Thread: "Voice of God" to retire

Bob Sheppard officially steps aside as the public address voice of the New York Yankees

BY Andy Clayton
DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER
Originally Published:Thursday, November 26th 2009, 3:27 PM
Updated: Thursday, November 26th 2009, 4:00 PM

Simmons/News
Bob Sheppard tells MLB.com that he's officially calling it a career after over 50 years as the public address voice of the Yankees.

Bob Sheppard, the legendary "Voice of God", is finally calling it a career.
The Yankees public address announcer told MLB.com in an article posted Thursday morning that he is stepping away after more than 50 years as the official soundtrack of the Bronx Bombers.
"I have no plans of coming back," Sheppard told MLB.com in a telephone interview Wednesday. "Time has passed me by, I think. 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, who recently celebrated his 99th birthday, last introduced the Bombers back in 2007. A bronchial infection kept him from working the final season at the old Yankee Stadium and he has not stepped foot inside the new Stadium.
"I haven't been well," Sheppard said in the MLB.com interview. "I had problems breathing for a while, and then I had a loss of weight."
Paul Olden, who did Yankee play-by-play in 1995-96 and served as the PA announcer for 12 Super Bowls, took over the public-address duties from Sheppard.
But Yankees fans continue to hear Sheppard's famous voice when captain Derek Jeter steps to the plate. At Jeter's request, a recording of Sheppard is played for all of his at-bats ... "Now batting for the Yankees, number two, Derek Jeter, number two."
Sheppard, who watched the Yankees' run to their 27th World Series title on TV from his Long Island home, tells MLB.com he doubts he'd be able to make even one appearance behind the microphone during the 2010 season.
"I think at my age, it's time to accept the fact that I had a great run. A great run. And I only made a few mistakes along the way."
Yankee fans first heard Sheppard announce the lineups in the Bronx on April 17, 1951. During his legendary career he worked approximately 4,500 games, including 121 consecutive postseason tilts.

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Originally Posted by soxmuscle

It was a joke.

Bob Sheppard will be missed.

My bad.
It's a shame he's retired but he was there for so long.