on his "stamina", and that he loves that word! He addressed being invited to the last game, but that he said he has no desire to return as a token, but rather as an active participant.

He sounds clearer and more cogent than many of my forty year old friends.

Talking about what YS meant to him, and that he is filled with mixed emotions. "Time passes and memories fade, but I always enjoyed returning every ye-ah... hope to be back at the start of the season...I am optimistic, I know I have you-ah pray-ahs, ...I hope God is willing, because I am willing." "I was a left handed first baseman, and a left handed quartuhbahck."

He signed off saying, "Keep me in your prayers."

[NJTankMets]

That is amazing for somebody who will be 99 in October

[tommybaseball]

I think it would be a great tribune to him would be to have his pre-recorded voice welcoming us to Yankee Stadium at the beginning of every game - thats it!

I'll go one better. A top audio technician should record Sheppard uttering every syllabic combination in the English language so that any future name could be edited together and played over the sound system.
Only Bob Sheppard could be considered "The Voice."

....Good afternoon (------) and welcome to The Garden of Eden.

[jimmyjimjimz]

I'll go one better. A top audio technician should record Sheppard uttering every syllabic combination in the English language so that any future name could be edited together and played over the sound system.
Only Bob Sheppard could be considered "The Voice."

....Good afternoon (------) and welcome to The Garden of Eden.

Don't you think that would sound too much like a robot?

[tommybaseball]

Don't you think that would sound too much like a robot?

I'm an editor by profession. In the media. You wouldn't believe how things can be manipulated. I can make a snake sound like a deer.

[Gary Dunaier]

Found this interesting item in the 1975 Yankees scorecard and program...

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m124/coinboynyc/1975Yankeesprogram-07-p49-BobSheppa.jpg

[Yankee Top-hat]

I absolutely love Sheppard's voice, and I'm really looking forward to hearing him again this summer. It seemed that almost every Yankee game I've been to in the past few years, it was Bob's day off. :hissyfit:

[The House That Ruth Built]

I absolutely love Sheppard's voice, and I'm really looking forward to hearing him again this summer. It seemed that almost every Yankee game I've been to in the past few years, it was Bob's day off. :hissyfit:

Bob's been really sick for the past year and a half, haven't ya heard??

[Anubis2051]

Bob's been really sick for the past year and a half, haven't ya heard??

You know, I really hope that they at least record him saying "welcome to Yankee Stadium" and use it until the end of time. It's not really a Yankee game without Bob. Get well soon Bob!

[The House That Ruth Built]

You know, I really hope that they at least record him saying "welcome to Yankee Stadium" and use it until the end of time. It's not really a Yankee game without Bob. Get well soon Bob!

I believe he is feeling better, although i'm not too sure that he healthy enough to return to the booth. He's ninty something...God bless the man.

[NJTankMets]

He will be 99 in October

[Chris Jones]

Call Billy Crystal...he's got the "Voice" down to a science (and an art)...and would do it out of total respect and admiration.

...or maybe we could lure Vin back to the Bronx (a voice and poise that transcends time and the game itself...and Vin is no stranger to Yankee Stadium).

P.S. It always bothered me, in recent years, that Bob, after welcoming everyone to Yankee Stadium, had to remind the fans to behave themselves. I don't believe that was necessary in the "old days"...alas.

[Kentucky Bomber]

Call Billy Crystal...he's got the "Voice" down to a science (and an art)...and would do it out of total respect and admiration.

...or maybe we could lure Vin back to the Bronx (a voice and poise that transcends time and the game itself...and Vin is no stranger to Yankee Stadium).

P.S. It always bothered me, in recent years, that Bob, after welcoming everyone to Yankee Stadium, had to remind the fans to behave themselves. I don't believe that was necessary in the "old days"...alas.

Cincinnati is hardly a center of riotous behavior, but each game is preceded by a lengthy recitation of rules for fan behavior. It's pretty standard in MLB now.

[jimmyjimjimz]

Call Billy Crystal...he's got the "Voice" down to a science (and an art)...and would do it out of total respect and admiration.

...or maybe we could lure Vin back to the Bronx (a voice and poise that transcends time and the game itself...and Vin is no stranger to Yankee Stadium).

P.S. It always bothered me, in recent years, that Bob, after welcoming everyone to Yankee Stadium, had to remind the fans to behave themselves. I don't believe that was necessary in the "old days"...alas.

Well, it always bothered me that a guy who wore a Mets hat publicly (in a movie) claims to be a Yankee fan. How can you be a Yankee fan and wear a Mets hat? I don't get it. I mean, he's not even funny. If George Carlin was still alive, and you had like a laugh off or something like that between George Carlin and Mrs. Crystal, more people would laugh at George Carlin.

