Voice of Yankees' PA Announcer Bob Sheppard Remains as Strong as Ever

The opening game of the American League division series between the New York Yankees and Detroit Tigers on October 3 marked the continuation of one of the most remarkable streaks in the history of sports.

Yankees public address announcer Bob Sheppard worked his 120th consecutive postseason game at Yankee Stadium, a streak that dates to 1951, when Joe DiMaggio was the Yankees' center fielder. Possessing arguably the most recognized voice in sports, Sheppard has been the Yankees' PA announcer for 56 seasons.

Sheppard always has refused to reveal his age but the Yankees have confirmed that he was born on October 12, 1910, which means he soon will be celebrating his 96th birthday - and his voice remains as strong as ever. Of course, Sheppard finally decided to cut back his work load this year, giving up his other job as the PA announcer for the NFL's New York Giants. He held that position for a mere 50 years.

Many players consider it a thrill to have their name announced by the voice of Yankee Stadium, including former Yankees superstar Reggie Jackson, who called Sheppard the "voice of God." There were five future Yankees Hall of Famers in the first lineup Sheppard announced at Yankee Stadium on April 17, 1951 - DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle, Johnny Mize, Yogi Berra and Phil Rizzuto.

Sheppard is a throw-back in the sense that he never fell prey to the modern trend in which stadium PA announcers act like carvival barkers
or cheerleaders. You hear them all the time, especially in other sports, screaming the names they announce while accompanied by blaring music and other canned sound effects. The pyrotechnics are designed to get fans fired up and I suppose some people like it. As far as I
am concerned, it's nothing but loud, annoying noise and I could do without PA announcers who become part of the show.

But Sheppard always played it straight, never showing any partiality to the Yankees. As a former speech professor at St. John's University, his alma mater, to do it any other way would go against everything he believes in. He always prided himself on delivering the
names in a concise manner with perfect diction. Sheppard speaks the same way when the microphone is off.

In his 50th season in 2000, the Yankees honored Sheppard with a plaque in Monument Park, where the retired numbers of the Yankee greats
reside. The wording on the plaque reads, "For half a century he has welcomed generations of fans with his trademark greeting, 'Ladies
and gentlemen, welcome to Yankee Stadium.' His clear, concise and correct vocal style has announced the names of hudreds of players -
both unfamiliar and legendary - with equal devine severance, making him as synonymous with Yankee Stadium as its copper facade and
momument park."

As Sheppard's deep bartinone voice reverberates off the walls at Yankee Stadium, you can hear it echo down through the years. "Now
batting for the Yankees, shortstop No. 2 Derek Jeter, Jeter, Jeter. ..."

Of the many people who have tried to immitate Sheppard's voice perhaps ESPN announcer Jon Miller does the best impersonation. Miller
imagines Sheppard in a diner giving a waitress his breakfast order from a menu: "Good morning, I'll have the scrambled eggs, No. 2."

There is no talk of Sheppard retiring and you wonder if he can last until 2009, when the new Yankee Stadium opens. When the golden voice
finally is silenced, Yankee Stadium just might crumble to the ground.