Monday, July 12, 2010

Great Quotes About Bob Sheppard

DEREK JETER, Yankees shortstop
"Players changed year in and year out, he was the one constant," said Jeter, who will continue to have a recording of Sheppard's voice announce his at-bats.
"Every time you heard it, you got chills," Jeter said of having Sheppard recite his name. "I remember him asking how to pronounce it to make sure he was pronouncing it right."
ANDY PETTITTE, Yankees pitcher
Pettitte said his most lasting memory is of hearing Sheppard announce Derek Jeter's name, and then having other players impersonate it. "When you think of all the great players he has announced, when you think of the old stadium, there is no doubt you think about him and what he had done there for the organization," Pettitte said. "It was cool to hear him announce your name, that's for sure."
MARIANO RIVERA, Yankees closer
"His voice, it is irreplaceable."
GEORGE STEINBRENNER, Yankees owner
"I am deeply saddened by the death today of Bob Sheppard, a good friend and fine man whose voice set the gold standard for America's sports announcers. For over a half century, fans were thrilled to hear his unforgettable voice and players were thrilled to hear his majestic enunciation of their names. Bob Sheppard was a great member of the Yankees family and his death leaves a lasting silence. My thoughts and prayers are with his wife, Mary, and their family."
JOE GIRARDI, Yankees manager
"It is extremely sad," Girardi said. "When I think of Bob Sheppard, you think of all the tradition with the Yankees. You think about Ruth and Gehrig and Yogi and Joe D and Mantle and I think you mention Bob Sheppard. That's how important he was to this franchise."
"You realized you hit the big lights when Bob Sheppard announces your name."
JOHN MARA, New York Giants co-owner
"Bob Sheppard was the most distinguished and dignified voice in all of professional sports. We are very proud of the fact that he was the voice of the Giants for so many years. Bob was a true gentleman and the consummate professional. There will never be another one like him."
GENE MONAHAN, Yankees trainer
Monahan said that it was extra special to hear his name called by Sheppard during introductions before Opening Day and big games. "It was, 'Oh, my God, Bob Sheppard just said my name,'" Monahan said. "It sort of gets you and stings you."
JOE TORRE, Los Angeles Dodgers manager, former Yankees manager
"He was a classic. I was talking to Billy Crystal this morning and he used Bob in his movie '61*'. The energy he had for the age he was was pretty amazing."
BOBBY COX, Atlanta Braves manager, former Yankees player and coach
"He had the most distinctive voice I've ever heard and he announced my name in my first game," said Cox, who played 220 games with the Yankees in 1968 and 1969 and then managed against them in two World Series. "It was special when he made the lineup announcement."
"It was so different, that's all I can remember," Cox said of Sheppard's voice. "I just couldn't wait for him to do it."

No comments:

Post a Comment