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Robert Leo Sheppard (October 20, 1910 – July 11, 2010) was the long-time public address announcer for numerous New York area college and professional sports teams, in particular the New York Yankees of Major League Baseball (1951–2007), and the New York Giants of the National Football League (1956–2006).

Key Information

Sheppard announced more than 4,500 Yankees baseball games over a period of 56 years, including 22 pennant-winning seasons and 13 World Series championships; he called 121 consecutive postseason contests, 62 games in 22 World Series, and six no-hitters, including three perfect games. He was also the in-house voice for New York Giants football games for more than a half-century, encompassing nine conference championships, three NFL championships (1956, 1986, 1990), and the game often called "the greatest ever played", the classic 1958 championship loss to Baltimore.[1]

Sheppard's smooth, distinctive baritone and precise, consistent elocution became iconic aural symbols of both the old Yankee Stadium and Giants Stadium. Reggie Jackson famously nicknamed him "The Voice of God",[2] and Carl Yastrzemski once said, "You're not in the big leagues until Bob Sheppard announces your name."[3]

Early life

[edit]

Sheppard was secretive about his age throughout his life, but according to New York voter records he was born October 20, 1910,[4] in Richmond Hill, Queens, New York City. He graduated from St. John's Preparatory School in 1928 (at that time in Brooklyn, NY, currently in Astoria, Queens) and attended St. John's University on an athletic scholarship, where he earned seven varsity letters from 1928 to 1932; three in baseball as the starting first baseman, and four in football as the left-handed starting quarterback. He was also elected president of his senior class.[5]

Teacher

[edit]

Sheppard began his career playing semiprofessional football on Long Island with the Valley Stream Red Riders and the Hempstead Monitors, earning $25 a game,[6] and teaching speech at Grover Cleveland High School in Ridgewood, Queens, New York.[7] During World War II he served in the Navy as a gunnery officer aboard cargo ships, both in convoys and on independent missions in the Pacific Theater.[8] After the War, he became Chairman of the Speech Department at John Adams High School in Queens, and taught evening courses in public speaking at his alma mater, St. John's University. He also served as speech and debate coach for Sacred Heart Academy's Forensic Team in Hempstead, New York.[9] His multiple teaching jobs overlapped more than 25 years into his announcing career, and he always maintained that his academic work was far more important than his accomplishments as an announcer. "My sports activity", he said,"...cut down on what I really contributed to society, and that's teaching...when I hear from former students and they say I helped them achieve their goals, I feel I have contributed to society more than all I have done in sports."[7] As an announcer, he said, "All I have to recommend is longevity."[10]

Announcer

[edit]

After World War II, Sheppard was hired as the public address announcer for St. John's football and basketball games, a job he kept well into the 1990s. In the late 1940s, he became the announcer for the Brooklyn Dodgers of the All-America Football Conference at Ebbets Field. He came to the attention of the Yankees when a front-office official heard him deliver a tribute to Babe Ruth at a Dodgers football game in 1948. He was offered the Yankees announcing job, but did not accept it until three years later when the Yankees agreed to hire an understudy, so that his duties with the team would not interfere with his teaching responsibilities.[10]

Sheppard's first year as the Yankees' announcer was the only one in which Joe DiMaggio and Mickey Mantle shared the outfield. His first game featured eight future Hall of Famers: DiMaggio, Mantle, Johnny Mize, Yogi Berra, and Phil Rizzuto for the Yankees, and Ted Williams, Bobby Doerr, and Lou Boudreau for the Red Sox. The first player he introduced was the Yankee Clipper's brother, Dominic DiMaggio. His 1951 salary was $15 per game (equivalent to $182 in 2024), $17 for a doubleheader (equivalent to $206 in 2024).[11]

"A public-address announcer should be clear, concise, correct. He should not be colorful, cute or comic."

