One more reason to be thankful
Posted by: Chad Jennings - Posted in Misc on Nov 27, 2009 
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To celebrate Thanksgiving, Sam and I listed a few reasons the Yankees should be thankful this offseason. At some point yesterday, it became obvious that we missed one.
Bob Sheppard.
In case you missed the news, the legendary voice of Yankee Stadium has officially retired. Our friend Bryan Hoch at mlb.com had the story yesterday. At 99 years old, Sheppard has no plans of coming back to the booth. It had become clear that he was unlikely to ever return to any sort of regular role, but we all seemed to be holding out hope.
“I was very much intimate with the action,” Sheppard told mlb.com. “I just felt, in one way, it’s even better to be here than to be up in my booth. This way, I’m comfortable, I have no outside assignments, and I can concentrate on the game… My heart beats when they win, and it stops beating when they lose. That’s part of the game and I did it for over 50 years, so it is nothing new to me.”
Baseballreference.com does not have box scores from back when Sheppard introduced the lineups for the first time — his first game happened to be Mickey Mantle’s first game — but a 2008 story from Sweeny Murti does have the lineups from that April 17, 1951 win against Boston. The Yankees batting order will give you a good idea of just how deeply Sheppard is entrenched in Yankees history.
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
Kevin Towers on his way to the bronx
http://www.newsday.com/sports/.....-1.1624374
Greatest voice in baseball. He will deeply be missed. The Yankees should honor him opening day next year. Knowing them they probably will.
The Yankee team had 5 future HOFers in that line-up plus a HOF manager. Boston had 3 future HOFers.
GB7
Good morning.
I hope you had a good Thansgiving.
It looks like Gonzales wasn’t going to wait and let the RS jerk him around again. I don’t understand why they didn’t sign him and end the merry go round at short at least for a short time.
once again jeter proves to be the shrewdest star of all with his exclusive voice of god intro
Very sad to hear that Sheppard (the voice of god) is done – Yankees Stadium will never sound the same without him.
GB&
==Thanksgiving.==
Speaking of 99 year olds (how often does one do that anyway), ESPN has been running a feature on John Wooden. His body has begun to fail, but his mind is still incredibly sharp. Both he and Sheppard have lived amazingly full lives.
I’m down with Towers coming here.
By the way, how crazy good is that 1951 lineup? Amazing collection of future Hall of Famers…
i remember jackie jensen in the red sox of, and him going on home run derby. we made an ill-advised trade that sent him to washington for irv noren. he ended up winning the mvp in 1958.
I had hoped that Sheppard was going to make one appearance at the New House, maybe during the playoffs, but that didn’t happen and now it won’t happen ever…too bad.
In regards to Towers, that would be a good movefor the Yankees, especially if he finds another Adrian Gonzalez.
MaineYankee
November 27th, 2009 at 8:48 am
GB7
Good morning.
I hope you had a good Thansgiving.
It looks like Gonzales wasn’t going to wait and let the RS jerk him around again. I don’t understand why they didn’t sign him and end the merry go round at short at least for a short time.
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Thanks, Maine. Had a really nice, quiet day, yesterday. Thanks for asking. Hope you and your family had a great day.
With Gonzales running for the nearest exit, Boston is going to be forced to pay more than they care to for Scutaro or use the green, Hullet, Lowery triumphrate at shortstop. It just keeps getting better. They still need to figure out whether to pay to ride Ortiz and Lowell out of town on a rail or try to see if they’re still breathing. Gotta find a left fielder and a few other pieces. I’m enjoying their angst.
No worry about Thansgiving. I can read code as well as typing in it.
Yeah, what happened with Gonzalez? Yesterday I read here that he was going to the Red Sox, and then in this morning’s paper I read he signed with Toronto?
I missed the gory details. What happened there?
I hope everyone had a nice Thanksgiving Day.
It seems like Towers is not a done deal, though. He’s meeting with other teams, so you never know. It would be really, really nice, though, if he did come to the Yankees.
