The new Yankee Stadium will sound much different than the old one. Bob Sheppard, the public address announcer for the Yankees since 1951, has retired.
Paul Doherty, a friend and agent who has represented Sheppard, said Sheppard’s son, Paul, told him about Sheppard’s plans on Wednesday morning.
“I think Bob just wants to take it easy and no longer have the pressure of, ‘Can he? Will he? Or won’t he?'” Doherty said in an e-mail message. “And, at 98, who can blame him?”
Doherty added that Sheppard remained active.
“I’m happy to say that Bob is still doing well enough to drive a car,” Doherty said. “He picked his son up at the train this past weekend.”
The last lineup that Sheppard announced was actually his first. Doherty said that, two months ago, he had Sheppard recreate the first lineup he did, on April 17, 1951. It included Phil Rizzuto, Mickey Mantle, Joe DiMaggio and Yogi Berra.
“Now on to him seeing his 100th birthday in a year and a half,” Doherty said.
The Yankees have not named a replacement for Sheppard, but it will not be Jim Hall, Sheppard’s long-time backup. Paul Olden will fill in for the two exhibition games at the Stadium this weekend.
Paul Doherty, a friend and agent who has represented Sheppard, said Sheppard’s son, Paul, told him about Sheppard’s plans on Wednesday morning.
“I think Bob just wants to take it easy and no longer have the pressure of, ‘Can he? Will he? Or won’t he?'” Doherty said in an e-mail message. “And, at 98, who can blame him?”
Sporting News now has it too…
Longtime Yankees PA announcer Sheppard retires