And also, for us young people, who the hell is Vin? Vin Diesel?

For those of you who don't know what a forum is, a forum is where people are allowed to go and VOICE THEIR OPINION. So if I wanna call Billy Crystal a girl and a Mets fan, which I think he is, I'm ALLOWED to. You know why? Because that's MY OPINION.

[Gary Dunaier]

So if I wanna call Billy Crystal a girl and a Mets fan, which I think he is, I'm ALLOWED to.

Not without a permission slip from your mommy.

:sleepy:

Okay... let's try it again. And... action!

So if I wanna call Billy Crystal a girl and a Mets fan, which I think he is, I'm ALLOWED to.

Funny you should say that... I think I see him coming over this way... Hey Mr. Crystal, this fellow over here has something he wants to say to you...

:clapping

Okay, that's a print... let's move on to the next one... and, let's begin:

For those of you who don't know what a forum is, a forum is where people are allowed to go and VOICE THEIR OPINION.

No... a forum is where four people get together and go "um." Forum = "four um." Get it?

:choke:

*sigh* nobody appreciates true genius anymore... :cry:

The above post was brought to you by the good people at American Ship Building, Tampa, Florida, USA.

[Chris Jones]

Well, it always bothered me that a guy who wore a Mets hat publicly (in a movie) claims to be a Yankee fan. How can you be a Yankee fan and wear a Mets hat? I don't get it. I mean, he's not even funny. If George Carlin was still alive, and you had like a laugh off or something like that between George Carlin and Mrs. Crystal, more people would laugh at George Carlin.

And also, for us young people, who the hell is Vin? Vin Diesel?

For those of you who don't know what a forum is, a forum is where people are allowed to go and VOICE THEIR OPINION. So if I wanna call Billy Crystal a girl and a Mets fan, which I think he is, I'm ALLOWED to. You know why? Because that's MY OPINION.

I don't get the Mets' cap either...he probably didn't want to get his Yankees' cap dirty and sweaty in the desert.

Vin Scully joined Red Barber back in Brooklyn and proved so articulate and poised, that when the Dodgers moved west, Dodger fans would bring radios to the game in order to hear his commentary...he was never better than when he called Sandy's (that's "Koufax" for you "young" guys) perfect game. He and Mel Allen also split the innings during Larson's (that's "Don" for you "young" guys) perfect game.

Carlin...are you kiddin'...and after he did the bit comparing baseball to football? He was funny...at times, but being an "old" guy, I didn't and still don't need the flases of vulgarity...and that's my opinion.

-Chris

[Chris Jones]

...last line..."flashes," not "flases." Sorry.

[mackenzie]

P.S. It always bothered me, in recent years, that Bob, after welcoming everyone to Yankee Stadium, had to remind the fans to behave themselves. I don't believe that was necessary in the "old days"...alas.

Hi Chris,

Agreed about Bob Sheppard's "reminders". He's such a class act that every time he's had to make such announcements, I've always felt like he was disappointed with us as fans. Kind of like the guilty feeling we had as kids after being gently admonished by a kindly grandfather or uncle.

In regard to Bob's permanent replacement (hopefully not needed for a few years longer), I have a brother-in-law who does the best imitation that I've heard. By far. I tell him that the job is his, but he avers saying that Bob Sheppard cannot be replaced and it wouldn't be right to try. Anyway, looks like Jim Hall may continue if Bob doesn't come back.

Regards,
Mark

PS - In your most recent post, you referred to yourself as old. I gather from earlier posts that you're a few years younger than me. If so, you can't be old!!!

[mackenzie]

Yes - Vin Scully. Bronx born and Fordham, also. Great announcer!

[amaz1n]

i hope he's there for the opener. the place would go crazy hearing him

[ubinfl]

Hi Chris,

Agreed about Bob Sheppard's "reminders". He's such a class act that every time he's had to make such announcements, I've always felt like he was disappointed with us as fans. Kind of like the guilty feeling we had as kids after being gently admonished by a kindly grandfather or uncle.

In regard to Bob's permanent replacement (hopefully not needed for a few years longer), I have a brother-in-law who does the best imitation that I've heard. By far. I tell him that the job is his, but he avers saying that Bob Sheppard cannot be replaced and it wouldn't be right to try. Anyway, looks like Jim Hall may continue if Bob doesn't come back.

Regards,
Mark


PS - In your most recent post, you referred to yourself as old. I gather from earlier posts that you're a few years younger than me. If so, you can't be old!!!


UJ is AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!

