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Yankee PA Announcer Bob Sheppard Dies at age 99

We lost a baseball legend today. Bob Sheppard, the New York Yankee PA announcer for 57 years, passed away on Sunday at the age of 99. Sheppard, who started out as a speech teacher at St. John's University, was nothing like today's PA announcers who seem as if they are all trying to scream louder than the other. I was watching the Mets play the Nationals a few weekends ago and the PA announcer made me want to watch the game on mute. Bob Sheppard routinely said that a public address announcer should be clear, concise, and correct...not colorful, cute, or comic. Over the last few days I have heard players from the past and present recall the first time they heard Bob Sheppard announce their name at Yankee stadium. Ron Darling actually admitted to stopping his warmup session in the bullpen so that he could hear Sheppard announce his name. Derek Jeter was so fond of how Sheppard announced his name, he requested that a recording of Sheppard be used every time he comes to bat. Now I hate the Yankees more than anything or anyone and I have to say, that listening to Bob Sheppard gives me chills. I would love to be walking up to the plate and hear Bob Sheppard announce me name.  He is a legend and will never be forgotten by baseball fans.  Check out this link for a tribute to Bob Sheppard.