Bob Sheppard Might Retire; His Style Lives On

Bob Sheppard, the public-address announcer at Yankee Stadium from 1951 through 2007, may never make it behind the microphone at the new Yankee Stadium.

The New York Times reported that Sheppard has decided to retire. Then Sheppard denied it.

[Friend and agent Paul] Doherty said that Sheppard's son, Paul, told him about Sheppard's plans on Wednesday morning.

"I think Bob just wants to take it easy and no longer have the pressure of, 'Can he? Will he? Or won't he?'" Doherty said in an e-mail message. "And, at 98, who can blame him?"

Sheppard, when asked to confirm that he was officially retiring, said, "I never said it."

Sheppard has been slowed by a bronchial infection. When asked what his plans were, he said: "I never said I'm not returning. I never, never said I'm not returning and I say it to you now."

Yesterday, the Yankees announced that Sheppard would not work this week's exhibition games or the regular season opener.

Meanwhile, Bloomberg reports, the Yankees have asked replacement Paul Olden to emulate Sheppard's dry, carefully enunciated style.

"The Yankees have asked me to do certain things in the Bob Sheppard style, especially the lineups," said Paul Olden, who is temporarily filling in for Sheppard. "It will be the way things are done from here on, whether I'm doing them, or Bob's doing them, or anybody else."

... "I know the fans would rather hear Bob Sheppard," Olden said. "I would too."

Sheppard was born before the original Yankee Stadium was built, and he outlasted it. He recorded a message for the final game at the old Yankee Stadium, and I bet the Yankees will get him to tape something for the first game at the new park.