—Bob Sheppard[12]

Sheppard's distinctive announcing style became an integral component of the Yankee Stadium experience. For more than half a century each game began with his trademark cadence – "Good afternoon (evening)...ladies and gentlemen...and welcome...to Yankee Stadium" – his words reverberating around the massive structure. Each in-game announcement began: "Your attention please, ladies and gentlemen." He introduced every player, Yankee or visitor (as described on his Monument Park plaque), "with equal divine reverence." He communicated the players' position, uniform number, name, and repeated the number, during his first at-bat ("Now batting for the Yankees, the first baseman, number 23, Don Mattingly, number 23"), while announcing the players' position and name during each succeeding at-bat ("The first baseman, Don Mattingly").[13] He eschewed flamboyant nicknames; Dennis Boyd was never introduced as "Oil Can", nor Jim Hunter as "Catfish."[14] He once listed (in order) his favorite names to announce: Mickey Mantle, Shigetoshi Hasegawa, Salomé Barojas, José Valdivielso and Álvaro Espinoza; and he expressed his special affection for the natural resonance of many Latino players' names. "Anglo-Saxon names are not very euphonious", he said. "What can I do with Steve Sax? What can I do with Mickey Klutts?" But Mickey Mantle remained his favorite; Sheppard said Mantle once told him, "'Every time Bob Sheppard introduced me at Yankee Stadium, I got shivers up my spine.' And I said to him, 'So did I.'"[10]

Sheppard took great pride in pronouncing every name correctly, and made certain to check directly with a visiting player if he had any doubt on the correct or preferred pronunciation. He admitted that early in his career, whenever the Senators were in town he particularly feared tripping over Wayne Terwilliger's name. "I worried that I would say 'Ter-wigg-ler'", he recalled, "but I never did."[15] He did stumble on at least one rookie's name: Jorge Posada was called up from Columbus late in the 1995 season, and made his first appearance as a Yankee in Game 2 of the 1995 American League Division Series against the Seattle Mariners, as a pinch runner for Wade Boggs.[16] Sheppard, who had not yet met Posada, announced the substitution, Posada's major league debut, in extra innings of one of the greatest games in Division Series history, with an "o" at the end of his last name. Posada's friend Derek Jeter noticed immediately, with amusement, and has called him "Sado" ever since.[1]

Sheppard made another rare professional error in October 1976 at the Giants' first home game in New Jersey at Giants Stadium against the Dallas Cowboys, which he commenced with the startling announcement, "Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Yankee Stadium."[15] His other famous faux pas occurred in 1982 at Yankee Stadium, when he inadvertently left his microphone on as Shane Rawley gave up a double on his first pitch in relief, instantly turning a 3–2 lead into a 4–3 deficit. Over the stadium speakers came Sheppard's familiar voice: "Boy, what relief pitching!" Sheppard, ever the gentleman, went to the locker room after the game and apologized to Rawley.[14]

Throughout his career, Sheppard famously refused to reveal his age, once abruptly ending an interview when Jim Bouton asked the question a second time.[17] He readily disclosed his birth month and day, October 20 (possibly because he shared it with Mickey Mantle[18]), but never publicly acknowledged the year. For years, there was conjecture that his compulsive secretiveness stemmed from a fear that Yankees owner George Steinbrenner would think him too old and replace him, but Sheppard denied it. "[Steinbrenner] never questioned how old I was", he said. "He knew I was there every day for 57 years or so."[19] In fact, it has been said that Sheppard may have been the only Yankees employee never criticized by Steinbrenner, who called him "the gold standard."[20]

Over the years, Sheppard also served as announcer for multiple other teams and venues, among them Adelphi College (predecessor of Adelphi University); the New York Titans of the American Football League, and the International Soccer League, both at the Polo Grounds; the WFL New York Stars at Downing Stadium on Randall's Island; the All-America Football Conference's New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium; the NASL New York Cosmos at Yankee Stadium, Downing Stadium, and Giants Stadium; Army Black Knights football games at Michie Stadium and Giants Stadium; and multiple Army-Navy games at the Polo Grounds, Giants Stadium, and Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia.[21] "You name it, I did it", he said.[7][9] In later years, the many baseball honors bestowed on him overshadowed his work in other sports. Phil Rizzuto once asked him to name the greatest Yankee Stadium game he had ever announced, probably expecting to hear a good baseball story. "The day Pat Summerall kicked the field goal in the snow in 1958", Sheppard replied, referring to the legendary December 14 Giants victory over Cleveland.[22]

