LEGENDARY YANKEES ANNOUNCER SHEPPARD DIES

The baseball world is mourning the death of a man once described by Joe DiMaggio as ‘the voice of God’—legendary New York Yankees’ field announcer Bob Sheppard has passed away at the age of 99.  Sheppard started with the Yankees in 1951 and over the next 50 years became part of the Yankee Stadium experience.  He continued with the team until 2007, when he retired due to a bronchial infection.   He was revered by the Yankees organization and fans to the point that he has a plaque in his honor in ‘Monument Park’ along with greats like Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig.

To put Sheppard’s longevity into perspective consider that the Yankees starting lineup on his first day of work included these names:  Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle, Johnny Mize, Yogi Berra, and Phil Rizzuto.  New York played the Boston Red Sox on that day—a team with a talented hitter of their own by the name of Ted Williams.   Sheppard became a fixture though the years of Mantle, Maris, Reggie Jackson, Derek Jeter and countless others.

He’s remained a part of the team ‘family’ after his retirement.  He recorded a special greeting to the fans for the final game in the old Yankee Stadium on Sept. 21, 2008.  Yankee captain Derek Jeter has continued to use a recording of Sheppard for his home at bat announcements and plans to continue the practice as a tribute:

"Players changed year in and year out, he was the one constant. Every time you heard it, you got chills."

Yankee pitcher Andy Pettitte added:

"When you think of all the great players he has announced, when you think of the old stadium, there is no doubt you think about him and what he had done there for the organization. It was cool to hear him announce your name, that's for sure."

Even opposing players paid tribute to Sheppard, including Atlanta’s Chipper Jones:

"A voice that you hear in your dreams, in your sleep. Today's a sad day."

Yankee owner George Steinbrenner paid tribute to Sheppard with this statement:

"For over a half century, fans were thrilled to hear his unforgettable voice and players were thrilled to hear his majestic enunciation of their names. Bob Sheppard was a great member of the Yankees family and his death leaves a lasting silence. My thoughts and prayers are with his wife, Mary, and their family."

The Yankees were on the road at the time of his death, but such was the respect in which Sheppard was held that their opponents--the Seattle Mariners--paid tribute to him with a moment of silence before Sunday’s game.