Voice of Yankee Stadium May Be Done

April 2, 2009
Voice of Yankee Stadium May Be Done
By JACK CURRY

The new Yankee Stadium may sound much different from 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.

Now batting, Derek Jeter Jeter Jeter.

I love the echo and his voice at the Stadium.

That's tough to hear but it was gonna happen eventually.

Classic voice. Brings shivers just thinking of not hearing that echo

Jeter has had Sheppard's recorded intro played since he fell ill. I believe he will continue it for his career.

Bombers deny Sheppard retiring report

Times story 'untrue,' says son of 'Voice of Yankee Stadium'


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." <!--sphereit end-->

http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/yb/138322381


Saturday, November 28, 2009 5:32:15 AM
Yankees Legend Sheppard Retires


By MIKE PUMA
Bob Sheppard's career as the Yankees' public address announcer is officially over. Though the legendary voice hadn't worked a game in more than two years, neither Sheppard nor the Yankees considered him retired. But the 99-year-old Sheppard said on Wednesday that he has worked his last game. "Time has passed me by," Sheppard told MLB.com. "I had a good run for it. I enjoyed doing what I did. I don't think, at my age, I'm going to suddenly regain the stamina that is really needed if you do the job and do it well." Sheppard's run with the club began in 1951 - announcing a lineup that included Joe DiMaggio - and ran through 2007. He became ill before the start of the playoffs that year and never returned to the microphone. "He was an angel among us," Reggie Jackson told The Post last night. "He was such a perfect fit for New York and the Yankees." "Bob is simply the best," Don Mattingly said. "I will never forget that sweet sound that permeated the stadium." The Yankees had hoped he would return for the final game at the old Stadium last season, but Sheppard recorded the lineups at home and was shown on the outfield video screen. Derek Jeter continues to use a pre-recorded version of Sheppard introducing him for each at- bat at the Stadium. Paul Olden worked the public address microphone for the Yankees last season after Sheppard's longtime backup, Jim Hall, handled the duties in 2008. Sheppard was the public address announcer for the Giants beginning in 1956 at the old Stadium and followed the team to the Yale Bowl and Giants Stadium before retiring from that position following the 2005 season. - additional reportingby George A. King
Originally published by MIKE PUMA. (c) 2009 The New York Post. Provided by ProQuest LLC. All rights Reserved.

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