Sheppard has been missed and will continue to be missed. I suppose most of us knew he wasn’t coming back, but like many others I thought he’d make one appearance – maybe a playoff game – announce the lineups one last time and then retire. But, hey, after his career, and at 99 years old, you certainly get to do it your own way!
Best wishes to Bob Sheppard.
jvcelt
November 27th, 2009 at 8:58 am
i remember jackie jensen in the red sox of, and him going on home run derby. we made an ill-advised trade that sent him to washington for irv noren. he ended up winning the mvp in 1958.
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Yeah, but, he was afraid to fly. That’s why he retired so early. Jensen was a 4th place finisher in the 1949 Heisman Trophy voting at UCal in 1949. He was All-American in both football and baseball. First player to ever play in the Rose Bowl and World Series.
Losing the voices of Bob Sheppard and Ernie Harwell is a huge loss to the ears of baseball fans. Two giants.
Doreen
That was Alex Gonzales. SS that the RS had last yr.
Yes I had a nice day yesterday. Hope you did as well.
GB7
Yes, we had a nice quiet day as well.
Listening to local sports radio and reading comments on some Boston sites, it seems like some RS fans are starting to realise that next year might be a lost yr till they can rid themselves of some bad contracts.
Hearing some talk of them having interest for Cabrera from the Tigers. That would be a big mistake so I hope they do it.
Bob Sheppard should be honored with a day at the Stadium along with a place in Monument Park.
It would be great if he could record some spot pieces to be used forever such as welcoming fans to the Stadium before the lineups are announced as a remembrance of his voice.
Maine Yankee -
I am officially confused! Oh, well. Who was the shortstop that was a Yankee prospect at one point, A-Gon, I think was his nickname? This is not the same player?
Does this mean the Blue Jays will not require a shortstop in any trade for Halladay?
Doreen
Gonzales was the SS for the RS in 07 when they won the WS. He then signed with the Reds and was traded back to the RS before the trade deadline last year. Excellent glove but light hitter.
The SS you’re thinking was nicknamed the General. Can’t remember his name but he was traded to the Nats.
MaineYankee
November 27th, 2009 at 9:25 am
GB7
Yes, we had a nice quiet day as well.
Listening to local sports radio and reading comments on some Boston sites, it seems like some RS fans are starting to realise that next year might be a lost yr till they can rid themselves of some bad contracts.
Hearing some talk of them having interest for Cabrera from the Tigers. That would be a big mistake so I hope they do it.
————————————————————
Adding Cabrera to that line-up will give them some punch, but they’ll still be missing a left fielder, along stripping out the last of the usable parts of their farm. Did I mention that that would be one of the worst defensive teams since the ’62 Mets?
Oh, well. Who was the shortstop that was a Yankee prospect at one point, A-Gon, I think was his nickname? This is not the same player?
______________
That was Alberto Gonzales, called the AG or Attorney General because that was the name of the Attorney General when he came up.
Doreen,MaineYankee,
You are refering to Alberto Gonzalez.
http://www.baseball-reference......al03.shtml
Alberto Gonzalez
GreenBeret7
November 27th, 2009 at 5:51 am
The Angels finally got rid of two of the most annoying, obnoxious broadcasters in baseball, Steve Physioc and Rex Hudler. The absolutely made me grind my teeth down to the nubs.
__
I don’t believe it. While the both of them rarely had a good thing to say about the NYY when the Angels faced the Yanks, and stinksniffed the Red Sox all game long when the Angels faced the Sox, I loved the 2 of these guys.
Their voices were hilarious and their “isms” were hilarious. When the Yankees had a big lead in the division this year and I just wanted to kick back and enjoy a Sunday baseball game, I’d put the Angels game just so I could hear Phyyyyyys!
Goodbye, Phys & Hud, I hope you find a job elsewhere, and the only time I hear your voices are during non Yankees games.
GB7
Theo must be feeling like the Dutch boy cause every where he looks he has a hole to plug.
Sounds like the take on Cabrera is he’ll be a DH in about 2yrs and has a huge contract.
If Theo is smart he will just do like Cashman did in 08 and wait to clear from Lowell and Ortiz and then reload. Better FA class next year also.