[jimmyjimjimz]

Not without a permission slip from your mommy.

:sleepy:

Okay... let's try it again. And... action!



Funny you should say that... I think I see him coming over this way... Hey Mr. Crystal, this fellow over here has something he wants to say to you...

:clapping

Okay, that's a print... let's move on to the next one... and, let's begin:



No... a forum is where four people get together and go "um." Forum = "four um." Get it?

:choke:

*sigh* nobody appreciates true genius anymore... :cry:

The above post was brought to you by the good people at American Ship Building, Tampa, Florida, USA.




yeah, just to let you know, I told Toby Keith or Tug McGraw or whoever that country singer was that I saw outside The Garden that night that he sucks right to his face, and I told Howard Stern that he sucks right to his face. I'd have no problem telling Mrs. Crystal that she's a girl, she sucks and she's not funny at all to her face.

[RationalNYYfan]

yeah, just to let you know, I told Toby Keith or Tug McGraw or whoever that country singer was that I saw outside The Garden that night that he sucks right to his face, and I told Howard Stern that he sucks right to his face. I'd have no problem telling Mrs. Crystal that she's a girl, she sucks and she's not funny at all to her face.

What a brave, brave person you are. There's nothing more enthralling than yelling 'you suck' to a complete stranger who, for all intents and purposes, will never see you again and probably didn't hear you in the first place while you were being sardined next to hundreds of other screaming fans.

Anyways, I don't see the problem with wearing a Mets hat if you are a Yankee fan. I wear my Darryl Strawberry jersey just as often as my cheap $20 Andy Pettitte tee shirt, and I don't think that should make me any less of a Yankee fan.

[The House That Ruth Built]

Anyways, I don't see the problem with wearing a Mets hat if you are a Yankee fan. I wear my Darryl Strawberry jersey just as often as my cheap $20 Andy Pettitte tee shirt, and I don't think that should make me any less of a Yankee fan.

Thank you, i'm not alone...I've been a diehard Yankee fan my whole life, but when I go to the April 4th exhibition at Citi Field, i'm wearing a.......gasp.......Mets hat

[Chris Jones]

Hey Mark:

...only "old" when compared to jimmyjimjimz. And "I want to thank the good Lord for making me" old enough to remember Vin, the original frieze, and flannel uniforms. Like you, I never saw a game in Ebbets Field (or the Polo Grounds) but I'm proud to say that when I was born, both teams were where they should have been (just barely).

...some great comments on this thread...and of course Bob Sheppard needs to open Yankee Stadium, but keep talking to your brother-in-law just the same.

Regards,

-Chris

[jimmyjimjimz]

What a brave, brave person you are. There's nothing more enthralling than yelling 'you suck' to a complete stranger who, for all intents and purposes, will never see you again and probably didn't hear you in the first place while you were being sardined next to hundreds of other screaming fans.

Anyways, I don't see the problem with wearing a Mets hat if you are a Yankee fan. I wear my Darryl Strawberry jersey just as often as my cheap $20 Andy Pettitte tee shirt, and I don't think that should make me any less of a Yankee fan.

You DO realize Darryl Strawberry played for both teams, right?

[mackenzie]

Hey Mark:

...only "old" when compared to jimmyjimjimz. And "I want to thank the good Lord for making me" old enough to remember Vin, the original frieze, and flannel uniforms. Like you, I never saw a game in Ebbets Field (or the Polo Grounds) but I'm proud to say that when I was born, both teams were where they should have been (just barely).

...some great comments on this thread...and of course Bob Sheppard needs to open Yankee Stadium, but keep talking to your brother-in-law just the same.

Regards,

-Chris

My brother-in-law once did a Sheppard imitation while on the phone with a Yankee ticket office manager. The manager stopped him in mid-sentence and said to the group of people in his office, "Hey guys, listen to this!" Then my b-i-l got put on the speakerphone for a really good audience. We have a lot of fun with this at holidays or at the stadium.

Yes - Polo Grounds. Another missed opportunity! I was old enough for that as my first Yankee game was 1962. I watched many Mets games then on TV and remember that when taken out, the poor pitchers had to make that long walk to dead center 483 feet away, then up that tall staircase to the clubhouse. They hated that. It never occurred to my dad to take me there, he being a big and by then a disappointed Dodger fan. The Polo Grounds was the home of the enemy, after all.

Another b-i-l and I have tickets for the Mets opener on 4/13. Last week we were discussing the idea of checking out that Coogan’s Bluff stairway remnant that still exists prior to the game. It would a nice tracing of the Mets' ancestry to bring us full circle to today. I saw in another thread that you went there once as your dad was a Giants fan.