Retirement

[edit]

Sheppard retired from his position with the Giants, a 50-year handshake agreement with Giants owner Wellington Mara, at the end of the 2005 season, when the commute from his home on Long Island to East Rutherford, New Jersey became too strenuous.[23] His final game was the Giants' playoff loss to the Carolina Panthers on January 8, 2006. He was succeeded by his long-time understudy, former debate student, and colleague in the Speech Department at St. John's University, Jim Hall.[9]

Sheppard's microphone in the Baseball Hall of Fame

At age 95, health issues began to take their toll: In 2006, Sheppard missed his first Yankees home opener since 1951 after injuring his hip. He was back in time for the next homestand, but it marked the beginning of a slow but inexorable deterioration of his health over the next two seasons. He called what turned out to be his final game, a 10–2 win over Seattle, on September 5, 2007. The last player he introduced was the Mariners' Ben Broussard, who made the final out of the game.[24] The following week, he was hospitalized with a bronchial infection, forcing him to miss the final homestand and the AL Division Series against Cleveland, thus ending his streak of 121 consecutive postseason games at Yankee Stadium.[25] Although he signed a new two-year contract with the Yankees in March 2008,[15] and he particularly looked forward to announcing the 2008 All-Star Game, which was played at Yankee Stadium, he missed the entire 2008 season.[26][27] He also reluctantly admitted that he lacked sufficient strength to call the final game at the original ballpark on September 21, 2008. "I don't have my best stuff", he said. Sheppard's recorded voice did announce the starting lineups for that final game, a 7–3 victory over the Baltimore Orioles.[28][29] Jim Hall replaced him for the 2008 season, and Paul Olden took over when the Yankees moved to the new ballpark in 2009.[20]

Two weeks after his 99th birthday in 2009, the day after the Yankees defeated Philadelphia to win their 27th World Series,[30] Sheppard officially announced his retirement as the Yankees' public address announcer. "I have no plans of coming back", he told MLB.com. "Time has passed me by, I think. I had a good run for it. I enjoyed doing what I did. I don't think, at my age, I'm going to suddenly regain the stamina that is really needed if you do the job and do it well."[31]

Death

[edit]

Sheppard died at his home in Baldwin, New York, on July 11, 2010, three months and nine days shy of his 100th birthday, and two days before the death of owner George Steinbrenner.[32] In announcing his father's death, Sheppard's son Paul said, "I know St. Peter will now recruit him. If you're lucky enough to go to Heaven, you'll be greeted by a voice saying, 'Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to Heaven!'"[15]

Legacy

[edit]
Sheppard's plaque at Monument Park

In 2000, during his 50th year with the Yankees, Sheppard donated the microphone he used for a half-century of Yankee Stadium announcements to the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York.[7] May 7 of that 50th year was designated "Bob Sheppard Day", and a plaque honoring him was unveiled in Yankee Stadium's Monument Park. At the pre-game ceremony Walter Cronkite read the inscription, which states in part that his voice was "...as synonymous with Yankee Stadium as its copper facade and Monument Park."[15] The media dining room in the new stadium is named "Sheppard's Place".[6]

The Yankees' first home game after Sheppard's death, a 5–4 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays on July 16, 2010, was played with an empty public address booth and no announcements.[33] The Yankees wore a Bob Sheppard commemorative patch on the left sleeve of their home and road jerseys for the remainder of the 2010 season.[34]

The United States House of Representatives passed a resolution "commending Bob Sheppard for his long and respected career" by voice vote on November 16, 2010. It was introduced by Carolyn McCarthy from New York's 4th congressional district, where Sheppard lived for 70 years.[35][36]