It’s fitting that he retires with the old Stadium.
Here’s an article from MLB.com
http://mlb.mlb.com/news/articl.....8;c_id=mlb
For you with obviuosly better memories, wasn’t AG traded for a RP? Veras or Alba.
obviously
I think GB7 sent me a spelling virus this morning.
Thanks all. I am now clear on my A. Gonzalezes.
Somebody signed Augustus Gonzales?
Happy D.A.T. everybody!
MaineYankee
November 27th, 2009 at 9:50 am
GB7
Theo must be feeling like the Dutch boy cause every where he looks he has a hole to plug.
Sounds like the take on Cabrera is he’ll be a DH in about 2yrs and has a huge contract.
If Theo is smart he will just do like Cashman did in 08 and wait to clear from Lowell and Ortiz and then reload. Better FA class next year also.
————————————————————
Yeah, he’s going either wash out the season or sign every know FA on the market and trade off the farm or just eat the next two seasons. Boston won’t pay over market for Draft and if they dip heavily into the FA market, they won’t have any kids for the next two years. Not sure who Boston fans will deal with that, but something tells me that they’d be more patient and forgiving than Yankee fans,
MaineYankee
November 27th, 2009 at 9:56 am
obviously
I think GB7 sent me a spelling virus this morning.
————————————————————
Yeah…sure….blame the kid that hasn’t had a typo in 3 posts.
I always loved hearing this Bob Sheppard story:
Mickey Mantle says to Sheppard: “I got chills up my spine every time you announced my name.”
Bod Sheppard: “So did I.”
RS 1912 trophy in Yankee land.
http://www.bostonherald.com/sp.....nkee_land/
Towers is not joining the Yankees – I’m not sure how anyone could say he is based on the article posted in the prior thread. Sure, he’s best friends with Cash, but how do we even know what Hal is willing to pay him? Towers is meeting with other teams as well…….
GB7
If you listen to RS fans they’re anything but patient.
They act like it’s their rite to go to the WS each yr.
Sound familar?
Watching the 78′ All Star Game.
The Goose is looking terrible.
These games are great by the way. Yesterday I was watching 71′.
Saw Hank Aaron hit a HR, saw Reggie almost hit it out of Tiger Stadium.
108 stitches November 27th, 2009 at 9:29 am
Bob Sheppard should be honored with a day at the Stadium along with a place in Monument Park.
It would be great if he could record some spot pieces to be used forever such as welcoming fans to the Stadium before the lineups are announced as a remembrance of his voice.
————————
Bob Sheppard is already honored with in Monument Park.
http://www.everystockphoto.com.....eId=987602
I’m sure they will have a Bob Sheppard Day next year. He said he won’t/can’t announce even one game, but it would be great if he did the Yankees lineup one last time – on Opening Day 2010.
*with a plaque
GreenBeret7
November 27th, 2009 at 10:07 am
MaineYankee
November 27th, 2009 at 9:56 am
obviously
I think GB7 sent me a spelling virus this morning.
————————————————————
Yeah…sure….blame the kid that hasn’t had a typo in 3 posts.
———————————————-
KID!!!
MaineYankee
November 27th, 2009 at 10:14 am
GreenBeret7
November 27th, 2009 at 10:07 am
MaineYankee
November 27th, 2009 at 9:56 am
obviously
I think GB7 sent me a spelling virus this morning.
————————————————————
Yeah…sure….blame the kid that hasn’t had a typo in 3 posts.
———————————————-
KID!!!
————————————————————
This smacks of crass intellectual jealousy. I just choose to not be like the rest of you lower forms.
MaineYankee
November 27th, 2009 at 10:12 am
GB7
If you listen to RS fans they’re anything but patient.
They act like it’s their rite to go to the WS each yr.
Sound familar?
————————————————————
Yeah….those Mets fans are impossible, aren’t they?
Good luck to anyone who’s brave enough to go shopping today!
Erin, I just completely some shopping
on Amazon!
I knew Vernon Wells had a bad contract,but did you know in 2011-2014 he is scheduled to make 21.5per year.What were they thinking? This would be a time to advocate no guaranteed contracts in MLB!!