Regards,
Mark

[Chris Jones]

Hey Mark:

Back on August 13, 2007 (the day the "Scooter" passed), I walked across the bridge (155th Street, right?) and onto Harlem River Drive Street (not to be confused with Harlem River Drive...down below, beside the river) and gazed down into the the thick brush (no pun intended) and the Polo Grounds' Towers beyond. I searched in vain for the stairway, looking to my right, not knowing that the stairway descended from Edgecombe Avenue above, to my left, through Highbridge Park and onto Harlem River Drive Street. The stairs are blocked off on Edgecombe Avenue, but open at the bottom.

Checkout the "Polo Grounds Picture" thread and "Polo Grounds/Brush Stairway" thread...there are some great posts as well some great photographs
(some showing a much younger Yankee Stadium across the river).

I'll be in the Bronx on May 4 for the Boston game, and I plan to make a pilgrimage to the stairs.

You probably know all this stuff already, but thanks for allowing this old Southerner to ramble once again.

And finally, I'd give anything for my Dad to make the trek with me, to the game and to the stairway...ironically, he was buried twenty-seven years ago this very day.

Regards,

-Chris

[mackenzie]

Chris - Thanks for the Brush Stairway info. I knew some but not all of this. I'll check out the PG thread and this "young" man will attempt to ascend the bluff. I'll pretend that I'm walking up the once well worn steps to the old clubhouse.

Game vs. Boston on 5/4? Excellent. You'll get to see the new park early on. I have two Boston games later; one in August and the other on 9/27, I think. Last week of the regular season.

Sorry you lost your dad so young. I had mine until 2000. Yeah, you don't forget dates like that.

Oh and just to stay legal with this thread, Bob Sheppard grew up as a Giants fan. :-)

Regards,
Mark

[Chris Jones]

Mark:

Sorry for the late response...my computer has had a glitch... and I've been out of town for a couple of days.

Bob Sheppard is a intelligent and articulate individual...it was only natural that he would eventually "see the light" (that's your quote), cross the river, and become a fixture in the Bronx.

And regarding the Giants and Dodgers...as Stephen Jay Gould states, in the Ken Burns' documentary, losing both teams ripped out the soul of New York...and the City has never fully recovered.

Make sure, if possible (because I don't know the condition of the stairs), you
make the climb all the way up...the dedication by the Giants is on the first landing below Edgecombe Avenue.

Regards,

Chris

[eatabagel]

Bob Sheppard won't be announcing the home opener on April 16.

http://weblogs.newsday.com/sports/baseball/yankees/blog/2009/03/bob_sheppard_not_expected_at_n.html

Bob Sheppard likely will not be at the public address microphone when the Yankees officially open their new stadium April 16, his wife, Mary, said Thursday.

"His doctor said he doesn't have the stamina yet to go back at this time, but he's hoping sometime during the season he'll be able to,'' she said from their Baldwin home.

So the opener is out of the question? "He would love to be there; he would love it,'' she said. "But at the moment the stamina isn't there.''

[mets16]

yeah, just to let you know, I told Toby Keith or Tug McGraw or whoever that country singer was that I saw outside The Garden that night that he sucks right to his face, and I told Howard Stern that he sucks right to his face. I'd have no problem telling Mrs. Crystal that she's a girl, she sucks and she's not funny at all to her face.

Ooh, tough guy. And how about if he had security? Seriously, I don't know what time you have to post thousands of posts of nothing but nonsensical garbage. And I hope for Billy Crystal's sake that his wife, Mrs. Crystal is a girl. And you call someone out for being "not funny at all".

[darbypitcher22]

I surely hope Mr. Shepard is healthy enough to open the new stadium..... he's the voice of God....

[Kentucky Bomber]

It's official: Bob can't make it for the openings. :(

Sheppard to miss Yankees openers
Public-address announcer won't be at Cubs series, Opening Day
By Bryan Hoch / MLB.com

The new Yankee Stadium will open without Bob Sheppard at the public-address microphone.
The Yankees announced on Tuesday that Sheppard will be unavailable at the commencement of the 2009 season, including the first exhibition games at the new Yankee Stadium this weekend and the April 16 home opener.


"I will not be able to be at Yankee Stadium for the series with the Cubs or Opening Day," Sheppard said. "My personal physician advised me to wait until I am ready. It is in the hands of God. I am looking forward to doing games in the new Stadium."

Sheppard did not appear at Yankee Stadium in person during the 2008 season due to a bronchial infection and his continuing recovery. He taped a video message for the final Yankee Stadium game last Sept. 21, reading the lineups from his Baldwin, N.Y., home and providing a valedictory honoring the Yankees and their home since 1923.

