Baldwin's Top stories of 2010 - July

Bob Sheppard, known as “the Voice of the Yankees” — and dubbed “the Voice of God” by former Yankees great Reggie Jackson — was laid to rest on July 15 at St. Christopher’s Church in his hometown of Baldwin. Sheppard died on July 11 at age 99.

The Baldwin Fire Department stood at attention and, along with South Hempstead firefighters, raised the American flag between the two trucks. Hundreds of onlookers stood outside the church and listened to the service through speakers set up on the church steps. Irish tenor Ronan Tynan sang “On Eagle’s Wings” and “Panis Angelicus.”

“It was an honor to have known Bob Sheppard,” said John Mara, New York Giants president, who was one of the eulogists at the Mass. “He was one of the finest gentlemen that I have ever met, and there will never be another one like him.”

Sheppard was also the voice of the “Football Giants,” as he liked to call them, from 1956 to 2006.

“He was one gentleman, and a gentle man,” said Yankees General Manager Brian Cashman. “He had no ego, no ulterior motives, no hidden agendas.”

Cashman said that Sheppard came to Yankee Stadium for 57 years to focus on two things: “Doing his job to the best of his ability, and treating everyone, from George Steinbrenner to the press box attendee, with warmth and kindness.”

“My father touched many lives, deeply and profoundly,” said Sheppard’s oldest son, Paul. “He was a tough act to follow.” Paul said he could imagine his father saying, “Good evening, ladies and gentleman — welcome to Heaven.”