The wonderful Roger Angell on the wonderful Bob Sheppard. Angell concludes his tribute with this:
Down they go and out at street level, still at a careful run. Herb’s car, a beige 1995 Maxima, is in its regular slot in the team parking lot, just across the alley—the second car on the right. They’re in, they’re out, a left turn up the street, where they grab a right, jumping onto the Deegan, heading home. The cops there have the eastbound traffic stopped dead, waiting for Bob Sheppard: no one else in New York is allowed to make this turn. Two minutes, maybe two-twenty, after the game has ended and they’re gone, home free, the first of fifty thousand out of the building, every night.
I was fortunate enough to hear the Voice of God many times growing up in NY. He’s been missed since 2007, I always held out hope that he would return. Sadly, nothing endures forever.
My favorite story is about him visiting Fenway during the season while the Yanks were out of town. He was friendly with the announcer at Fenway – the Angels were visiting, and by this time, Reggie Jackson had joined that club. As Reggie stepped to the plate, Bob Sheppard announced him instead of the Fenway guy. Reggie was so started he dropped his bat.
I can’t find any mention of it, but I’m pretty sure Sheppard announced the Giants-Eagles game I attended at the Meadowlands in December 2008. I remember recognizing the voice and that distinctive wait-for-the-echo before continuing pattern.
At least that’s my story and I’m sticking to it.
I loved that Billy Crystal used Sheppard in the film 61* (my fave baseball movie of all time)
His voice lent authenticity in a way nothing else could.