Sheppard says retirement not official

The "Voice of Yankee Stadium" is not done yet.

Responding to published reports stating that he is retiring after a half-century behind the microphone as public address announcer for the New York Yankees, Bob Sheppard told the Herald that he has not yet made an official announcement.

Reached at their Baldwin home last Friday, Sheppard's wife, Mary, said she and her husband were frustrated about the perception in the news media that he is retiring — which includes a report on mlb.com stating that Sheppard will "officially cede control of his microphone to a successor."

"[Bob] was speaking to somebody recently and had told him that physically, he did not feel that he would be able to continue anytime soon ... he is building up his health right now," Mary said. "People have taken it as official but it hasn't been officially stated. It is not official."

Sheppard has served as public address announcer for the Yankees since 1951, introducing some of baseball's greatest players including Joe DiMaggio, Yogi Berra, Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris. He stepped aside in late 2007 due to a bronchial infection, and since that time, rumors have swirled in the media on what Sheppard's future plans are.

In 2007, Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter requested that a recording of Sheppard's voice be used for all of his at-bats for games that Sheppard could not attend. That recording will be used for the remainder of Jeter's career.

Sheppard has yet to work a game at the new Yankee Stadium, and Paul Olden is currently filling in for him.

— Mike Russo