# New York Yankees anouncer before the game... **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [November 1, 2001, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-york-yankees-anouncer-before-the-game/90977 "2001-11-01T20:06:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![NoSubstitute](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@NoSubstitute](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NoSubstitute)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2001, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-york-yankees-anouncer-before-the-game/90977/1 "2001-11-01T20:06:41Z")
Is this guy Mr. Excitement or what? I think it would be an improvement to have Ben Stein (Ferris Buehler’s teacher) who talks with nearly the same style take over because you would at least laugh at some jokes rather than the way the guy talks. Or, or perhaps Carrot Top could take over for him. (That should get some feedback.) This is a poor rant I know but we all start somewhere right? ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2001, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-york-yankees-anouncer-before-the-game/90977/2 "2001-11-01T20:42:40Z")
Listen you pointy-headed nosepicker, there is **no excitement allowed in baseball!** Now take your crabby-assed excuse for a rant and go watch the Mets. I didn’t want your first pit rant to go unanswered. Welcome to The Pit **NoSubstitute**. ---
**Author:** ![Skelji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b38774/32.png) [@Skelji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skelji)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2001, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-york-yankees-anouncer-before-the-game/90977/3 "2001-11-01T21:06:12Z")
**NoSub** , which announcer are you referring to? John Sterling, who I sometimes think might have an aneurism while shouting “Thuhuhuhuhuhuhuhuhuh Yankees Win!!!”, or Michael Kay, who is also by no means boring? They would be the only true Yankee announcers that you would hear. Sure, that stupid cornpone McCarver does regular season games on FOX, but right now he’s not a Yankee announcer. Me? I turn the sound down and listen to Sterling and Kay. As a Yankee fan, I find them very entertaining. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2001, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-york-yankees-anouncer-before-the-game/90977/4 "2001-11-01T21:07:46Z")
> [@](#): > > there is **no excitement allowed in baseball!** Well, I dunno. John Montone sounded practically orgasmic when he recounted the winning home run on the radio this morning. ---
**Author:** ![DAVEW0071](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e19b73/32.png) [@DAVEW0071](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DAVEW0071)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2001, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-york-yankees-anouncer-before-the-game/90977/5 "2001-11-01T21:16:25Z")
I think he’s referring to the Stadium announcer. The one who reads the lineups over the Stadium PA and announces “Now batting for New York, number 2, Derek Jeter.” I can’t recall his name, but he’s been the Yankee Stadium announcer since around the time DiMaggio was a rookie, so he’s older than dirt, and his pace is fairly slow and straightforward. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2001, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-york-yankees-anouncer-before-the-game/90977/6 "2001-11-01T21:17:28Z")
Bob Shepard? You insult Bob Shepard? The Voice of Yankee Stadium? Blasphemy! Shepard’s cadences are like the Voice of God: deep, measured, rolling, imperturbable, like a force of nature. You can imagine Bob playing the The Burning Bush in a remake of _The Ten Commandments_. And he’s just about older than God as well. Shepard is perfectly suited to the Yankees. Dignified yet inexorable. The Yankees don’t need brightly colored uniforms, or mascots, or announcers that froth at the mouth. So fuck off, weenie. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2001, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-york-yankees-anouncer-before-the-game/90977/7 "2001-11-01T21:28:43Z")
Or you can replace him with the Knicks home announcer. You know. The one that says Latreeeeel SpreeeeEEEEEEEEeeeeewel ---
**Author:** ![NoSubstitute](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@NoSubstitute](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NoSubstitute)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2001, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-york-yankees-anouncer-before-the-game/90977/8 "2001-11-01T21:35:37Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Colibri \* > \*\*Bob Shepard? You insult Bob Shepard? The Voice of Yankee Stadium? Blasphemy! > > Shepard’s cadences are like the Voice of God: deep, measured, rolling, imperturbable, like a force of nature. You can imagine Bob playing the The Burning Bush in a remake of _The Ten Commandments_. And he’s just about older than God as well. > > Shepard is perfectly suited to the Yankees. Dignified yet inexorable. The Yankees don’t need brightly colored uniforms, or mascots, or announcers that froth at the mouth. > > So fuck off, weenie. \*\* Bob Shepard? Oh that’s Bob Shepard? Just imagine him reading your quote above. On… the… otherhand… I… do… not… have… enough… time… to… (scratching and spitting while he’s droning on and on) wait… for… him… to… read… this… to… me. One last question. Does he have a best of Album or should I say Albums? Good reply though. I appreciate your response. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![GilaB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8e7dd6/32.png) [@GilaB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GilaB)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2001, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-york-yankees-anouncer-before-the-game/90977/9 "2001-11-01T21:42:27Z")
Do NOT mock Bob Shepard. I am not even a _baseball_ fan, and I have better respect for sports history than that. Arguing that Bob Shepard is too old and slow and should be gotten rid of is like arguing that Yankee stadium should be knocked down and rebuilt because it doesn’t have enough luxury boxes. Sheesh, people have no respect these days, I tell you. ---
**Author:** ![Skelji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b38774/32.png) [@Skelji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skelji)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2001, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-york-yankees-anouncer-before-the-game/90977/10 "2001-11-01T21:46:52Z")
Ohhhhhhhh, THAT announcer. Yes, like Colibri sez. Bob Shephard adds yet another aura of dignity to the historic confines of Yankee Stadium. He’s not speaking slowly, he’s _enunciating_! Seriously, when he wasn’t announcing Yankee games (and games for the football Giants), he was a speech professor at Fordham, IIRC. ---
