Yankee Heaven

I know, I know, I know. If you're not a Yankee fan or even worse if you are a Yankee hater this column will have no meaning to you. Sorry but I have to express myself. Within just a few days two Yankee icons passed away. Last weekend the best in stadium announcer in the history of sports Bob Sheppard died at age 99.

On my first visit to Yankee Stadium in the summer of 1956 his booming voice came over the public address system and etched itself in my memory forever. "Now batting number seven, Mickey Mantle, number seven." Bob Sheppard wasn't fancy but he was perfect. He never mis pronounced a single name to my knowledge because he made it ap ractice to ask each player how he would like his name announced.

After Sheppard stepped away from the announcers booth a couple of seasons ago, Yankee shortstop Derek Jeter asked that each of his at bats for the rest of his career be announced by a recording of Bob Sheppard. Thank you Bob for all those memories.

Then just today long time Yankee owner George Steinbrenner passed way at the age of 80. When he purchsed the Yankees in 1974 they were in dismal shape. He vowed to re build the dynasty and he did. He also rebuilt the tradition and mystique of the Yankees by calling back to the fold such greats as play by play man Mel Allen and Hall of Fame catcher Yogi Berra.

Not everyone liked George but no one could ever deny what he did for the Yankees and the city of New York by bringing them back to their championship level of the late 1920s, early 1950s and late 1990s. Steinbrenner was famous for hiring and firing Billy Martin but he was also famous for signing the big name free agents to turn the teams forturesd around. The first big move was getting Reggie Jackson rrom the Oakland A's. Reggie earned the title , "Mr. October" and helped the Yankees win the pennant in 1976,77 and 78 and the World Series title in 77 and 78.

He also had a knack for keeping young players being developed in the Yankees farm system. The best examples of that are future hall of famers Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera and long time catcher Jorge Posada.

As eight all stars represent the Yankees this week in Anaheim the baseball world mourns the passing of two of the most memorable Yankees ever Bob Sheppard and George Steinbrenner.