Boston is in a quagmire. They’re saddled down with the contracts of Ortiz and Lowell for 2010 and Drew through 2011.
If they deal for Halladay, Adrian Gonzalez, or Miguel Cabrera, they gut their farm system of well thought of prospects. There’s nobody ready at the AAA or AA levels.
If they deal for Halladay or sign free agent Lackey they have an unhappy Beckett on their hands with his free agency coming up at the end of 2010. To retain him they’d have to at least equal what Halladay or Lackey contracts are.
They have to stay injury free with position players in 2010 with no immediate help to call up from the system.
And they were the business model to be admired ? Pffffft !
rb
November 27th, 2009 at 10:57 am
Erin, I just completely some shopping
on Amazon!
*******************
LOL That’s my kind of Christmas shopping!
To those who are not afraid to shed a tear … http://zellspinstripeblog.com/ and click on the Bob Sheppard Tribute video.
Question…..what ever happen to Arod’s second (bigger) surgery he was suppose to have,it was even said by his doctor that he would require another surgery
Arod said he doesn’t need a bigger surgery.
Btw someone met..why r yanks signing a big name pitcher? What’s the point of a pitching coach? Isn’t their job to make the pitcher better? (Obvs getting a big name pitcher won’t hurt…just saying.)
“Towers is not joining the Yankees – I’m not sure how anyone could say he is based on the article posted in the prior thread. Sure, he’s best friends with Cash, but how do we even know what Hal is willing to pay him? Towers is meeting with other teams as well…….”
Betsy,
You’re just as bad as those saying he’s joining the Yankees by your decree that he’s not. The first six words in your post should be stricken.
OK…so he went from needing a surgery that was going to keep him out for most of the season, got a quick fix and not needing a 2nd one…. must of been some MRI read
“The story I was given is that the team and the network wish to go in another direction.” Quote from Phys.
From the article posted by GB7 re: Hud and Phys
My guess is the Angels wanted to go in a professional direction!
Oh, goody. More news on Halladay. The latest Toronto needs for a Halladay requisition. This is getting to be fun.
“Jays Looking For An Arm And A Bat For Halladay
By Mike Axisa [November 27 at 9:31am CST]
Another day, another Roy Halladay rumor. Today, Jeremy Sandler of The National Post reports that the Blue Jays “want a major league-ready arm and bat, both young and affordable enough to stay in Toronto a while, plus prospects for Halladay.”
Regardless of how great Halladay is, it’s a steep price to pay for just one year of his services. Yesterday we heard that the Red Sox would “almost certainly” have to give up Clay Buchholz and Casey Kelly to acquire Halladay, though those two don’t meet the above-mentioned criteria. According to industry insiders, Sandler suggests that serious offers matching Toronto’s wish list could be coming in the next few weeks.”
Unless Toronto changes its demands, Halladay will play out next season in a Toronto uniform before leaving as a free agent. Personally, I preferred that scenario for the Yankees.
GB7
Toronto needs to be carefull or it could be a cold winter for them. At the rate their going the stove will never get hot enough to keep warm.
Where is Nick in SF in Larkspur when you need a bet.
Hud will end up working with NESN! Mark it down!
According to the mlbtraderumors this is what the Blue Jays want for Halladay. Major league arm(PITCHER),and bat,both young an affordable to stay awhile,plus prospects.
This to rent Halladay for a year!
Watching that tribute for Bob Sheppard, when he announced the Mick, I still get goose bumps.
The jays are just throwing out the best case scenerio for them. They won’t get but if they start high then a compromise will be closer to they want. Boras does it all the time..
Craw, not true…..though I should have added “at this time” to my comment. I didn’t mean to say that Towers was never going to join the Yankees……just that the comments that Towers was a done deal were completely misleading based on the article.
GB, I’m sure the team trading for Doc will extend him; no team is giving up anything of note for 1 year.
The Yankees do not have a MLB-ready bat to give the Jays (and they aren’t trading Montero), so that’s that for the Yankees.
