The Yankees like to say they're taking the ghosts from the old Yankee Stadium across the street to the new one.But Bob Sheppard won't be making the trip. Not yet anyway.
The Yankees said Tuesday that because of illness, Sheppard, the long-time public-address announcer at Yankee Stadium, will not be on hand for the two exhibition games this week against the Chicago Cubs or the April 16 regular season opener.
Sheppard first took the Yankee Stadium microphone on April 17, 1951 -- when he announced a Yankees lineup that included Phil Rizzuto, Mickey Mantle, Joe DiMaggio, Yogi Berra and Jerry Coleman. But Sheppard, believed to be in his 90s, has not worked since September 2007 (although Derek Jeter had Sheppard record a Jeter introduction, and it was played for Jeter every time he batted last year).
For the Yankees' workout day on April 2 and their exhibition games vs. the Chicago Cubs on April 3-4, Paul Olden will substitute for Mr. Sheppard in the public address booth at Yankee Stadium while he continues to recover at his home on Long Island. A 12-time Super Bowl public address announcer, Olden's broadcasting career spanned 17 years, including two seasons in the Yankees' television broadcast booth from 1995-96, alongside Bobby Murcer and Phil Rizzuto.Sheppard's distinctive voice and en-nun-ci-a-tion will be missed. It was as much a part of Yankee Stadium as Monument Park or the close right-field corner. Here's hoping he gets his wish to grab the mike for at least one game in the new stadium.
"I will not be able to be at Yankee Stadium for the series with the Cubs or Opening Day," Sheppard said. "My personal physician advised me to wait until I am ready. It is in the hands of God. I am looking forward to doing games in the new Stadium."
