THE VOICE OF GOD GOES HOME

Bob Sheppard, the long time Yankees and NY Football Giants announcer, has died at age 99.

FROM THE AP STORY:

"Sheppard started with the Yankees in 1951 and he last worked at Yankee stadium late in the 2007 season, when he became ill with a bronchial infection. He recorded a greeting to fans that was played at the original ballpark's final game in September 2008, and his audio recording still is used to introduce Derek Jeter before each at-bat at home by the Yankees captain.

The Yankees' lineup for Sheppard's first game on April 17, 1951, included DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle, Johnny Mize, Yogi Berra, and Phil Rizzuto. And the opponents that day, the Boston Red Sox, were led by Ted Williams.

In May 2000, after 50 years and two weeks on the job, the team honored him with "Bob Sheppard Day" and put a plaque in his honor in Monument Park.

"The voice of Yankee Stadium," read the plaque. "For half a century, he has welcomed generations of fans with his trademark greeting, 'Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Yankee Stadium.'"

He also served as the stadium voice of the NFL's New York Giants from 1956-05, and for men's basketball and football at St. John's, where he taught. But baseball is what made him famous.

He announced at 62 World Series games and a pair of All-Star games, and introduced more than 70 Hall of Famers across his career."

Reggie Jackson is credited with calling him "The Voice of God."