In 2008, Derek Jeter asked Sheppard to record his at-bat introductions.[37] The recordings were used to introduce Jeter's home at-bats from the beginning of the 2008 season until his final game at Yankee Stadium on September 25, 2014.[38] Sheppard was flattered: "It has been one of the greatest compliments I have received in my career of announcing. The fact that he wanted my voice every time he came to bat is a credit to his good judgment and my humility."[19] Sheppard's recorded voice also introduced Jeter at the 2010 All-Star Game in Anaheim two days after Sheppard's death.[39][40] Sheppard voices the introduction to The Baseball Experience at the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown.[17]

On September 26, 2013, a recording of Sheppard's introduction, followed by Metallica's "Enter Sandman", were played as Mariano Rivera stepped to the mound at Yankee Stadium for the final time.[41]

Awards

[edit]

Sheppard was elected to the St. John's University Sports Hall of Fame, the Long Island Sports Hall of Fame, and the New York Sports Hall of Fame. He was awarded honorary doctorates from St. John's University (Pedagogy) and Fordham University (Rhetoric), and in 2007, received St. John's' Medal of Honor, the highest award that the university can confer on a graduate.[6]

St. John's University annually awards the Sheppard Trophy, one of its highest awards, to the most outstanding student-athlete.[9] The National Association of Sports Public Address Announcers presents the Bob Sheppard P.A. Announcer of the Year Award annually.[42]

In 1998, Sheppard was presented with the prestigious William J. Slocum "Long and Meritorious Service" Award by the Baseball Writers' Association of America, and the "Pride of the Yankees" award by the Yankees organization.[6]

In 2010, Sheppard was one of only two people ever awarded both a World Series ring and a Super Bowl ring. The other was Bill King, the long-time radio play-by-play voice of the Oakland Raiders and Oakland Athletics, and another man famously secretive about his age.[8]

Personal life

[edit]

Sheppard was married twice. He had two sons, Paul and Chris, and two daughters, Barbara and Mary, four grandchildren and (as of 2008) nine great-grandchildren. His first wife, Margaret, the mother of all four of his children, died in 1959. He and his second wife, Mary, were married from 1961 until his death.[15][43]

Sheppard was deeply religious, "...as strong in his Roman Catholic faith as anybody I knew", wrote his longtime friend, George Vecsey. "[In old age] he hated to admit he could no longer serve as a lector. His faith never wavered in the trying days. His daughter [Mary] is a nun. He referred to [his wife] Mary as 'my archangel,' meaning she saved his life, day by day."[18]

References

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Bob Sheppard

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Bob Sheppard (October 20, 1910 – July 11, 2010) was an American public address announcer best known as the "Voice of God" for the New York Yankees, where his resonant, precise elocution introduced players at Yankee Stadium for over half a century. Born in Richmond Hill, Queens, New York, Sheppard combined a career in speech education with announcing roles across major sports, including the NFL's New York Giants, while announcing more than 4,500 Yankees games, 22 American League pennants, and 13 World Series championships. His formal, understated style—emphasizing clarity, conciseness, and correctness—personified the grandeur of Yankee Stadium and influenced generations of announcers. Sheppard began his announcing career after serving as a Navy officer in and teaching speech at high schools, where he chaired the speech department at High . He earned a bachelor's degree in English and speech from St. John's University and a master's in speech education from in 1933, later serving as an adjunct professor at St. John's into the 1990s. Hired by the Yankees on April 17, 1951—the opening day featuring Joe DiMaggio's final game—Sheppard debuted by announcing Dom DiMaggio of the opposing Boston Red Sox, quickly establishing his signature cadence that treated players' names with "divine reverence." His tenure spanned eras from the likes of DiMaggio and Mickey Mantle to Derek Jeter, whom he personally introduced in recordings used even after Sheppard's retirement. Beyond , Sheppard served as the public address voice for the football team from 1956 to 2005, including their years at , and announced for the New York Cosmos soccer team in the North American Soccer League as well as games like Grambling State versus Morgan State. He retired from live announcing after his final Yankees game on September 5, 2007, due to health issues including a bronchial infection, though pre-recorded announcements of his voice were used for Jeter's at-bats until the player's retirement in 2014. Sheppard died at age 99 in Baldwin, New York, survived by his second wife, Mary, two sons, two daughters, and four grandchildren; his first wife, Margaret, had died in 1959. Sheppard's legacy endures through a plaque in Yankee Stadium's Monument Park, dedicated on May 7, 2000—proclaimed "Bob Sheppard Day" by —honoring his contributions to the franchise. He donated his Yankees microphone to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2000, and his influence is cited by players like Jeter, who called him "as much a part of this organization as any player." Known for shunning the cheerleader role in favor of journalistic reporting—"A P.A. announcer is not a cheerleader… He’s a reporter"—Sheppard's voice remains synonymous with the ' storied history.

