Today we lost a GIANT of a Man. Recently I read Bill Maddens book The Last Lion of Baseball. The Book made me angry it made me cry and it made me reminisce on all the difficult years and the great years as a Yankee fan.
The Boss was born July 4, 1930 he was 80 years young and this morning he passed away of heart attack. We will never forget Mr. Steinbrenner! Love him or hate him he was the greatest owner in sports history. I can sit here and write all the negative things you will read from everyone about the Boss, but I will let others do so. Let all the Yankee Haters write negatively about him, but in doing so they should be a shamed of themselves. He should not be a punching bag. We should celebrate his life and his great years as Yankee owner, Olympic figure and philanthropist.
To me he was greatest sports figure and arguably the most important figure in NY sports history. He donated millions of dollars to thousands of charities, he led American interest in the Olympics and was responsible for the athletes getting more money, better facilities and encouraged them when they lost and when they won.
I have been a Yankee for as long time, in the years since I fell in love with the team I saw bad teams and great teams. Behind all that was the Yankee owner. On two occasions I saw Mr. Steinbrenner one of these times he spoke to me like a regular person, I was a young man but I will never forget my encounter with the Boss.
He was polite and a man of the people, He cared about winning and about his family, about his country and most of all he was a very charitable person.
George Steinbrenner was the greatest owner of all time. We will never have another owner like him, we shall all miss him.
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Sunday, July 11, 2010
Yankees Announcer reaction
Yankees.com wrote
Longtime Yanks announcer Sheppard dies
According to the LoHud Yankee Blog – Great Site if you can Check it out. The Yankees sent this lengthy obituary
http://yankees.lhblogs.com/
It is with deep sadness that the New York Yankees announce the passing of longtime public address announcer Bob Sheppard – “The Voice of Yankee Stadium.” Sheppard passed away this morning at his home in Baldwin, N.Y., with his wife, Mary, by his side. He was 99 years old.
A wake will be held on Tuesday and Wednesday at the Fullerton Funeral Home located at 769 Merrick Road, Baldwin, Long Island, from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. each day. The funeral will be held on Thursday at 10:45 a.m. at St. Christopher’s Church at 11 Gale Avenue in Baldwin.
Born in Ridgewood, Queens, Sheppard began his tenure as Yankees public address announcer on April 17, 1951—Opening Day of Joe DiMaggio’s final season and Mickey Mantle’s Major League debut. Among the approximately 4,500 baseball games he worked over his tenure with the Yankees were an incredible 121 consecutive postseason contests (1951-2006), including 62 games in 22 World Series.
“Most men go to work, but I go to a game,” Sheppard said. “How many men would love to do that?”
Sheppard’s incredible career behind the microphone started when he volunteered his services for a charity football game in Freeport, Long Island, in the late 1940s. An executive from the Brooklyn Dodgers football team of the All-America Conference was at the game. He liked Sheppard’s style (“clear, concise and correct”) and hired him. The football Dodgers folded after only one season at Ebbets Field (1948), but one of their opponents—the New York football Yankees—heard Sheppard’s booming voice and offered him their PA job at Yankee Stadium. Baseball’s Yankees then heard him and offered him the same role for them for the 1950 season. Though his teaching schedule could not accommodate the 77-game home schedule for baseball (plus World Series games) and he turned down the offer for 1950, he reconsidered the next year.
In addition to his baseball duties, Sheppard was the public address voice for the football Giants for 50 seasons—from their move to Yankee Stadium in 1956 until his retirement after the 2005 season. Sheppard also served the New York Titans of the American Football League at the Polo Grounds, the New York Stars of the World Football League at Downing Stadium, the New York Cosmos (soccer) and St. John’s University basketball and football. Sheppard also handled PA duties for five Army-Navy football games in Philadelphia.
Some of the events he listed as the most memorable of his incredible career were: Don Larsen’s perfect game in Game 5 of the 1956 World Series on October 8, 1956; Roger Maris’ 61st home run on October 1, 1961; Reggie Jackson’s three home runs in Game 6 of the World Series on October 18, 1977; and the Giants-Colts overtime NFL Championship Game on December 28, 1958.
In one of the game’s truly memorable moments, Sheppard introduced President George W. Bush before Game 3 of the 2001 World Series (on October 30) as Mr. Bush became the first sitting President to throw out a ceremonial first pitch at Yankee Stadium.
Sheppard attended St. John’s College, which eventually became St. John’s University. Always a talented athlete, he received a full athletic scholarship to the school, playing quarterback on the football team all four years. He later enrolled at Columbia University, where he received his master’s degree in speech and worked his way up from teacher-in-training to substitute teacher to permanent teacher to department chairman. In order to supplement his teaching salary, Sheppard played semiprofessional football on Sundays in Long Island with the Valley Stream Red Riders and the Hempstead Monitors, earning $25 a game.
