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Wednesday, 08 September 2010 19:13 |
By Steven A. Grieco
“Ladies and gentlemen – welcome to Heaven”
It was a closing quote by Paul Sheppard, as he eulogized his dad during a heartwarming tribute to the longtime member of the Yankees’ family who passed away in July just months short of his 100th birthday.
Robert Leo Sheppard, named the “Voice of God” by former Yankees’ great Reggie Jackson, served as the Yankees public address announcer for over a half century before retiring in September of 2007.
Sheppard began his illustrious career behind the microphone at Yankee Stadium in 1951. It was a year when he had the privilege to announce two of his favorite baseball names of all time – Joe DiMaggio and Mickey Mantle. Ironically, it was Joe’s brother Dominic DiMaggio of the Boston Red Sox who was Sheppard’s first ever big league introduction.
Sheppard announced more than 4,500 Yankees baseball games, 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 a half-century of Giants football games, 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.
His passing was felt deeply by the ball club’s management as well as by former and present players alike. Sheppard exhibited grace and humility both on the job and away from the Bronx ballpark. From sports notables to the everyday fan on the street, he was the true gentleman of gentlemen.
“He came to the stadium for 57 years, each day focused on two things – doing the job to the best of his ability and treating everyone from George Steinbrenner to the press box attendant with warmth and kindness,” said Yankees GM Brian Cashman.
At Sheppard’s funeral service at St. Christopher’s Church in Baldwin, friends and family remembered not only his legacy as a public address announcer, but the impact he had on so many people in various walks of life.
“Imagine if Bob never taught at John Adams High School, never gave lessons or lectured at St. John’s, if he never announced games for the Yankees and Giants and of course St. John’s – how much poorer we would be,” said Hall of Fame coach Lou Carnesecca.
“I wish I could have been one of his students,” added Carnesecca as he eulogized the Yankee legend. “I am sure my words today would be much softer and kinder.”
For a man who greeted you with that soft and kind voice, it was that “Voice of God” which echoed throughout the famed stadium that will remain in the memories of both players and fans alike.
Players throughout the years agreed that hearing your name that very first time at Yankee Stadium made you feel like you finally made it to the big leagues. “You’re not in the big leagues until Bob Sheppard announces your name,” said Hall of Fame outfielder Carl Yastrzemski.
“Like so many NY kids I imagined and mimicked Bob Sheppard announcing my name in my backyard. It was even cooler when it really happened,” said former Yankee pitcher C.J. Nitkowski.
Another former Boston Red Sox player once remarked to Sheppard, saying, “You give me the same introduction like you would Ted Williams.” Sheppard responded by explaining that everyone got the same. He explained that Mickey Mantle got the same introduction as did a new rookie before his first at-bat. Everyone was treated equal.
Sheppard never changed his pattern of announcing. No matter whether the hitter was a homerun slugger or a singles hitter they got the same introduction. He felt a man’s name was his personal treasure and deserved the same respect.
Although Sheppard’s style behind the microphone was one of simplicity, it’s hard to imagine he never received a single lesson in public address speaking. “Always follow the three C’s rule,” Sheppard once said. “Be Clear, Be Concise and Be Correct.” It was a code he lived by, both in and out of the booth.
Over the years, that code was the hallmark of Sheppard. On the rare occasional when Sheppard was not the voice behind the microphone at the stadium, the Yankees called on Sheppard’s friend and collegue Jim Hall.
“I first subbed for Bob back in the late 1960’s,” said Hall. “I never did many Yankee games only because the man [Sheppard] was never indisposed. I filled in for Bob whenever a New York Giants football game was scheduled on the same day as a Yankees game.
Sheppard’s love for teaching was quiet apparent to Hall as he was always mentoring his infrequent back-up.
“I would go to the [Yankee] stadium frequently with Bob and sit in his booth and listen to him and he would give me pointers on what he expected and how to do things,” said Hall.
Hall also remembered how Sheppard was also a teacher away from the microphone. “Not only did I learn from Bob the right way to do public address announcing, but I also learned a lot about being a human being. He was a tremendous inspiration as a person – not just a teacher and a PA announcer. You never stopped being amazed by how kind and gentle and gentlemanly he really was.”
That gentlemanly manor was never overseen by his employer, the New York Yankees.
“The first thing I think of about Bob is dignity,” said Yankees GM Brian Cashman. “He had no ego, no ulterior motives or hidden agenda.
Sheppard’s approach to his job was one of respect and professionalism. His illustrious career was never once criticized by anyone within the New York Yankees organization nor was he ever criticized by a single member of the press. The late Yankees owner George Steinbrenner labeled Sheppard as “the gold standard.”
Throughout Sheppard’s career there were many memorable events he was both proud and excited to be a part of. However, the most memorable event etched in his mind over the years was Don Larsen’s perfect game during the 1957 World Series against the Dodgers.
“It was my number one memory in over 50 years of announcing at Yankee Stadium,” Sheppard once said in an interview. “The tension grew from the 5th inning on. The people in the grandstands became aware that Larsen was pitching a perfect game. As the innings went on, the tension grew even more. Then I had to introduce a pinch hitter Dale Mitchell with two out in the 9th inning and when I announced him I thought, okay, here goes the perfect game. But with two strikes on him, Larsen threw a fastball passed him and the umpire called it strike three. End of game, end of tension and 70,000 fans went ahh. What a relief for all of us at the end of that day.”
Another special memory for Sheppard was when he was approached by a member of the Yankees organization to get his approval in using a taped introduction of Derek Jeter for future games once the public address icon was retired.
“I was honored and by that request.” Sheppard once quoted. “It was one of the greatest compliments I had ever received in my career of announcing. It’s a memory that will carry on until he [Jeter] retires. If it makes him feel comfortable - then good for him.”
“It was an idea I had a number of years ago. I grew up a Yankees fan and it was the voice I always heard,” said All-Star Derek Jeter. “There were a few times when he wasn’t there and it just didn’t sound right so I had the idea to record his voice and always use it when I come up to bat,” added Jeter. “His voice will introduce me as long as I wear the Yankee pinstripes.”
On many other occasions, Sheppard was approached by autograph seekers. Although a humble man, he could never fathom why anyone would cherish the autograph of a public address announcer.
“Visiting players sometimes ask clubhouse attendants to go to home clubhouse to get autographs,” said Nitkowski. “His was the only one I ever asked for in NY.”
Sheppard will always be remembered as part of the great Yankee tradition. Over the years, he was part of the character in the House That Ruth Built with his clear and majestic voice which rang throughout Yankee Stadium.
A lover of baseball, football and basketball, Sheppard always felt the New York Yankees have a special place in his heart. “Being with them for so long, I felt I was part of the Yankee tradition – and wanted to be,” Sheppard once said in an interview.
Sheppard was not only a devoted husband and father, but a religious man with strong values. He was a teacher. He was a man with a warm and caring personality, who made you feel comfortable even if he didn’t know you. He was a wonderful human being.
“We use the term “role model” on a lot of people very loosely, but he was the perfect role model for a man,” said Hall.
Thank you Bob Sheppard.
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