Bob Sheppard Has Retired. (Times) Won’t Be Jim Hall.
The new Yankee Stadium will sound much different than the old one. Bob Sheppard, the public address announcer for the Yankees since 1951, has retired.
Paul Doherty, a friend and agent who has represented Sheppard, said 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?”
Doherty added that Sheppard remained active.
“I’m happy to say that Bob is still doing well enough to drive a car,” Doherty said. “He picked his son up at the train this past weekend.”
The last lineup that Sheppard announced was actually his first. Doherty said that, two months ago, he had Sheppard recreate the first lineup he did, on April 17, 1951. It included Phil Rizzuto, Mickey Mantle, Joe DiMaggio and Yogi Berra.
“Now on to him seeing his 100th birthday in a year and a half,” Doherty said.
The Yankees have not named a replacement for Sheppard, but it will not be Jim Hall, Sheppard’s long-time backup. Paul Olden will fill in for the two exhibition games at the Stadium this weekend.
Paul Doherty, a friend and agent who has represented Sheppard, said 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?”
Sporting News now has it too…
Longtime Yankees PA announcer Sheppard retires
5 Reasons Friday’s Game At Citi Field Won’t Be An Early Rain Out
The Wonderfulness of The Great Unknown At Citi Field
I know I suggested in the New Traditions article (you can find that in the links on the right side of the blog) that we meet at the Classic Apple – but not having been to Citi Field, I don’t know if we can actually get to it to meet there.
Where Are They Now – Sidd Finch
He’s 52 now.
The hair is thinner and the waist a bit wider, but he can still get into the lotus position with ease.
“The secret of health for both mind and body is not to mourn for the past, worry about the future, or anticipate troubles, but to live in the present moment wisely and earnestly.â€
He goes by simply Hayden now, his actual given name. “Too many people knew of ‘Sidd’ after Mr. Plimpton wrote that article. I still honor my beliefs, but I had to change back to my given name. After all solitude is happiness for one who is content.”
He never did pursue that baseball career. “Baseball in its purest form is still a wonderous heavenly melding of movement and spirituality, however professional baseball takes the purity away from the action.”
“I would have stayed with the Mets but they wanted to give me money for pitching, they told me I would have to take money because the union said so,” Hayden reflected wistfully as he looked out over the trees from his cabin just outside
“I did not want the money – it was about the purity. If a man lives a pure life nothing can destroy him – if he has conquered greed, nothing can limit his freedom.” He shakes his head and raises the horn to his mouth.
He has not picked up a baseball since the day he left
Five years ago he played his horn at the Hinton Fohn Festival when he says he was “overcome with the power of the spirit.”
Hinton lies on the edge of
He has no TV, no radio, and no computer. He has his French Horn and he has the world. That is all Hayden (Sidd) Finch needs or wants now.
www.metspolice.com