Voice of God to miss first playoff game in 57 years

[Fenway]

Get Well Bob Sheppard

http://weblogs.newsday.com/sports/baseball/yankees/blog/sheppard-thumb.jpg
CLEVELAND - Yankee Stadium will host playoff baseball for the 13th consecutive year when the Yankees and Indians play Game3 tomorrow, but there will be a big void at The House That Ruth Built.

That's because longtime public address announcer Bob Sheppard will not be in attendance at the game, the first time in his 57 years with the Yankees that he will miss a postseason game.

Sheppard missed the final home stand of the season with a case of laryngitis. The Yankees said yesterday that the 96-year-old is battling a bronchial infection, and that Jim Hall, Sheppard's longtime backup, would fill in for him.

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/yankees/2007/10/06/2007-10-06_bob_sheppard_to_miss_first_playoff_game_-2.html (http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/yankees/2007/10/06/2007-10-06_bob_sheppard_to_miss_first_playoff_game_-2.html)

[getonbckthr]

I know this sounds crazy but when he stops doing the job I think the glitz and glamour of the Yankees will be affected. That voice is etched in the memory of baseball fans every where.

[ChiSoxFan35]

Have you heard his replacement? He sounds exactly the same. It's almost creepy. But yes, I already tie Honda's voice to our game, this is like 10x that

[Fenway]

I know this sounds crazy but when he stops doing the job I think the glitz and glamour of the Yankees will be affected. That voice is etched in the memory of baseball fans every where.

I can not even fathom going to the Stadium and not hearing him

Yankee Starting Line-Up 8/1/07 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J9IWNFyac48)

Bob Sheppard (aka the voice of God) announces the Yankee starting lineup against the Chicago White Sox...Yankee Sheppard starting lineup

Funny story about Bob. Back in the 80's long time Fenway PA announcer Sherm Feller invited Bob to Fenway and during a game with Anaheim he took the mike.

The first batter was Reggie Jackson and Jackson said after the game he thought he was having an acid flashback when he heard the voice at Fenway :tongue:

The Red Sox still use a tape of Sherm every game
"Welcome" (http://www.shermfeller.com/WELCOME.WAV)