Early life and education

Birth and family background

Robert Leo Sheppard was born on October 20, 1910, in the Richmond Hill neighborhood of , . He was the youngest of three sons to parents Charles Sheppard and Eileen Sheppard, with his older brothers being Charles Jr., who worked as a , and John, employed at a . The family resided in a modest 1,314-square-foot attached house at 107-05 110th Street in South Richmond Hill, reflecting their working-class circumstances in a burgeoning urban community. Sheppard's upbringing emphasized intellectual and cultural pursuits, as his parents shared a deep appreciation for poetry and music, fostering in him an early affinity for eloquent expression and precise diction. Raised in a devout Catholic household amid the tight-knit, immigrant-influenced neighborhoods of early 20th-century , he was shaped by the era's community values and religious traditions that valued discipline and learning. This environment laid the groundwork for his lifelong commitment to , prompting his early immersion in books and local schooling.

Academic and athletic pursuits

Sheppard graduated from St. John's Preparatory School in in 1928, where he excelled academically and was elected president of his senior class. His strong performance in studies and leadership role at the school reflected the value his immigrant parents placed on education as a path to opportunity. From 1928 to 1932, Sheppard attended St. John's University in on a full , earning a in English and speech. His coursework in English and speech provided foundational skills for his future teaching career. As a student leader, he also demonstrated organizational prowess through involvement in campus initiatives. In 1933, he earned a in speech education from . Athletically, Sheppard was a standout at St. John's University, earning seven varsity letters—three in as a left-handed and four in football as a . These accomplishments not only secured his but also built his discipline and teamwork, qualities that later influenced his professional endeavors.

Teaching career

High school teaching roles

Following his graduation from St. John's University in 1932 with a in English and a from in 1933, Bob Sheppard began his teaching career as a speech instructor at Grover Cleveland High School in , where he worked for approximately four years in the mid-1930s. After returning from , Sheppard joined the faculty at John Adams High School in Ozone Park, Queens, where he taught speech and eventually served as chairman of the department for more than 25 years, contributing to the development of skills among students through structured curricula focused on clarity and articulation. In addition to his roles in the public school system, Sheppard coached speech and debate teams, including at Sacred Heart Academy in , where he emphasized techniques in , precise pronunciation, and effective to prepare students for competitive forensics. Sheppard regarded as his primary profession, stating that it had a greater societal impact than his announcing work, and he continued in high school education for over 30 years before retiring in the 1970s.

World War II military service

In 1942, Bob Sheppard enlisted in the U.S. Navy following the ' entry into , interrupting his early career as a speech in high schools. He underwent training and was commissioned as a gunnery officer, a role that involved overseeing operations and crew coordination aboard ships. Sheppard served primarily on cargo ships, ensuring the safe transport of supplies through hazardous waters amid threats and enemy engagements. His naval duties took him to multiple theaters of operation, including convoy missions in the Caribbean as part of the Atlantic efforts and independent voyages in the Pacific Theater, particularly the South Pacific region, where he contributed to logistical support for Allied forces until the war's end in 1945. During his service, Sheppard rose to the rank of , demonstrating in high-stakes environments that demanded clear command and precise instruction to maintain . Following Japan's surrender in September 1945, Sheppard was honorably discharged and resumed his teaching career at John Adams High School in Ozone Park, Queens, where he taught speech and chaired the department for more than 25 years. This return to education underscored his pre-war dedication to the field, solidifying his path as an educator and orator rather than pursuing other opportunities shaped by his military experience.

