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NEW YORK - JULY 16: The plaque of long time Yankee Stadium public address announcer Bob Sheppard is seen in Monument Park prior to the game against the Tampa Bay Rays on July 16, 2010 in the Bronx borough of New York City. Sheppard passed away at the age of 99 on July 11 2010. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

On this day in Yankees history – Bob Sheppard passes at 99

It has been eight years since Bob Sheppard passed away at the age of 99. The Voice of God, a nickname bestowed upon him by Reggie Jackson, greeted fans, read the lineups and announced players coming to bat in over 4,500 games during his 56 years behind the microphone in the Bronx.

Sheppard first worked as a public address announcer for St. John’s football and basketball games after World War II. In the late 1940’s, he became the announcer for the Brooklyn Dodgers of the All-America Football Conference at historic Ebbets Field. The Yankees became interested in him in 1948 when a front office official heard him deliver a tribute to Babe Ruth at a Dodgers football game. He was offered the Yanks announcing job, but did not accept it until three years later. He debuted on April 17, 1951 in the Yankees’ 5-0 home opener win over the Red Sox.

His first year at the mic was the only one in which Joe DiMaggio and Mickey Mantle were both in the outfield. His first game featured eight future Hall of Famers: DiMaggio, Mantle, Johnny Mize, Yogi Berra, Phil RizzutoTed Williams, Bobby Doerr, and Lou Boudreau. The first player he ever introduced was the Yankee Clipper’s brother, Dominic DiMaggio.

May 7, 2000, his 50th year at the mic, was Bob Sheppard Day at the stadium and he received a plaque in Monument Park. It 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 hundreds of players – both unfamiliar and legendary – with equal divine reverence, making him as synonymous with Yankee Stadium as its copper facade and monument park.

At 95 years old, health issues began to take their toll. In 2006, he missed his first Yankees’ home opener since 1951 after injuring his hip, but was back in time for the next home stand. He called his final game, a 10–2 win over Seattle, on September 5, 2007. The following week he was hospitalized with a bronchial infection, forcing him to miss the final home stand and the AL Division Series against Cleveland. This ended his streak of 121 consecutive postseason games at Yankee Stadium.

Two weeks after his 99th birthday in 2009, the day after the Yankees defeated Philadelphia to win their 27th World Series, Sheppard officially announced his retirement as the Yankees’ public address announcer.

“I have no plans of coming back. 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.”

On July 11, 2010, three months and nine days shy of his 100th birthday, he passed away in Baldwin, New York. The Yanks first home game after his death, on July 16, 2010, was played with an empty PA booth and no public address announcements. The team wore a commemorative patch on the left sleeve of their jerseys for the remainder of that season.

“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!’” – Bob’s son, Paul Sheppard