Yesterday, the Yankees held a poignant Old Timers' Game, where former players fondly remembered owner George Steinbrenner and public address announcer Bob Sheppard. Goose Gossage said of "The Boss," "He was tougher back in our day than he was later on, over the last regime, the last decade-and-a-half. As much as we won, the more we won, the crazier he got. more ›

Before the Yankees' first game since the deaths of two of its legends— owner George Steinbrenner and public address announcer Bob Sheppard—the team said good-bye with tributes, a moment of silence, and, finally, two roses left at home plate by closer Mariano Rivera. Captain Derek Jeter told the crowd, "We gather to honor two men who are both shining stars in the Yankees' universe... Mr. George Steinbrenner and Mr. Bob Sheppard cared deeply about their responsibilities to this organization and to our fans, and for that will forever be remembered in baseball history and our hearts." more ›

The Yankees' tribute to late owner George Steinbrenner and public address announcer Bob Sheppard will take place tonight before the 7:05 p.m. game against the Tampa Bay Rays. The Yankees recommend that attendees arrive by 6:45 p.m. According to the Post, "The observance will include a video tribute to The Boss and a special moment of silence honoring both Steinbrenner and longtime 'Voice of God' announcer Bob Sheppard, who died Sunday at 99." more ›

The Yankees' arch rivals, the Boston Red Sox, put away their differences with the Bombers/Evil Empire in order to pay tribute to late Yankees owner George Steinbrenner. The Red Sox held a moment of silence for The Boss and late Yankees public address announcer Bob Sheppard before their game against the Texas Rangers. While Steinbrenner was ruthless, one Red Sox fan told the NY Times, "He’s a human being and deserves to be honored. That doesn’t mean we love him, but we respect him. There’s competition, but also decency." more ›

The funeral for legendary Yankees public address announcer Bob Sheppard is being held in Baldwin, Long Island today. According to Newsday, "A gallery of dignitaries were on hand to honor him, among them Giants co-owner John Mara, Yankees general manager Brian Cashman and Hall of Fame St. John's basketball coach Lou Carnesecca." Mara, Cashman and Carnesecca were scheduled to give eulogies. Sheppard, whose voice was heard in a recording during Derek Jeter's All-Star game at-bat, will be honored by the Yankees with a commemorative patch that will be worn by players on their home and away jerseys' left sleeve (click the image to enlarge it). more ›

Bob Sheppard, the beloved announcer for Yankees games for 57 years, died at age 99 in his home in Baldwin, Long Island. Sheppard's delivery was, as we described last year, "deliberately slow, with each syllable pronounced," and he introduced players including Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle, Frank Gifford, Reggie Jackson, Lawrence Taylor, Chris Mullin, and Derek Jeter, as announcer for the Yankees and Giants. more ›

Usually you would hear the words as you made your way to your seats, “Good Afternoon, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to Yankee Stadium.” The cadence was deliberately slow, with each syllable pronounced and it reverberated across the façade of the old stadium, bouncing back at you from different angles. Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle, Frank Gifford, Reggie Jackson, Lawrence Taylor, Chris Mullin, Derek Jeter, all of them were introduced by Bob Sheppard. And despite his absence from the new stadium, Derek Jeter used a recording of Sheppard to introduce his at bats there. more ›

The much beloved longtime public-address announcer for the Yankees, Bob Sheppard, officially retired today. His friend and agent Paul Doherty broke the news to the Times, telling them, “I think Bob just wants to take it easy and no longer have the pressure of, ‘Can he? Will he? Or won’t he?’" Sheppard is 98-years-old and has been introducing Bombers to the plate since 1951. Health problems have kept him sidelined for portions of the last few seasons—including last year's final Opening Day at the old Stadium. Doherty said, “I’m happy to say that Bob is still doing well enough to drive a car...Now on to him seeing his 100th birthday in a year and a half.” There is no word yet on who will replace Sheppard, other than it will not be previous backup Jim Hall. Sheppard's voice will still be heard in the new Yankee Stadium announcing Derek Jeter—the Yankee captain had previously asked Sheppard to record his introduction so that it could be used permanently. more ›

With the news that Roger Clemens is returning to the Yankees, reactions from the local media and Yankee fans are generally positive. Clemens made the announcement during the 7th inning of yesterday's 5-0 win over the Seattle Mariners. After the singing of "Take Me Out to the Ballgame," Bob Sheppard directed the crowd to the owner's box for a special announcement. Only then did the public find out that Clemens would be returning to pitch for the Yankees, "Well, they came and got me out of Texas. I can tell you, it's a privilege to be back. I'll be talking to y'all soon." more ›

It may have been the first home game of the season, but Gothamist refuses to recognize it as Opening Day until Bob Sheppard shows up. Maybe that was the way the Yankees felt because they struggled for far too long before beating the Royals 9-7. more ›

Bob Sheppard, the legendary voice of both the Giants and the Yankees has decided to call it quits (Times Select or summary on NY1) - just for the Giants. The 95 year-old public address announcer has been with the Giants since 1956, ever since the Giants moved to Yankee Stadium from the Polo Grounds. The reason for stepping aside? He just couldn't deal with the traffic. When we initially read that, Gothamist was thinking, "what is a 95 year-old doing behind the wheel," but it seems like a friend drives Sheppard to and from games. more ›

Jesse Oxfeld more ›