Announcing career

Early announcing positions

Following his return from in 1947, Bob Sheppard leveraged his expertise as a speech educator to embark on a side career in public address announcing, initially volunteering his services for local events while maintaining his full-time teaching role at John Adams High School in . His background in teaching , enunciation, and vocal projection provided a strong foundation for this new pursuit, allowing him to apply classroom techniques to live audience engagement. Sheppard began announcing St. John's University football and games that same year, starting with an football match at the school's campus in 1947; he continued in this role through at least the 1947-1948 season, earning the nickname "Voice of the Redmen" for his clear and resonant delivery during games at Alumni Hall and other venues. Known for his precise pronunciation and measured pace—skills honed in his professorial duties at St. John's, where he also taught speech—this position marked his entry into collegiate sports broadcasting and helped build his reputation in New York-area athletics. He later announced for other teams, including the New York Cosmos of the North American Soccer League from 1977 to 1984 and games such as Grambling State versus Morgan State. In 1948, Sheppard took on a part-time announcing role with the Brooklyn Dodgers football team of the at , where he handled public address duties for home games while balancing his teaching commitments; the team folded after just one season, limiting the stint to that year. During this period, Yankee officials first took notice of his professional style after hearing him deliver a tribute to at a Dodgers game, though he was unable to commit to a full baseball schedule due to his primary career in education.

New York Yankees tenure

Bob Sheppard was hired as the public address announcer for the New York Yankees in 1951, beginning a tenure that lasted until 2007. His initial salary was $15 per game, equivalent to approximately $182 in 2024 dollars, with $17 for doubleheaders. This modest compensation reflected his primary commitment to teaching, as he continued his role as a professor of speech at St. John's University into the 1990s and viewed as his true career. Over 56 years, Sheppard announced more than 4,500 Yankees games at , maintaining a consistent presence through the venue's major renovations in the mid-1970s, which temporarily displaced the team to in 1974 and 1975. His debut on April 17, 1951, against the Boston Red Sox featured nine future Hall of Famers across both lineups, including Yankees players , , Yogi Berra, , and , marking an auspicious start to his association with the franchise. He covered 22 pennant-winning seasons and announced 62 games across 20 , including all 13 Yankees championship teams during his era. Sheppard also narrated six no-hitters at , among them three perfect games: Don Larsen's legendary performance, ' 1998 gem, and David Cone's 1999 effort. For the —the Yankees' 27th championship and Sheppard's 13th—he provided pre-recorded player introductions from his home on due to health concerns, allowing his voice to echo in the new for the final time. Throughout his tenure, his salary remained relatively unchanged and low, underscoring his prioritization of teaching over financial gain from announcing.

New York Giants role

In 1956, Bob Sheppard joined the New York Giants as their public address announcer, coinciding with the team's move to Yankee Stadium, where he introduced players and provided game commentary for home contests. He continued in this role for 50 seasons until 2005, transitioning with the Giants to their new home at Giants Stadium in 1976 and maintaining his distinctive, measured delivery throughout. Sheppard's tenure included announcing pivotal moments, such as the against the at , a dramatic victory often hailed as one of the most influential games in professional football history. He adeptly balanced his Giants duties with his Yankees commitments by relying on an for occasional scheduling overlaps, particularly during early-season weekday games, ensuring no conflicts arose while both teams shared until the Giants' relocation. Sheppard announced his final Giants game in 2005 at , stepping away at age 95 due to the physical demands of the long commute from his home and after reaching the milestone of 50 seasons. Throughout his career, he was lauded for the exceptional clarity of his voice, which carried effectively across vast stadium environments, earning praise from Giants co-owner as "the most distinguished and dignified voice in all of ."

