BREAKING NEWS: Bob Sheppard Retires

UPDATE 4:38 p.m.: Here's an update from Peter Abraham:

The Yankees refuted the report on Bob Sheppard retiring. Team officials said they spoke to his son Paul, who denied making the statements attributed to him. But Mr. Sheppard is 98, in ill health and has not worked a game since 2007. The odds of his return are slim. Hopefully he’s able to announce a game or two this season.

Hopefully this is true, and he can come back. But as Abraham says, it seems those chances are slim.

Here's some very disappointing news fom Jack Curry:

The new Yankee Stadium will sound much different than the old one. Bob Sheppard, the public-address announcer for the Yankees since 1951, has retired.

Paul Doherty, a friend and agent who has represented Sheppard, said Sheppard’s son, Paul, told him about Sheppard’s plans on Wednesday morning.

“I think Bob just wants to take it easy and no longer have the pressure of, ‘Can he? Will he? Or won’t he?’” Doherty said in an e-mail message. “And, at 98, who can blame him?”

Doherty added that Sheppard remained active.

“I’m happy to say that Bob is still doing well enough to drive a car,” Doherty said. “He picked his son up at the train this past weekend.”

The article also states that Jim Hall, Sheppard's longtime backup, will not be Sheppard's replacement. They've hired Paul Olden to do the two games against the Cubs.

UPDATE 3:24 p.m.: Here's a little info on Paul Olden:

Paul has been the radio and/or television play-by-play announcer for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, New York Yankees, California Angels, Cleveland Indians, Philadelphia Eagles, New York Jets and New Jersey Nets. Paul has also broadcast several sports for Fox Sports Net, ESPN, The Football Network and KMPC-AM in Los Angeles.

Since 1994, has been the stadium public address announcer for every Super Bowl since 1994.