Bob Sheppard’s career as the Yankees’ public address announcer is officially over.
Though the legendary voice hadn’t worked a game in more than two years, neither Sheppard nor the Yankees considered him retired. But the 99-year-old Sheppard said on Wednesday that he has worked his last game.
“Time has passed me by,” Sheppard told MLB.com. “I had a good run for it. I enjoyed doing what I did. I don’t think, at my age, I’m going to suddenly regain the stamina that is really needed if you do the job and do it well.”
Sheppard’s run with the club began in 1951 — announcing a lineup that included Joe DiMaggio — and ran through 2007. He became ill before the start of the playoffs that year and never returned to the microphone.
“He was an angel among us,” Reggie Jackson told The Post last night. “He was such a perfect fit for New York and the Yankees.”
“Bob is simply the best,” Don Mattingly said. “I will never forget that sweet sound that permeated the stadium.”
The Yankees had hoped he would return for the final game at the old Stadium last season, but Sheppard recorded the lineups at home and was shown on the outfield video screen.
Derek Jeter continues to use a pre-recorded version of Sheppard introducing him for each at-bat at the Stadium.
Paul Olden worked the public address microphone for the Yankees last season after Sheppard’s longtime backup, Jim Hall, handled the duties in 2008.
Sheppard was the public address announcer for the Giants beginning in 1956 at the old Stadium and followed the team to the Yale Bowl and Giants Stadium before retiring from that position following the 2005 season.
— additional reporting
by George A. King