Retirement and death

Retirement from professional roles

Sheppard retired from his role as public address announcer for the after the , concluding a 50-year tenure that began in 1956 when the team moved to . This handshake agreement with Giants owner marked the end of his football announcing duties, though he continued with the Yankees at that time. His final live announcement for a Yankees game occurred on September 5, 2007, during a 10-2 victory over the Seattle Mariners at . Health challenges, including a hip injury in 2006 that caused him to miss his first home opener since 1951, prevented him from working the 2007 after a bronchial in late September 2007 led to hospitalization. These issues persisted into 2008, leading Sheppard to miss the entire season as he recovered from ongoing illnesses and regained strength, with his weight dropping significantly before stabilizing. Sheppard officially retired from the Yankees on November 26, 2009, shortly after the team's 27th championship, stating he had no plans to return. Although unable to attend in person due to his health, he contributed remotely by recording player introductions, such as for Derek Jeter's at-bats during the postseason. Throughout his career, announcing remained an secondary to his primary profession as an educator; he retired from high school teaching in the 1970s after serving as chair of the speech department at High School, while continuing as an adjunct professor at St. John's University until the late 1990s.

Final years and passing

Following a injury sustained in a fall at his home in Baldwin, New York, in April 2006, Bob Sheppard's health began to deteriorate, leading to mobility challenges that limited his ability to attend games. The injury caused severe pain and forced him to miss the Yankees' opening home series for the first time in his tenure, though he returned later that season. In late 2007, a bronchial infection resulted in a prolonged hospitalization, significant , and , ending his streak of 121 consecutive postseason games and preventing his return to the booth. These issues culminated in his retirement announcement in November 2009, after which he resided quietly in Baldwin with the support of his wife, Mary, who cared for him amid ongoing health struggles related to advanced age. Sheppard died on July 11, 2010, at his Baldwin home at the age of 99, two days before the passing of Yankees principal owner George Steinbrenner; the death was attributed to complications from age and prior injuries, with no specific cause publicly detailed beyond his frail condition. In response, the Yankees honored Sheppard by wearing a black commemorative patch on the left sleeve of their home and road uniforms for the remainder of the 2010 season, featuring a microphone icon within a baseball diamond and his name. A private funeral service was held on July 15, 2010, at St. Christopher's Church in Baldwin, reflecting Sheppard's preference for a low-profile life away from public attention.

Legacy

Awards and honors

Bob Sheppard received numerous formal recognitions for his contributions to sports announcing and education throughout his career. In 2000, the New York Yankees honored his 50 years of service by unveiling a plaque in Monument Park at , inscribed with the words: "For half a century he has welcomed generations of fans with his trademark greeting 'Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to '." That same year, Sheppard donated the microphone he had used for decades at to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in , where it remains on display as a symbol of his enduring impact on . Sheppard was inducted into several halls of fame celebrating his announcing legacy. He entered the St. John's University Athletic Hall of Fame in 1988, recognizing his achievements as a student-athlete in football and as well as his later professional contributions. He was enshrined in the Sports Hall of Fame, and he was a member of the New York Sports Hall of Fame. In 2007, Sheppard received the St. John's University , the institution's highest award for a graduate, acknowledging his lifelong dedication to , athletics, and public service. He was also awarded honorary doctorates: one in from St. John's University and another in from , reflecting his background as a speech educator and . For his work with the , Sheppard was presented with Super Bowl championship rings following the team's victories in 1987 and 1991, honoring his role as the public address announcer from 1956 to 2005. These institutional tributes underscored Sheppard's pivotal role in enhancing the fan experience across and football.