In 1998, Sheppard was presented with the prestigious William J. Slocum “Long and Meritorious Service” Award by the New York chapter of the BBWAA as well as the “Pride of the Yankees” award by the ballclub. Yankee Stadium’s media dining room was named “Sheppard’s Place” prior to the 2009 season to commemorate his legacy.
On May 7, 2000, a plaque was dedicated to Sheppard in Monument Park of the original Yankee Stadium to commemorate his 50th anniversary season.
The native New Yorker was elected to the St. John’s University Sports Hall of Fame, the Long Island Sports Hall of Fame and the New York Sports Hall of Fame. He was awarded honorary doctorates from St. John’s University (Pedagogy) and Fordham University (Rhetoric), and in 2007, received St. John’s’ Medal of Honor, the highest award that the university can confer on a graduate.
Sheppard also made cameo appearances in numerous motion pictures and television shows, including 61*, It’s My Turn, It Could Happen to You, Anger Management, Seinfeld and Mad About You.
Sheppard announced his final game at Yankee Stadium on September 5, 2007, a 3-2 Yankees victory over the Kansas City Royals.
At the request of Derek Jeter, a recording of Sheppard announcing his name has been played prior to each of his at-bats since Sheppard’s absence in 2007.
On September 21, 2008, Sheppard provided a valedictory in the bottom of the seventh inning of the final game at the original Yankee Stadium. Unable to say goodbye in person as he continued to recover from illness that had kept him away from the Stadium since the final weeks of the 2007 season, Sheppard gave his tribute through a taped segment played on the video board. He recited, “Farewell, old Yankee Stadium, farewell / What a wonderful story you can tell / DiMaggio, Mantle, Gehrig and Ruth / A baseball cathedral in truth.”
Longtime Yanks announcer Sheppard dies
According to the LoHud Yankee Blog – Great Site if you can Check it out. The Yankees sent this lengthy obituary
http://yankees.lhblogs.com/
It is with deep sadness that the New York Yankees announce the passing of longtime public address announcer Bob Sheppard – “The Voice of Yankee Stadium.” Sheppard passed away this morning at his home in Baldwin, N.Y., with his wife, Mary, by his side. He was 99 years old.
A wake will be held on Tuesday and Wednesday at the Fullerton Funeral Home located at 769 Merrick Road, Baldwin, Long Island, from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. each day. The funeral will be held on Thursday at 10:45 a.m. at St. Christopher’s Church at 11 Gale Avenue in Baldwin.
Born in Ridgewood, Queens, Sheppard began his tenure as Yankees public address announcer on April 17, 1951—Opening Day of Joe DiMaggio’s final season and Mickey Mantle’s Major League debut. Among the approximately 4,500 baseball games he worked over his tenure with the Yankees were an incredible 121 consecutive postseason contests (1951-2006), including 62 games in 22 World Series.
“Most men go to work, but I go to a game,” Sheppard said. “How many men would love to do that?”
Sheppard’s incredible career behind the microphone started when he volunteered his services for a charity football game in Freeport, Long Island, in the late 1940s. An executive from the Brooklyn Dodgers football team of the All-America Conference was at the game. He liked Sheppard’s style (“clear, concise and correct”) and hired him. The football Dodgers folded after only one season at Ebbets Field (1948), but one of their opponents—the New York football Yankees—heard Sheppard’s booming voice and offered him their PA job at Yankee Stadium. Baseball’s Yankees then heard him and offered him the same role for them for the 1950 season. Though his teaching schedule could not accommodate the 77-game home schedule for baseball (plus World Series games) and he turned down the offer for 1950, he reconsidered the next year.
In addition to his baseball duties, Sheppard was the public address voice for the football Giants for 50 seasons—from their move to Yankee Stadium in 1956 until his retirement after the 2005 season. Sheppard also served the New York Titans of the American Football League at the Polo Grounds, the New York Stars of the World Football League at Downing Stadium, the New York Cosmos (soccer) and St. John’s University basketball and football. Sheppard also handled PA duties for five Army-Navy football games in Philadelphia.
Some of the events he listed as the most memorable of his incredible career were: Don Larsen’s perfect game in Game 5 of the 1956 World Series on October 8, 1956; Roger Maris’ 61st home run on October 1, 1961; Reggie Jackson’s three home runs in Game 6 of the World Series on October 18, 1977; and the Giants-Colts overtime NFL Championship Game on December 28, 1958.