"Farewell, old Yankee Stadium, farewell," Sheppard recited. "What a wonderful story you can tell. DiMaggio, Mantle, Gehrig and Ruth. A baseball Cathedral in truth."

While Sheppard -- nicknamed "The Voice of Yankee Stadium" -- remains as the Yankees' official public-address announcer, Paul Olden will substitute for Sheppard on April 3, 4 and 16.

A 12-time Super Bowl public-address announcer, Olden's broadcasting career spanned 17 years, including two seasons in the Yankees' television broadcast booth alongside Bobby Murcer and Phil Rizzuto from 1995-96.

The Yankees have not announced who would continue as public-address announcer if Sheppard is unable to resume duties past the home opener.

The 2009 season marks the 58th anniversary of Sheppard's debut as the club's public-address announcer. His first game was on Opening Day, April 17, 1951, when the Yankees defeated the Boston Red Sox, 5-0.

To commemorate his service to the club, the Yankees have named the media dining room in the new Yankee Stadium "Sheppard's Place."

[Twenty Seven]

He's clearly not a well man. We should not expect so much of him.

[eatabagel]

I think after so many years of work and so many years of being the voice of god, he deserves a vacation and a rest. I mean it would be wonderful if I heard him again for nostalgic reasons but he's almost 100. I hope he gets better certainly, but I couldn't ask for anymore from him. No others can be like him.

Although if the Yankees ever hire a fulltime replacement and not just a backup like Jim Hall, I'd hope they use him as a model, announcing games with dignity and a respect for the team and its history. We do not need a wrestling announcer or a cheerleader.

[jimmyjimjimz]

It's official: Bob can't make it for the openings. :(

ok so some football announcer is gonna take Bob Sheppard's place this year?


WHY???????????????????


what happened to Jim Hall? at least he sounds like Bob Sheppard.


so when he does the announcements, is he gonna sound like:


"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAT SHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOORTSTOP, NUMBER TWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO, DEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEREK JEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEETER"

or is he gonna do it like Bob Sheppard and Jim Hall?




Ooh, tough guy. And how about if he had security? Seriously, I don't know what time you have to post thousands of posts of nothing but nonsensical garbage. And I hope for Billy Crystal's sake that his wife, Mrs. Crystal is a girl. And you call someone out for being "not funny at all".


OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHH big tough guy needs security. Honestly, you're not tough if you need security. Even though I don't really like The Beatles, I like a couple of their songs, but not a lot, John Lennon was a tough guy. He didn't need security. If he had security, maybe he'd be alive right now, true, but he was tough, so he didn't need it.

When I went to see The Late, Great George Carlin in concert, guess what? The show was being shown live on HBO at 10:00pm, and we got there at around 5:30 and went out for drinks. There he was, George Carlin, with no security, walking down the street. I can see maybe a female celebrity needing security, but most male celebrities, unless theyre a president, The Pope, or any other politician, don't need security. Regis Philbin, I don't know how old he is, but he's old, he doesnt even have security. So, if Mrs. Crystal needs security, he aint so tough.

[Jim Vaz]

ok so some football announcer is gonna take Bob Sheppard's place this year?


WHY???????????????????


what happened to Jim Hall? at least he sounds like Bob Sheppard.


so when he does the announcements, is he gnna sound like:


"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAT SHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOORTSTOP, NUMBER TWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO, DEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEREK JEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEETER"

or is he gonna do it like Bob Sheppard and Jim Hall?

Well heres the thing, and the whole point of my thread to begin with. Get a new voice, not a copy of Bob.

Number 2, the Yankees will not allow themselves to get one of those clown type voices in there so don't worry.

All they need is a new voice, someone who is young but speaks clear and with maturity like Bob did. You then have the second generation of pa announcer, not a bozo and not a failed attempt to copy the great Bob Sheppard.

[Zion610]

Well heres the thing, and the whole point of my thread to begin with. Get a new voice, not a copy of Bob.

Number 2, the Yankees will not allow themselves to get one of those clown type voices in there so don't worry.

All they need is a new voice, someone who is young but speaks clear and with maturity like Bob did. You then have the second generation of pa announcer, not a bozo and not a failed attempt to copy the great Bob Sheppard.

Heard on the wfan that Paul Olden will be the new voice of the stadium.. he does the superbowl every year

[Kentucky Bomber]

And now, the official announcement...at the age of NINETY EIGHT Bob Sheppard has retired. He deserves the rest after a glorious career. :clapping

It would be wonderful if in about a year and a half he could come back for his 100th and do the lineups..for the World Series in NYS. :D

Voice of Yankee Stadium Retires
By JACK CURRY
The new Yankee Stadium may sound much different than the old one. Bob Sheppard, the public-address announcer for the Yankees since 1951, is retiring, according to Paul Doherty, a friend and agent who has represented Sheppard.

