Bob Sheppard retires at age 99

[spnited]

Sorry, but resurrecting an 18-month old thread that says he'll return to Yankee Stadium is not nearly sufficient for the greatest voice in the history of sports PA announcers.

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20091125&content_id=7717078&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb

 

[BYH]

Worth posting twice:

Man, he comes off as so dignified and distinguished and raises the hair on the reader's arms even in his QUOTES. I could READ this man speak all day long.

The saddest thing I've ever heard at Yankee Stadium was Sheppard asking for a moment of silence the morning after Josh Hancock's death. I thought that it had to be the dream of just about every ballplayer to have his name announced by Bob Sheppard at Yankee Stadium, even if they didn't realize the magnitude of the honor until it actually occurred.

And yet the first time Hancock had his name announced by Sheppard--Hancock never pitched at Yankee Stadium--it was to announce his death. So unspeakably sad.

 

[Baron Scicluna]

I've basically figured he was already retired, since he hasn't worked in two years.

I hope he's at least able to come to the Stadium for one game to be honored, and if possible, to announce one more inning.

 

[KP]

I would think God sounds similar to Bob Sheppard.

 

[BYH]

I would think God sounds similar to Bob Sheppard.

Very nice.

 

[MileHigh]

Every PA announcer should follow his lead. The clowns working in the NBA from Miami to Denver are jokers. Bob Shepard is the voice of God (though Alan Roach is pretty close), and the approach to games should be followed in his footsteps.

 

[bigpern23]

Say what you want about Jeter, but the fact that he had Sheppard record his introduction and still uses it for his at-bats I think shows what tremendous respect he has for the history of baseball. Jeter is adored by fans, makes millions of dollars, has won five World Series and is at the top of his profession, but he's honored and humbled to simply have his name announced by the same man who announced names like Joe Dimaggio (in his final season), Mickey Mantle and Reggie Jackson.

 

[Drip]

A nice man with no ego but his voice is scary. I will miss him.

 

[steveu]

You wonder if Sheppard will still be heard next year at the stadium during Jeter's at-bats. Hell, that would be a class act on Derek's part.

 

[JackReacher]

No one outside the Bronx really gives a ****.

:)

 

[spnited]

You wonder if Sheppard will still be heard next year at the stadium during Jeter's at-bats. Hell, that would be a class act on Derek's part.

Yes he will. Jeter had Sheppard record the intro so he could use as long as he plays.

 

[Boom_70]

Heard that Jeter is pretty shy when it comes to girls and would have Bob Sheppard make the first call for him to arrange dates. That is how he first got hooked up with Minka Kelly.

"I'm calling on behalf of Derek Jeter......."

 

[Drip]

No one outside the Bronx really gives a ****.

:)

You actually have a point there Ryan.

 

[Dr. Van Nostrand]

I would think God sounds similar to Bob Sheppard.

Close, but not quite.

The almighty uses Sheppard's voice during baseball season, but switches to the late John Facenda's voice during football season. ;D

 

[Moderator1]

And the guy from Philly during hoops season. Zinkoff?

 

[spnited]

The late Dave Zinkoff was another of the great arena voices.

As was John Condon..."Welcome to Madison Square Garden, the world's most famous arena."

 

[Drip]

And the guy from Philly during hoops season. Zinkoff?

The Zink was a great live announcer. Facenda was a great TV anchorman and announcer. You couldn't put Facenda as a house announcer and Zink on TV and get the same result.

 

[heyabbott]

Yankees lineup in Sheppard's first game April 17, 1951, his first game happened to be Mickey Mantle’s first game:

Jackie Jensen LF
Phil Rizzuto SS
Mickey Mantle RF
Joe DiMaggio CF
Yogi Berra C
Johnny Mize 1B
Billy Johnson 3B
Jerry Coleman 2B
Vic Raschi P

 

[Boom_70]

The late Dave Zinkoff was another of the great arena voices.

As was John Condon..."Welcome to Madison Square Garden, the world's most famous arena."

Good call on John Condon but get his tag line straight "Welcome to the magic world of Madison Square Garden, the worlds most famous arena"

He was to The Garden what Shepard was to Yankee Stadium.

My favorite call of his - "no basket that was goooal tending"

When I think of Zinkoff I think of Hal Greer hitting a jumper and Zinkoff screaming Greeeer.

 

[spnited]

Geez, how then hell could I forget "the magic world of".









I know, old age.