Yankees: Sheppard to miss start of season
Posted by: Peter Abraham - Posted in Misc on Mar 31, 2009 
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This from the Yankees:
The New York Yankees announced today that longtime public address announcer Bob Sheppard will be unavailable at the commencement of the Yankees’ 2009 inaugural season, including the club’s workout on April 2 as well as the first exhibition games at Yankee Stadium on April 3-4 and Opening Day on April 16, as a result of his continuing recovery from a bronchial infection.
For the Yankees’ workout day on April 2 and their exhibition games vs. the Chicago Cubs on April 3-4, Paul Olden will substitute for Mr. Sheppard in the public address booth at Yankee Stadium while he continues to recover at his home on Long Island. A 12-time Super Bowl public address announcer, Olden’s broadcasting career spanned 17 years, including two seasons in the Yankees’ television broadcast booth from 1995-96, alongside Bobby Murcer and Phil Rizzuto.
This season marks the 58th anniversary of Sheppard’s debut as the Yankees’ public address announcer. His first game was on Opening Day, April 17, 1951, as the Yankees defeated the Boston Red Sox, 5-0.
“I will not be able to be at Yankee Stadium for the series with the Cubs or Opening Day,” Sheppard said. “My personal physician advised me to wait until I am ready. It is in the hands of God. I am looking forward to doing games in the new Stadium.”
UPDATE, 4:14 p.m.: Just to clarify, the Yankees have not yet named their announcer for April 16. Only that Olden will fill in for the Cubs series.
This sucks
poor sheppard…i’d love him to announce my life
Give the job to Ed Randall, he did a few games in 2008 and has the chops to handle the job. He has his own voice, not Bob’s, unlike Bob’s present “back up,” and Randall’s love of the game is well noted in his show on WFAN. Give the man the job.
9 hits, 6 runs and a walk in 5.something innings for Bucholz today. Woohoo!
Please, no Ed Randall. I love him on the radio, but he sounded like a minor league PA announcer when he filled in for Jim Hall last season. The sing-songy delivery was killing me!
Ed Randall is a schmuck. He sounds like a gee-whiz Pollyanna on Sunday morning and I can’t turn the dial soon enough whenever I get in the car.
Jim Hall sounds like an impressionist.
misery
Why not let Joe Beningo be the PA announcer for Opening Day?
god bless him.
Gilbert Godfrey would be the perfect replacement for Bob Sheppard.
Oops, that’s Gilbert Gottfried who would be the perfect replacement for Bob Sheppard.
Beningo would be perfect.
“Bro! It’s Brett Gardnuh. Numbuh 11. He’s doin’ a lot bettuh than Melky, bro.”
Would Sheff be a better option at DH than matsui?
I feel for Mr. Sheppard. Hope for a full recovery.
Olden’s an old pro and a good choice.
I pray thay keep making good choices regarding what we will be hearing at the new Stadium.
Anybody ever hear the PA woman at ATT. Very annoying.
I wonder if Jeter will continue with the Sheppard loop.
As much as I enjoy the sound of Bob sheppard, the first and best I ever heard was Pat Piper, the PA man at Wrigley Field for 60 years. Up until his last game, he always sat in a chair on the field between the screen and Cubs Dugout. Never used a mic…only a megaphone. He was in his 90s when he retired.
In his earlier days, he’d collect all of the skimmers (flat brimmed straw hats) left at the game and resell them to the next day’s customers.
Why not Bob’s son. Wasn’t he trying out? I think that would be best.
All I have to say if it is not going to be Bob than anyone BUT Jim Hall works for me it was painful to listen to him last season try to impersonate someone you cannot impersonate.
Paul Olden’s not a bad choice. It could have been al Trautwig.
Sheppard is highly overrated anyway, 6 decades at the helm, c’mon. Sorry, I shouldn’t speak ill of the dead.*
(USER WAS BANNED FOR THIS POST)
*I kid of-course
With all the technology we have, couldn’t we get Bob to announce fom his home in NY? Will def miss his voice opening day….Get well soon!
i bet it’s all pre recorded shepherd for opening day
Jim Hall was alright. I thought the impersonation was decent. A bit creepy but decent. I’ve said it a million times that many were fooled. If you weren’t paying attention you may have not realized it wasn’t ol’ Bob.
GB7.
Great story re: Pat Piper. Thanks for the post.
-dennis
Jim Hall was fine, but frankly so is anyone.
No one can replace Bob Sheppard. The man is a one-of-a-kind. But he’s very old, and getting frail. Let’s give him a big send-off and allow the man to retire. It’s selfish of anyone to want Sheppard in the booth in an April night game when it’s 47 degrees and blustery. Or when it’s July and 95 degrees and humid. I have always appreciated him there, but it’s a new ballpark, a whole new feel, and I hate to say it, but it’s time for a new voice. All good things (‘great’ in his case) must come to an end.
Paul Olden is a great choice. He should fill in permanently. I’ve kinda missed hearing him call Yankee games, it’s certainly been awhile.
Cashman on WFAN
Guiseppe Franco just read my mind!!!
The Yankees should bring in Sheppard for that send-off I mentioned earlier, and let his final announcement be for himself—
“And now, at the mike, number 58, Bob Sheppard, number 58.”
58= number of years since he started.
How cool is it that the first game ever for Bob Sheppard at Yankee Stadium was the only opening day that featured both Joe DiMaggio and Mickey Mantle in the same lineup?
lol @ I’d like him to announce my life.
Now brushing his teeth, Rob Abruzzese.
Now scratching his ass, Rob Abru-abru-abru-zze-se.
I hope at the very least that Bob Sheppard, the greatest PA announcer of all time will be able to be at the stadium on its official opening day on April 16. At his age and his precarious health situation it is very wise that he and his doctors proceed with the greatest of care. I am 64 years old so for all practical purposes he has been the voice of Yankee Stadium for my entire Yankee fan life. I have met him and he is every bit the great gentleman that he sounds like over the PA system. I wish him the best for a healthy year. Paul Olden is a distinguished play by play announcer and an excellent PA announcer and he certainly is a worthy stand in for Bob Sheppard or even a replacement if that is what’s really needed. The Yankees (without delving in to the financial issues) have done all that they possibly could to build the finest stadium while at the same time retain every ounce of tradition. As fans we should feel great pride in their incredible efforts.
larry david should get the job. they should put a camera on him, and and for every hitter he announces, they should show a tight close up of his face on the big screen.