When the New York Yankees officially move in to their brand-new billion-dollar taxpayer-supported stadium in a few days, Bob Sheppard will not be joining them.

Sheppard, the long-time public address announcer for the House That Ruth Built, is retiring. Jack Curry of the NEW YORK TIMES says that Sheppard’s agent Paul Doherty told him that Bob’s son Paul told Doherty that his dear ol’ Dad is unplugging his PA mic at last. And if you can’t trust a pair of Pauls, who can you trust?

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Tyler Kepner blogs in the NEW YORK TIMES about Derek Jeter’s reverence for 97-year-old Bob “Voice of God” Sheppard, who has been handling PA at Yankee Stadium since 1951.

Sheppard is suffering from bronchitis, which is keeping him away from his duties at the ballpark, but that won’t stop Derek Jeter from opening up the heavens when he steps in to the batter’s box this season. Read more…