Damon, the Jays have already said they’ll allow another team a window to talk extension with Doc; this is not a 1 year rental.
I think the Jays are going to keep playing this out till ST, then it will heat up again toward the trade deadline. They are in a no win situation with Halladay. No matter who they get for him will be hard on the fans, and many teams are going to balk about having to give up two MLB ready players for Doc.
Giving up some high prospects are one thing, giving up MLB players that are still in arbitration years is another. I think they will overplay their hand again. Then have to settle for draft picks that have far less likelihood for success.
No way Cashman guts the Yankees to get Halladay.If Halladay is smart,he’ll walk at the end of the season and will get a bevy of offers.I secretly hope AJ has told him how great the Yankees organization is to play for,and he wants to come.
Jackson could play for the jays now. I’d call them and say we’ll give you joba and Jackson take it or leave it. Halladay would make the yanks the overwhelming favorite to win the WS the next two years at least (barring injury). I think that’s worth trading two “might be’s” especially with a farm system like the Yankees have right now..
“…this is not a 1 year rental.”
It is if Doc wants it to be.
He can control where he goes and how long he stays there. Some people seem to ignore that.
Pat, lol, I am not “some people”. I’m not ignoring it………..but if Doc insists on it being a rental, then he will stay in Toronto. That poster made it sound like it’s definitely a 1 year rental…and it most certainly is not definite.
pat
That’s what I WAS THIKINGt.Halladay may just want out of Toronto,and use the next team(like Holliday did Cardinals)to get to the team he thinks has a chance for a WS win.
Pat. No team including the Yankees is going to give up any significant players without first negiociating an extension with Halladay. The Jays previous GM wouldn’t allow that and that’s why no deal went down last year and why he got fired.. The Yankees wouldn’t do a trade without an extension
“Craw, not true…..though I should have added “at this time” to my comment. I didn’t mean to say that Towers was never going to join the Yankees……just that the comments that Towers was a done deal were completely misleading based on the article.”
Betsy,
That was my point about your comments.
By the way, I think he’s coming to the Yankees. We’ll find out one way or another during the week of December 7th.
Amen BLAKE!!
The cards didn’t trade any significant prospects in the Holliday deal. They were good prospects but not can’t miss ones because there was no extension involved.
Betsy
Wasn’t referring to you in particular. Just people who are speaking in absolutes regarding Halladay in general.
Toronto has set up a scenario where Doc returning to Toronto would be a bigger story than him leaving.
He has a full no trade so he can control where he goes. He may or may not want to test drive a city or give free agency a whirl so him agreeing to an extension whether the Jays would allow it or not could be of no issue.
I think Doc is motivated to leave the Jays at this point and might accept a trade just to get out of the crosshairs. That place may also be somewhere that he doesn’t see as a long term fit.
My post didn’t post.
Blake the Cards DID give their five tool away,it was big news that angered their fans.Molzeliak(the gm) had to address his reasoning on the matter on TV.Cardinal fans are livid that Holliday hasn’t been signed.
I have family and friends in STL, that are Cardinal fans.
CARDINAL fans feel Boras is asking too much(he wants Tex money),with Pujols,Carpenter,and Wainwright contracts soon to be due.
Halladay’s NTC is gonna be a big factor as Toronto wastes time trying to get more than they’re gonna.
Betsy,
The Yanks could trade them Melky who’s a major league ready bat, or Miranda… But Toronto’s not gonna get what they’re looking for.
Toronto needs quite a few things and there are very few teams if any that can provide what they want and still afford to extend Halladay’s contract. They want a major league ready arm which NYY has, as does Boston. Neither team has the young bat, unless they want Jackson. The only way NYY could get him much cheaper id for Toronto to play about 30-40 mil of Wells contract. That would leave 12-14 mil a year for 5 years. Trouble is, he just had surgery on his wrist. Unless they’re dropping the cost, they might just get stuck with him. It’s gonna be fun.
What a lineup. Going to miss the Voice of God at the Stadium. Thanks, Mr. Sheppard, for narrating our passion.
Imagine, over 50 years? Unbelievable.