OT: Bob Sheppard dead at 99
Longtime Yankee Stadium PA announcer Bob Sheppard has died at the age of 99. He was the announcer at Yankee Stadium from 1951 to 2007. I went to Yankee Stadium in 2008, partially to see the stadium in his last year, and I was hoping I could hear Sheppard work the game. Sadly, I was not able to hear Sheppard.
Derek Jeter had Sheppard make a recording of him announcing Jeter, and it will be played before Jeter's at bats for the remainder of his Yankee Stadium career.
RIP Ernie Harwell of the east
If there was a worse place for an "lol"...
Bob was there all the years by grandfather took my dad to Yankee stadium as a kid and then the years my dad took me. The "voice of God" had such regalness to it that befitted the old stadium. ESPN did a nice job paying respects this morning with Buster Olney and Tim Kurkjian. Greatest baseball P.A. announcer ever. Too many stadium announcers yell with schtick like it'sthe demolition derby. Hid dignity will be missed.
It's so sad that the legends of this game, that we love are slowly giving way to a new generation, who will never be able to live up to the standards set by The Ernie Harwells and Bob Sheppards of the world. I really like Dan Dickerson and Jim Price, but in no way do they make me feel as close to the game as Ernie Harwell did. Sad day for Yankees fans, RIP Mr. Sheppard.
He was also the NY Football Giants long time announcer until just a few years ago. Bob Sheppard was a true voice of NY sports. It will sound strange indeed without him. His dignity and class will be missed.
Catch made by Toomah, first down...
/will be deeply missed
Now battinnnng for the Yankees.....
Numbah twoooo...
Derek Jetah...
...
Numbah twoooo.
Thanks, OP. I'm so glad I didn't hear about it until your post, so that I'd know immediately about Jeter's lovely tribute.
Had the privilege of hearing him at a a couple Yankee games and several Giants games. (You can bet he knew how to pronounce "Amani Toomer.") Glorious voice and can't think of a NY game without assuming his voice is still there.
thank goodness it wasn't all hands no skates ray sheppard....
"the voice of god"
My fav quote:
Even the players treated Sheppard with a degree of reverence. Mantle once said that every time Sheppard introduced him, he felt goose bumps. "Mickey, so did I," Sheppard responded quietly.
that Sheppard would leave the Yankees games immediately upon their conclusion. The spot where he was to exit, supposedly, they had blocked off and traffic wasn't allowed to go until Sheppard passed through in his car. I'm not sure if this is true or not, but that's my favorite Bob Sheppard myth (or fact?)
Had interview with Yogi Berra who was playing when Sheppard started at Yankee Stadium, and he did his (pretty good) impression of Sheppard introducing Joe Di Maggio, Mickey Mantle, and himself. From the interview with Derek Jeter, apparently using Shep's recording of his introduction isn't a memorial tribute, but something he requested when Sheppard retired. DJ said that when the new announcer called his name it just didn't feel right.