**Author:** ![NoSubstitute](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@NoSubstitute](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NoSubstitute)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2001, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-york-yankees-anouncer-before-the-game/90977/11 "2001-11-01T21:48:15Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by GilaB \* > \*\*Do NOT mock Bob Shepard. I am not even a _baseball_ fan, and I have better respect for sports history than that. Arguing that Bob Shepard is too old and slow and should be gotten rid of is like arguing that Yankee stadium should be knocked down and rebuilt because it doesn’t have enough luxury boxes. > > Sheesh, people have no respect these days, I tell you. \*\* I had and have no idea how old he is and do not care about that. My rant is that if you want the game to be over in, let’s say four hours, he is going to have to pick up the tempo. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2001, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-york-yankees-anouncer-before-the-game/90977/12 "2001-11-01T21:53:48Z")
[Bob Shepard](http://www.yankeetradition.com/shepard.html) announcing the lineup for the 1976 World Series. (He really is older than God.) If he doesn’t have an album, he should. Like Everett Dirkson. ---
**Author:** ![NoSubstitute](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@NoSubstitute](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NoSubstitute)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2001, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-york-yankees-anouncer-before-the-game/90977/13 "2001-11-01T22:10:15Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Colibri \* > \*\*[Bob Shepard](http://www.yankeetradition.com/shepard.html) announcing the lineup for the 1976 World Series. (He really is older than God.) > > If he doesn’t have an album, he should. Like Everett Dirkson. \*\* It is hard for me to believe that is the same guy. He speaks a little slower today, huh? ---
**Author:** ![NoSubstitute](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@NoSubstitute](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NoSubstitute)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2001, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-york-yankees-anouncer-before-the-game/90977/14 "2001-11-01T22:12:24Z")
Oh yeah almost forgot. GO DIAMONDBACKS! ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2001, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-york-yankees-anouncer-before-the-game/90977/15 "2001-11-01T22:36:37Z")
The Yankee Stadium announcer (“Now batting-ing-ing… the shortstop-op-op-op… Derek… Jeter-er-er-er… number 2”) is Bob Sheppard, a former speech professor at St. John’s University. He’s been working for the Yankees since 1951, Mickey Mantle’s rookie season. He won’t give his age, but he’s assumed to be in his mid-80s. Those who call him “the voice of God” might be interested to know that he’s a lector at his neighborhood Catholic Church every Sunday. Think he gets people’s attention? To those of us who grew up Yankee fans, it will be a sad day when he finally gives up the job. I’ve never seen his face, but his voice is so stately, so dignified… only ONCE did I ever hear him lose that dignity! That was in the late 70s or early 80s, on Mother’s Day. Someone convinced him to sing “Let Me Call You Sweetheart” along with the organist. It was… sad, to put it mildly. Mickey Mantle always said that Sheppard’s voice gave him chills, and that Sheppard haunted his dreams, years after his retirement. Mantle always felt he’d never lived up to his full potential, that his drinking and carousing had cost him a lengthier career. After he’d retired, he said that almost every night, he had nightmares in which he’d arrive at Yankee Stadium, only to find all the doors locked. Inside, he’d hear Bob Sheppard’s voice calling “Now batting… the center fielder… Mickey-y-y-y… Mantle-le-le… number 7,” but Mickey couldn’t get inside. Odd how a voice can get such a hold of you. ---
**Author:** ![Tretiak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a88e57/32.png) [@Tretiak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tretiak)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2001, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-york-yankees-anouncer-before-the-game/90977/16 "2001-11-01T22:46:54Z")
Voice of God? Bah! John Facenda is the Voice of God. Although Dodger Fans will tell you it is Vin Scully. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2001, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-york-yankees-anouncer-before-the-game/90977/17 "2001-11-01T22:57:56Z")
Well it seems Sheppard _is_ on an [album](http://www.alphabetcity.com/yankees3.ihtml). And here’s a photo and a profile of the [Voice of God](http://www.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/comment/sbcol15.htm). ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2001, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-york-yankees-anouncer-before-the-game/90977/18 "2001-11-01T23:08:26Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by NoSubstitute \* > \*\*Oh yeah almost forgot. GO DIAMONDBACKS! \*\* I rescind my welcome, you pointy-headed nosepicker! ---
**Author:** ![ElwoodCuse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/edb3f5/32.png) [@ElwoodCuse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElwoodCuse)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2001, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-york-yankees-anouncer-before-the-game/90977/19 "2001-11-01T23:37:31Z")
Well sorrrrrrry for not agreeing that everything about the New York Yankees is just the be-all and end-all of every damn thing in baseball. MAYBE I will consider watching baseball once it has been proven to me that someone besides the Yankees is allowed to win the World Series. Of course we could always luck out and have another strike. ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2001, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-york-yankees-anouncer-before-the-game/90977/20 "2001-11-01T23:38:27Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Colibri \* > \*\*So fuck off, weenie. \*\* Yeah! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-york-yankees-anouncer-before-the-game/90977.md?page=2)