Cultural and historical impact

Bob Sheppard's resonant and authoritative voice earned him the enduring nickname "The Voice of God," a moniker coined by , who described the announcer's tone as divine and commanding during his time with the New York Yankees. This epithet captured Sheppard's ability to elevate the atmosphere of , making player introductions feel like solemn pronouncements that commanded attention without excess flair. Sheppard's announcing style—characterized by clarity, conciseness, and precision, delivering only the player's position, name, and number without nicknames or embellishments—set a benchmark for public address work. This understated approach, often described as "less is more," influenced generations of sports announcers by prioritizing dignity and accuracy over hype, shaping modern standards in stadium announcements that emphasize reverence for the game. His cadence, with deliberate pauses and repetitions like "number two, , number two," created an iconic rhythm that became synonymous with lore. Following Sheppard's retirement in 2007 and death in 2010, his legacy persisted through posthumous uses of his recordings, most notably at the request of , who had Sheppard's introduction played for every home at-bat until Jeter's 2014 retirement, ensuring the "Voice of God" accompanied the Yankees one last time in his final . Sheppard's voice was also used to introduce Jeter at his 2020 Hall of Fame induction ceremony. These recordings continued to feature in Yankees broadcasts and media tributes, including remembrances marking the 10th anniversary of his passing in 2020, where his voice underscored highlights of historic moments. Historically, Sheppard bridged pivotal eras in Yankees , announcing from Mickey Mantle's debut in through Jeter's tenure, spanning over five decades that included 22 pennant winners and 13 championships. His presence at key games, such as Don Larsen's perfect game in the , amplified the stadium's mythic status, embedding his voice in the cultural fabric of American sports history as a timeless symbol of tradition and excellence.

Personal life

Marriages and family

Bob Sheppard married Margaret Grace on August 22, 1936. The couple had four children: sons Paul and , and daughters Barbara and Mary. Margaret died on July 17, 1959. Following Margaret's death, Sheppard met Mary Hoffman at St. Christopher's Church in Baldwin, New York, in 1960, and they married on July 10, 1961. Mary served as a supportive partner throughout the remainder of Sheppard's life, including during his final years. Mary Sheppard died on August 6, 2022, at age 95. The Sheppard family resided in Baldwin, New York. Sheppard's children pursued varied careers; his son Paul worked as a . By the time of Sheppard's death in 2010, the had expanded to include four grandchildren and at least nine great-grandchildren.

Religious beliefs and values

Bob Sheppard was raised in an Irish Catholic family in , New York, which instilled in him a lifelong devotion to the Roman Catholic . Throughout his life, he remained a devout Catholic, attending daily and receiving communion regularly, a practice he maintained for over 50 years even into old age when his wife assisted him during illness. He credited his with providing the discipline that guided his careers in teaching and announcing, emphasizing preparation, clarity, and reverence in proclamation as extensions of serving God's word. Sheppard actively participated in his church communities, serving as a at St. Christopher's Roman Catholic Church in Baldwin, , where he read Scripture at weekday Masses and collaborated with priests on to ensure effective delivery. Earlier in , his involvement began through Vincentian priests at St. John's Preparatory School, shaping his spiritual foundation. He and his second wife, Mary, whom he met at his parish and married in 1961, deepened their shared faith through programs like Marriage Encounter weekends, where they spoke to couples about spiritual growth. Sheppard affectionately referred to Mary as "my archangel," reflecting his belief that she provided daily spiritual and emotional salvation, aligning with his view of marriage as a divine partnership. His religious beliefs profoundly influenced his personal values, promoting , service, and as sacred vocations in line with Catholic teachings. Sheppard avoided the spotlight of fame, prioritizing family and faith over public acclaim, as noted by friends who described him as unassuming despite his prominence. He exemplified service through volunteer work, such as reading the names of 9/11 victims at a memorial service at his , St. Christopher's. This quiet strength in faith made him, in the words of a longtime associate, "as strong in his Roman Catholic faith as anybody I knew."

References

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  4. https://www.ncregister.com/news/the-bob-sheppard-i-knew
  5. https://redstormsports.com/news/2010/7/12/St_John_s_University_Remembers_Athlete_Alum_Announcer_Bob_Sheppard
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  40. https://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/12/sports/baseball/12shepfriend.html
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