by Heartbeat Of The Bronx
Bob Sheppard has been the voice of the New York Yankees since 1951, and has been referred to as "The Voice of God" for equally as long.
His smooth voice has announced virtually every single Yankee immortal, and his eyes have witnessed most of the stadium's greatest moments.
Sheppard will be forced to miss another timeless moment in Yankee history, as an illness will prevent him from doing on Opening Day what he has done for more than 50 years.
Listed at 98, Sheppard's enormous heart keeps beating, and he intends to return to the microphone sometime in April.
I say "listed at 98" because he had gone to great lengths in order to maintain the secrecy of his age. It was only disclosed as a result of an ex-Yankee employee's testimony.
Sheppard has unfortunately struggled through a bronchial infection for quite some time now, and is unsure of a finite recovery date.
As much a symbol of the Yankees organization as George Steinbrenner, Sheppard has been given the honor of a dining area being named after him in the new stadium.
One of my first Yankee Stadium memories was Sheppard announcing my childhood idol, Don Mattingly, batting third and playing first base:
"At first base...No. 23...Don Mattingly...No. 23."
Sheppard is so beloved in the Bronx, that Derek Jeter refused to be announced by anyone else following his departure due to illness.
The Yankees subsequently played a recording of Sheppard's voice introducing the Yankee shortstop, as if "The Voice of God" had never left.
His smooth voice has announced virtually every single Yankee immortal, and his eyes have witnessed most of the stadium's greatest moments.
Sheppard will be forced to miss another timeless moment in Yankee history, as an illness will prevent him from doing on Opening Day what he has done for more than 50 years.
Listed at 98, Sheppard's enormous heart keeps beating, and he intends to return to the microphone sometime in April.
I say "listed at 98" because he had gone to great lengths in order to maintain the secrecy of his age. It was only disclosed as a result of an ex-Yankee employee's testimony.
Sheppard has unfortunately struggled through a bronchial infection for quite some time now, and is unsure of a finite recovery date.
As much a symbol of the Yankees organization as George Steinbrenner, Sheppard has been given the honor of a dining area being named after him in the new stadium.
One of my first Yankee Stadium memories was Sheppard announcing my childhood idol, Don Mattingly, batting third and playing first base:
"At first base...No. 23...Don Mattingly...No. 23."
Sheppard is so beloved in the Bronx, that Derek Jeter refused to be announced by anyone else following his departure due to illness.
The Yankees subsequently played a recording of Sheppard's voice introducing the Yankee shortstop, as if "The Voice of God" had never left.
Source: bleacherreport.com
1 comments:
Thanks for using my article...If you could put a link to my blogsite at: http://heartbeatofthebronx.blogspot.com/ I would really appreciate it. Take care!
-Stephen (Heartbeat of the Bronx)
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