In one of the game’s truly memorable moments, Sheppard introduced President George W. Bush before Game 3 of the 2001 World Series (on October 30) as Mr. Bush became the first sitting President to throw out a ceremonial first pitch at Yankee Stadium.
Sheppard attended St. John’s College, which eventually became St. John’s University. Always a talented athlete, he received a full athletic scholarship to the school, playing quarterback on the football team all four years. He later enrolled at Columbia University, where he received his master’s degree in speech and worked his way up from teacher-in-training to substitute teacher to permanent teacher to department chairman. In order to supplement his teaching salary, Sheppard played semiprofessional football on Sundays in Long Island with the Valley Stream Red Riders and the Hempstead Monitors, earning $25 a game.
In 1998, Sheppard was presented with the prestigious William J. Slocum “Long and Meritorious Service” Award by the New York chapter of the BBWAA as well as the “Pride of the Yankees” award by the ballclub. Yankee Stadium’s media dining room was named “Sheppard’s Place” prior to the 2009 season to commemorate his legacy.
On May 7, 2000, a plaque was dedicated to Sheppard in Monument Park of the original Yankee Stadium to commemorate his 50th anniversary season.
The native New Yorker was elected to the St. John’s University Sports Hall of Fame, the Long Island Sports Hall of Fame and the New York Sports Hall of Fame. He was awarded honorary doctorates from St. John’s University (Pedagogy) and Fordham University (Rhetoric), and in 2007, received St. John’s’ Medal of Honor, the highest award that the university can confer on a graduate.
Sheppard also made cameo appearances in numerous motion pictures and television shows, including 61*, It’s My Turn, It Could Happen to You, Anger Management, Seinfeld and Mad About You.
Sheppard announced his final game at Yankee Stadium on September 5, 2007, a 3-2 Yankees victory over the Kansas City Royals.
At the request of Derek Jeter, a recording of Sheppard announcing his name has been played prior to each of his at-bats since Sheppard’s absence in 2007.
On September 21, 2008, Sheppard provided a valedictory in the bottom of the seventh inning of the final game at the original Yankee Stadium. Unable to say goodbye in person as he continued to recover from illness that had kept him away from the Stadium since the final weeks of the 2007 season, Sheppard gave his tribute through a taped segment played on the video board. He recited, “Farewell, old Yankee Stadium, farewell / What a wonderful story you can tell / DiMaggio, Mantle, Gehrig and Ruth / A baseball cathedral in truth.”
Mark Feinsand wrote the following with clubhouse reaction.
http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/yankees/2010/07/clubhouse-reaction-to-sheppard.html
A SAD DAY! I remember two lives. A friend and a Yankee Legend
By Frank S,
This morning I lost a long time family friend, Oscar Londono. He was a pillar in our congregation and to families all over. His work in the ministry and in changing peoples lives will live on in his family and friends. He passed away from Cancer a horrible ruthless illness that has affected everyone on earth. Even though his family and his friends have the promise that we will see him again as per Rev 21:4 we are truly sad.
Today as well a Yankee Legend the Voice of the Yankees for 50 years, Bob Sheppard past away. The longtime public address announcer, Sheppard will be missed by his friends, his family and the Yankee family.
Today’s blog post is about celebrating the life of these men.
This morning I lost a long time family friend, Oscar Londono. He was a pillar in our congregation and to families all over. His work in the ministry and in changing peoples lives will live on in his family and friends. He passed away from Cancer a horrible ruthless illness that has affected everyone on earth. Even though his family and his friends have the promise that we will see him again as per Rev 21:4 we are truly sad.
Today as well a Yankee Legend the Voice of the Yankees for 50 years, Bob Sheppard past away. The longtime public address announcer, Sheppard will be missed by his friends, his family and the Yankee family.
Today’s blog post is about celebrating the life of these men.
Saturday, June 26, 2010
The Captains Birth Day
With Derek Jeter Turning 36 (June 26, 1974) today it reminds me of his debut as a Yankee. May 29 1995. The Yankees lost to the Mariners 8-7, the very next day I was moving to Los Angeles and not coming back. (I was back sooner than I thought)
The lineup that day has some players you would remember if you were a Yankees fan prior to 96. Black Jack was the starting pitcher but it was the bullpen that lost the game. Jeter went 0-5 with a strikeout.
Luis Polonia LF
Wade Boggs 3B
Paul O'Neill RF
Mike Stanley C
Don Mattingly 1B
Dion James DH
Randy Velarde 2B
Bernie Williams CF
Derek Jeter SS
It was not to the very next day that Jete got his first Career hit and he went 2-3 with a walk and two runs scored.
