“Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to Yankee Stadium.”
July 13, 2010 12:18 PM Subscribe
Bob Sheppard, the voice of Yankee Stadium, died Monday. Only two months shy of his 100th birthday, Sheppard was known for his concise speaking style as the public-address announcer for the Yankees. He held that position from 1951 to 2007, announcing lineups containing baseball greats like DiMaggio and Mantle up to today's players, like Derek Jeter, who requested that Sheppard's voice be the only voice to announce his name in Yankee Stadium. His longetivity and distinct announcing voice made him popular with many generations of Yankee fans.
Born in 1910, Robert Leo Sheppard attended St. John's University and was president of his class. He later received his master's degree at Columbia University. Before his time at Yankee Stadium began, he was a US Naval Officer in World War II, commanding shipboard gunnery crews, and a speech teacher at John Adams High School.
On April 17th, 1951, he announced his first Yankee game. The lineup contained 8 future Hall of Famers, including Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle, Johnny Mize, Yogi Berra, and Phil Rizzuto for the Yankees, and Ted Williams, Bobby Doerr, and Lou Boudreau for the Boston Red Sox. Some of his career highlights include announcing 4,500 Yankee games and being enshrined in Momument Park.
He enjoyed pronouncing unusual names, especially those from Japanese and Spanish origins, often checking the pronunciation with the players themselves.
He missed his first home opener in 2006, and made few appearances after that. In November of 2009, he officially announced his retirement.
A short video tribute to Sheppard and his famous voice.
Born in 1910, Robert Leo Sheppard attended St. John's University and was president of his class. He later received his master's degree at Columbia University. Before his time at Yankee Stadium began, he was a US Naval Officer in World War II, commanding shipboard gunnery crews, and a speech teacher at John Adams High School.
On April 17th, 1951, he announced his first Yankee game. The lineup contained 8 future Hall of Famers, including Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle, Johnny Mize, Yogi Berra, and Phil Rizzuto for the Yankees, and Ted Williams, Bobby Doerr, and Lou Boudreau for the Boston Red Sox. Some of his career highlights include announcing 4,500 Yankee games and being enshrined in Momument Park.
He enjoyed pronouncing unusual names, especially those from Japanese and Spanish origins, often checking the pronunciation with the players themselves.
He missed his first home opener in 2006, and made few appearances after that. In November of 2009, he officially announced his retirement.
A short video tribute to Sheppard and his famous voice.
I guess George couldn't live without him. Either that or he followed him into the afterlife to officially fire him.
posted by Nyarlathotep at 1:00 PM on July 13, 2010
posted by Nyarlathotep at 1:00 PM on July 13, 2010
One of the most appropriate times for a moment of silence.
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posted by sdrawkcab at 1:00 PM on July 13, 2010
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posted by sdrawkcab at 1:00 PM on July 13, 2010
The Yankees should use that software that Roger Ebert uses to recreate his voice from text and have Sheppard announce games forever.
posted by Lucinda at 1:24 PM on July 13, 2010 [2 favorites]
posted by Lucinda at 1:24 PM on July 13, 2010 [2 favorites]
These things usually happen in threes. Just saying, A-Rod.
posted by sixpack at 2:50 PM on July 13, 2010
posted by sixpack at 2:50 PM on July 13, 2010
Hearing the recording of his voice introducing Jeter in last night's All Star game was a nice moment.
posted by zzazazz at 9:05 AM on July 14, 2010
posted by zzazazz at 9:05 AM on July 14, 2010
Wow, he held that post until he was *97* years old? That's incredible.
posted by antifuse at 11:53 AM on July 14, 2010
posted by antifuse at 11:53 AM on July 14, 2010
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