Doherty said that Sheppard’s son, Paul, told him about Sheppard’s plans on Wednesday morning.

“I think Bob just wants to take it easy and no longer have the pressure of, ‘Can he? Will he? Or won’t he?’” Doherty said in an e-mail message. “And, at 98, who can blame him?”

Sheppard, when asked to confirm that he was officially retiring, said, “I never said it.”

Sheppard has been slowed by a bronchial infection. When asked what his plans were, he said: “I never said I’m not returning. I never, never said I’m not returning and I say it to you now.”

Doherty added that Sheppard remained active.

“I’m happy to say that Bob is still doing well enough to drive a car,” Doherty said. “He picked his son up at the train this past weekend.”

The last lineup that Sheppard announced was actually his first. Doherty said that two months ago, he had Sheppard recreate the first lineup he did, on April 17, 1951. It included Phil Rizzuto, Mickey Mantle, Joe DiMaggio and Yogi Berra.

“Now on to him seeing his 100th birthday in a year and a half,” Doherty said.

The Yankees have not named a replacement for Sheppard, but it will not be Jim Hall, Sheppard’s longtime backup. Paul Olden will fill in for the two exhibition games at the Stadium this weekend.

[trueblue9441]

the yankees had an article about sheppard jsut like this on the homepage until about 10 minutes ago, it has since been pulled down

[YSFRIEZEMAN]

And now, the official announcement...at the age of NINETY EIGHT Bob Sheppard has retired. He deserves the rest after a glorious career. :clapping

It would be wonderful if in about a year and a half he could come back for his 100th and do the lineups..for the World Series in NYS. :D

Chris Pavia is the man who should replace Bob Sheppard.
Check out his impeccable impersonation and mastery of the Eddie Layton organ sound bites...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D7W5N9TySsQ

[jimmyjimjimz]

I don't get it. If Bob Sheppard is saying he never said he's never gonna go back, why is everyone else saying he retired?

and if they start looking for a replacement, I need a job, lol. The only thing is it takes me so long to take the train from my place to The Bronx. Last time it took me about 2 1/2 hours.

[Gary Dunaier]

Today is the day when you have to take major announcements like that with however many grains of salt you wish.

Whether it's true or not, I always thought Jim Hall would get the job full time. I never heard of Paul Olden - who is he, what's his background, does anyone have any clips they can post?

[jimmyjimjimz]

my brother said he heard on Mike Francessa that Bob Sheppard really didn't retire. I guess it's either a stupid april fool's joke, or someone in his family thought maybe he said he wanted to retire, I dunno. But that's what my brother said he heard on Mike Francessa. It's hard to believe what you hear on april fool's day.

[Kentucky Bomber]

Yankees. com is saying it's not true that Sheppard is retiring. OK, he's not retiring, I would imagine so that when he dies he will still officially be the Voice of the Stadium. I have no problem with that, but he won't be back.

[Gary Dunaier]

From the Yankees' very own website (http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090401&content_id=4102462&vkey=news_nyy&fext=.jsp&c_id=nyy)...

04/01/09 4:18 PM ET

Bombers deny Sheppard retiring report
NY Times story 'untrue,' says son of 'Voice of Yankee Stadium'
By Bryan Hoch / MLB.com

TAMPA, Fla. -- One day after Bob Sheppard said that he was looking forward to announcing games at the new Yankee Stadium, The New York Times reported that Sheppard was planning to retire instead.
Paul Doherty, a friend and agent who has represented Sheppard, told the Times that Sheppard's son, Paul, told him about Sheppard's plans on Wednesday morning. The Yankees denied the report, stating that Sheppard continues to be their official public-address announcer.

"We have spoken to Paul Sheppard, and he was very clear to us that the report made is categorically untrue," said Yankees director of public relations Jason Zillo. "Paul Sheppard has not said anything remotely like that."

The Yankees did announce on Tuesday that Sheppard would be unavailable at the commencement of the 2009 season, including the first exhibition games against the Cubs at the new Yankee Stadium this weekend and the April 16 home opener.

"I will not be able to be at Yankee Stadium for the series with the Cubs or Opening Day," Sheppard said in a statement released by the team. "My personal physician advised me to wait until I am ready. It is in the hands of God. I am looking forward to doing games in the new Stadium."

