> The Man Will Be Absent, but His Voice Carries
“The Yankees have been very gracious,†Sheppard said as he was awaiting a visit from club officials who would tape a message from him for this weekend. The Yankees offered a limousine and a seat in George M. Steinbrenner’s box, and maybe a few words if he felt up to it.
The Boss, who long ago revived the glory of this franchise, is not coming up from Florida this weekend. The two old lions, two decades apart in age, have this much in common: a sense of pride, not wanting special attention.
“I don’t have my best stuff,†Sheppard said, sounding like a pitcher whose fastball has lost some zip. But he still has his wits, to say nothing of the elocution that has graced Yankee Stadium since April 17, 1951, opening day.