Now at the tender age of 36 Derek starts his birth day with 2834 hits sitting 44th place in all time hits list, ranks 40th all time in runs scored and a career 316 batting avg. 10 All Star Games played, 4 silver slugger awards, 4 gold gloves, add a rookie of the Year and 5 World Series rings. I would say he has been one of the top 10 Yankees of all time.
While DJ is still on this team we should enjoy him and enjoy every year that he is a Yankee.
Friday, June 25, 2010
We will Beat an old Friend this weekend
I have no bad blood towards Joe Torre, The book he wrote was out of anger and he might not admitted or not but that's the reason why him and Cash stop speaking to each other.
After all Cash was one of his biggest supporters and Torre knew better than that, he should have never wrote a "tell all book".
That said this weekend we will beat the Dodgers!
Sunday, May 23, 2010
State of the Pinstripes
First let me say that 'Steinbrenner: The Last Lion Of Baseball by Bill Madden is a great book. For all you looking for a gift for your father or brother or best friend. It is a great read!
State of the pinstripes.
This is just me channeling my inner boss, but how the hell is Randy Winn still starting or even on this team. I want him gone!!
Jeter needs to start hitting or take a day off, I wonder if he is hurt lets face it he would not tell the media and does not like anyone to be sympathetic towards him.
Tex and A-rod need to start earning the millions of dollars that they are being paid. The middle of the lineup is killing us.
C H Park needs to start pitching better or get released. We need to bring someone else that wont stink up the joint, and that is not afraid to start throwing strikes.
State of the pinstripes.
This is just me channeling my inner boss, but how the hell is Randy Winn still starting or even on this team. I want him gone!!
Jeter needs to start hitting or take a day off, I wonder if he is hurt lets face it he would not tell the media and does not like anyone to be sympathetic towards him.
Tex and A-rod need to start earning the millions of dollars that they are being paid. The middle of the lineup is killing us.
C H Park needs to start pitching better or get released. We need to bring someone else that wont stink up the joint, and that is not afraid to start throwing strikes.
Monday, May 10, 2010
Another series just another team.
I love Jonathan Tyler Lester he is one of my favorite players in baseball. But as a Yankee fan I cheer for my team above all else. Lester who beat cancer and since 2007 he has battled back to be a great pitcher.
He beat my team today, but despite that the Yankees have won another series. Sitting at 20-9 the Yankees are half game out of first place. The sox are 6.5 half games out and have several more issues than the Yankees.
So when I tell you the Yankees have beat another team it feels like that this year. So far the team that the Yankees have to catch is the Rays. Tampa are the top dogs in the division not the Red Sux Tampa stands atop as the Alfa male not the team from the Bronx and at 21-9 the Yanks need to improve on their road record.
The sox have problems with the lineup, with starting pitching and with bench. But a very smart man once told me, don’t concentrate on what is behind you. Concentrate on the road ahead.
So the Yankees need to worry about, taking one game at the time. They need to focus on finishing the task at hand. Winning this weekend showed baseball that they are a better team and better equipped to catch the Rays.
Arod 586 ties Robinson. You all know my feeling on the homerun record now that we discovered that it is a little tainted….. A little.. Haaa
Girardi gets ejected for the first time this year. He really needed to get ejected at that moment, the call was stupid.
So now the Yankees move to Detroit, minus Andy, Granderson and several players hurt.
Despite all that they are sitting in second place with room for growth. This is going to be a great year for baseball.
He beat my team today, but despite that the Yankees have won another series. Sitting at 20-9 the Yankees are half game out of first place. The sox are 6.5 half games out and have several more issues than the Yankees.
So when I tell you the Yankees have beat another team it feels like that this year. So far the team that the Yankees have to catch is the Rays. Tampa are the top dogs in the division not the Red Sux Tampa stands atop as the Alfa male not the team from the Bronx and at 21-9 the Yanks need to improve on their road record.
The sox have problems with the lineup, with starting pitching and with bench. But a very smart man once told me, don’t concentrate on what is behind you. Concentrate on the road ahead.
So the Yankees need to worry about, taking one game at the time. They need to focus on finishing the task at hand. Winning this weekend showed baseball that they are a better team and better equipped to catch the Rays.
Arod 586 ties Robinson. You all know my feeling on the homerun record now that we discovered that it is a little tainted….. A little.. Haaa
Girardi gets ejected for the first time this year. He really needed to get ejected at that moment, the call was stupid.
So now the Yankees move to Detroit, minus Andy, Granderson and several players hurt.
Despite all that they are sitting in second place with room for growth. This is going to be a great year for baseball.
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