Sheppard -- nicknamed "The Voice of Yankee Stadium" and known for his clear, concise style -- did not appear at Yankee Stadium in person during the 2008 season due to a bronchial infection and his continuing recovery, though Derek Jeter used a recording of Sheppard for all of his home at-bats.

"I'll always come up to Bob Sheppard," Jeter said last year.

Sheppard taped a video message for the final Yankee Stadium game last Sept. 21, reading the lineups from his Baldwin, N.Y., home and providing a valedictory honoring the Yankees and their home since 1923.

"Farewell, old Yankee Stadium, farewell," Sheppard recited. "What a wonderful story you can tell. DiMaggio, Mantle, Gehrig and Ruth. A baseball Cathedral in truth."

While Sheppard remains as the Yankees official public-address announcer, Paul Olden will substitute for Sheppard on April 3, 4 and 16.

A 12-time Super Bowl public-address announcer, Olden's broadcasting career spanned 17 years, including two seasons in the Yankees' television broadcast booth alongside Bobby Murcer and Phil Rizzuto from 1995-96.

The Yankees have not said who would continue as the public-address announcer if Sheppard is unable to resume his duties past the home opener.

The 2009 season marks the 58th anniversary of Sheppard's debut as the Yankees' public-address announcer. His first game was on Opening Day, April 17, 1951, when the Yankees defeated the Boston Red Sox, 5-0.

To commemorate his service to the club, the Yankees have named the media dining room in the new Yankee Stadium "Sheppard's Place."

Bryan Hoch is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

[sabbathunter]

I am glad that Bob Sheppard is not officially retiring.

I think that Bob's son Christopher should take over for him. Christopher assisted Jim Hall on at least one occasion back in 2006 for opening day.

How great would that be, passing the torch on to his son?



From the Yankees' very own website (http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090401&content_id=4102462&vkey=news_nyy&fext=.jsp&c_id=nyy)...

04/01/09 4:18 PM ET

Bombers deny Sheppard retiring report
NY Times story 'untrue,' says son of 'Voice of Yankee Stadium'
By Bryan Hoch / MLB.com

TAMPA, Fla. -- One day after Bob Sheppard said that he was looking forward to announcing games at the new Yankee Stadium, The New York Times reported that Sheppard was planning to retire instead.
Paul Doherty, a friend and agent who has represented Sheppard, told the Times that Sheppard's son, Paul, told him about Sheppard's plans on Wednesday morning. The Yankees denied the report, stating that Sheppard continues to be their official public-address announcer.

"We have spoken to Paul Sheppard, and he was very clear to us that the report made is categorically untrue," said Yankees director of public relations Jason Zillo. "Paul Sheppard has not said anything remotely like that."

The Yankees did announce on Tuesday that Sheppard would be unavailable at the commencement of the 2009 season, including the first exhibition games against the Cubs at the new Yankee Stadium this weekend and the April 16 home opener.

"I will not be able to be at Yankee Stadium for the series with the Cubs or Opening Day," Sheppard said in a statement released by the team. "My personal physician advised me to wait until I am ready. It is in the hands of God. I am looking forward to doing games in the new Stadium."

Sheppard -- nicknamed "The Voice of Yankee Stadium" and known for his clear, concise style -- did not appear at Yankee Stadium in person during the 2008 season due to a bronchial infection and his continuing recovery, though Derek Jeter used a recording of Sheppard for all of his home at-bats.

"I'll always come up to Bob Sheppard," Jeter said last year.

Sheppard taped a video message for the final Yankee Stadium game last Sept. 21, reading the lineups from his Baldwin, N.Y., home and providing a valedictory honoring the Yankees and their home since 1923.

"Farewell, old Yankee Stadium, farewell," Sheppard recited. "What a wonderful story you can tell. DiMaggio, Mantle, Gehrig and Ruth. A baseball Cathedral in truth."

While Sheppard remains as the Yankees official public-address announcer, Paul Olden will substitute for Sheppard on April 3, 4 and 16.

A 12-time Super Bowl public-address announcer, Olden's broadcasting career spanned 17 years, including two seasons in the Yankees' television broadcast booth alongside Bobby Murcer and Phil Rizzuto from 1995-96.

The Yankees have not said who would continue as the public-address announcer if Sheppard is unable to resume his duties past the home opener.

The 2009 season marks the 58th anniversary of Sheppard's debut as the Yankees' public-address announcer. His first game was on Opening Day, April 17, 1951, when the Yankees defeated the Boston Red Sox, 5-0.

To commemorate his service to the club, the Yankees have named the media dining room in the new Yankee Stadium "Sheppard's Place."

