perfect diction Mr. Sheppard and unhurried tone debuted on the Yankees season opener April 17, 1951, and were presented on each match day of opening until April 11, 2006, when he dislocated his artificial hip.
Bronchial infection led to prolonged hospitalization in late 2007 regular season, the Yankees said he had not returned to announce a new game. By the time the voice of Mr. Sheppard was a resonance in the most famous stadium in New York for over half a century, and in more than 4400 games.
"Your attention, ladies and gentlemen, it would require, to ask whether the fans rise to the national anthem or to take note of:" Now batting for the Yankees, the friends, number 2, Derek Jeter, Number 2. " Entries its introduction Jeter plays on request friends and since then, Mr. Sheppard's absence in 2007.
Fans and players listen to the deep voice of Mr. Sheppard. "When you think about Yankee Stadium, he was the first thing that comes to mind," Jeter said in April 2006. "It's not right to play here, if he is not the one who announces. There were no fans of Mr. Sheppard limited the Yankees. "Just to hear your name in the public address gives you a shot of adrenaline," said the ex-acquainted with Mike Piazza, who swatted home run at Yankee Stadium in 2000.
Mr. Sheppard was in New York City high school teacher, when it was hired as a public address announcer for pro football games at Yankee Stadium in the late 1940's. He translated the baseball Yankees after he assured would not interfere in his teaching career.
"The first rule of being a good public address announcer to have a permanent job on the street," he said.
Robert Leo Sheppard, who grew up in New York borough of Queens, has consistently refused to reveal his age, New York voters record listed his date of birth, October 20, 1910.
In addition to the Yankees, Mr. Sheppard public-address announcer of the New York Football Giants from 1956 until his retirement after 2005. He played football and baseball for the University of St. John's University, where he received a bachelor's degree in speech in 1932. He also received a master's degree in speech at Columbia University.
Mr. Sheppard was chairman of the department of speech of John Adams High School in Queens, before becoming a professor of speech at St. John.
He took equal pride in his longevity as leader and accession to the "clear, concise, correct" style of microphone. "You name it, I did it, and without emotion," he said, "that surprising when you think about the public-address announcers in the modern world. They are screamers."
