Squandrous

I didn’t grow up listening to Bob Sheppard on the radio, so my memories of him aren’t as strong as my memories of broadcasters like Ernie or Harry. I do remember hearing his voice the first time I went to Yankees Stadium, introducing the players as they came up to bat.

Through his simple, clear introductions, Bob made the players feel more real. He made them feel less like superstars we only got to see on TV, but like talented individuals that were stepping up to the plate (literally and metaphorically) to do their jobs — to entertain us all — in an extremely stressful, pressurized situation. When Bob introduced a player, it wasn’t about the fanfare and hoopla, but instead about focus and hard work.

With both George Steinbrenner and Bob Sheppard passing away earlier this week, the Yankees have lost an integral part of their recent history. With Bob’s passing, the sports world has lost one of the greatest announcers of all time, and a man that stood for all things clear, concise, and correct.