Bryan Hoch is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

[brooklyndodger14]

In today's New York Times (Thursday, April 2, 2008):

April 2, 2009
Voice of Yankee Stadium May Be Done
By JACK CURRY
The new Yankee Stadium will sound different from the old one because Bob Sheppard’s authoritative voice will not be emanating from the public address system. Paul Doherty, an agent who is one of Sheppard’s friends, said Sheppard’s son Paul told him Wednesday that Sheppard was planning to retire.

“I think Bob just wants to take it easy and no longer have the pressure of ‘Can he? Will he? Or won’t he?’ ” Doherty said in an e-mail message. “And, at 98, who can blame him?”

Despite Doherty’s disclosure, Sheppard, who has been the P.A. announcer for the Yankees since 1951, declined to say that he was retiring. When asked if he was officially leaving the position, Sheppard said, “I never said it.”

Sheppard missed the 2008 season with a bronchial infection and will not work the exhibition games at the Stadium on Friday and Saturday or the home opener April 16. Sheppard also missed the final game at Yankee Stadium in September, although he prerecorded the lineups.

When Sheppard was asked about his plans for the season, he said: “I never said I’m not returning. I never, never said I’m not returning and I say it to you now.” Then Sheppard said “thank you” and hung up the telephone.

Jason Zillo, a Yankees spokesman, talked with Paul Sheppard and said that he “has not said anything remotely like” what Doherty said about his father. After the news was publicized, Doherty sent an e-mail message saying he misunderstood what Paul Sheppard had said. Doherty said Paul Sheppard was referring to his father’s missing opening day, not the entire season.

Sheppard is 98 and was not the P.A. announcer last year. Sheppard has a hallowed position in the Yankees’ rich history and is protective of it.

He did his first Yankees game on April 17, 1951, announcing a lineup that included Phil Rizzuto, Mickey Mantle, Joe DiMaggio and Yogi Berra.

In a statement released by the team, Sheppard said his doctor had advised him to wait until he was ready to try to work again. The Yankees could not estimate when that might be.

“It’s in the hands of God,” said Sheppard, who has been a P.A. announcer for about 4,500 games. “I am looking forward to doing games in the new Stadium.”

In Doherty’s initial e-mail message, he noted that the last lineup Sheppard announced was also his first. Two months ago, Doherty taped Sheppard recreating the first lineup he ever announced 58 years ago and is adding crowd noise to it.

“Now, on to him seeing his 100th birthday in a year and a half,” Doherty said.

Jim Hall, Sheppard’s longtime and handpicked backup, will not replace Sheppard. Paul Olden will be the P.A. announcer for the exhibition games with the Chicago Cubs this weekend and for the first game at the Stadium against the Cleveland Indians in two weeks.

Beyond that, the Yankees have not said who will handle the P.A. duties.


link: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/02/sports/baseball/02sheppard.html?th&emc=th


Dennis
BrooklynDodger14

[Matito]

If you ask me, Paul Olden is a very good choice for the Yankees. Paul was the Rays radio announcer back in the early days (late 90s/early 2000s) and was always very mature and professional. For once, I like a move that the Yankees make. :thumbsup:

[darbypitcher22]

It was great to hear his voice tonight, a pre-recorded "Good Evening, Ladies and Gentleman, and Welcome, to Yankee Stadium."

[History Of Baseball Fan]

I really hope Bob's health improves enough so he can come back to the Yankees !

Is it possible to write to Bob Sheppard c/o New York Yankees ? Or does anyone have an address so I can write him a letter ? If anyone does, could you please PM the details ! Thanks in advance !

[stumpmerrill]

If you ask me, Paul Olden is a very good choice for the Yankees. Paul was the Rays radio announcer back in the early days (late 90s/early 2000s) and was always very mature and professional. For once, I like a move that the Yankees make. :thumbsup:

Olden has a great voice but he's no Bob Sheppard. Olden sounds like most PA announcers while Sheppard is unique. That's not a knock on Olden but praise for Sheppard, YS will never sound the same w/o him.

Olden once called games for the Yankees(on TV) and Jets(on radio) in the early-mid 90s.

[Matito]

Olden has a great voice but he's no Bob Sheppard. Olden sounds like most PA announcers while Sheppard is unique. That's not a knock on Olden but praise for Sheppard, YS will never sound the same w/o him.

Olden once called games for the Yankees(on TV) and Jets(on radio) in the early-mid 90s.

Oh trust me, Im not saying that Paul (or anyone, for that matter) could "replace" Bob. Nobody could. Im only saying that for people who were worrying that they would get a typical "Deeeeeerrrreeeeeeeeek JEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEETEEERRRRRRRRR!!!!" PA announcer, Paul was not one of them.