Posted on 07/11/2010 10:00:31 AM PDT by ConservativeStatement
Bob Sheppard, the iconic Yankee Stadium public address announcer whose impeccable introductions of stars from Joe DiMaggio to Derek Jeter earned him the nickname "The Voice of God," died this morning with his wife by his side. He was 99.
Sheppard, who started with the Yankees in 1951 — Joe DiMaggio’s final season and Mickey Mantle’s Major League debut — worked 4,500 baseball games, including 121 consecutive postseason contests and 62 games in 22 World Series.
“Most men go to work, but I go to a game,” Sheppard was quoted in a Yankees news release distributed this afternoon. “How many men would love to do that?”
(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...
Right on MLB All-Star! What a way to go.
Bob Sheppard was something about the Yankees I always envied. That and Robert Merrill singing the National Anthem. You haven’t heard the Star Spangled Banner until you hear it done by Robert Merrill.
Wonderful voice- Great memories- Rest in peace
Condolences to the Sheppard family and the extended “Yankee family,” too. Anyone who has attended baseball games at Yankee Stadium and football games at both Yankee Stadium and Giants Stadium over the years would remember him and his voice as one of the great icons of American sports.
RIP Mr. Sheppard...... being a long time Yankees and Giants fan, I grew up with “the voice”. I remember telling a friend that it was good to hear his voice at Giants Stadium when it first opened after I was discharged from the service....it was so familiar.
RIP.
“Your attention please, ladies and gentlemen ... now entering Heaven, ... Yankees announcer, ... number 99,... Bob Sheppard, ... number 99.”
I think Sheppard was more or less a local “Voice of God”, while John Facenda was the national one. Kinda like news anchors.
The first Yankee lineup Sheppard announced (April 17, 1951) contained eight future Hall of Famers, five on the New York squad alone: Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle, Johnny Mize, Yogi Berra, and Phil Rizzuto. Their opponents, the Boston Red Sox, featured Ted Williams, Bobby Doerr, and Lou Boudreau. The first player he introduced was Dominic DiMaggio. He was initially paid $15 per game or $17 for a doubleheader.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Sheppard
I was going to mention John Facenda, the longtime voice of NFL Films who passed away in 1984. To me, he keep the title but I'll bet a lot of people don't even know who Facenda is.
I miss the old voice and music of NFL Films, both incredibly strong and expressive.
He’s a villanova grad.
You’re right. There are very few voice overs where the “voice” is bigger than the action its describing. Facenda (reaching almost nirvana status when coupled with the music and editing) was one of them.
that was really nice, thanks. listening to Mickey introduced in RF just prior to Joe D. being introduced in CF...damn, 1951 all over again for Bomber fans.
ESPN has a nice tribute here:
http://sports.espn.go.com/new-york/mlb/news/story?id=5371001&campaign=rss&source=ESPNHeadlines
Going to games at Yankee Stadium spoiled you. You had Robert Merrill singing the national anthem, Eddie Layton playing the organ between innings, and Bob Sheppard letting you know who was coming up. It was always great to get to the game early and hear him reading the complete lineups. It’s a wonderful memory to have.
Rest in Peace.
Rest In Peace, Voice of the Yankees, and God Bless ya
-- MM
It was the perfect gesture of remembrance and respect.
June
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