Within a three day span, the New York Yankees organization lost two legendary icons...and we're not talking about players.On Sunday, public address announcer Bob Sheppard passed away at home beside his wife Mary. He was 99.
Then Tuesday morning George Steinbrenner suffered from what was later reported to be a massive heart attack. He was 80.
Both Sheppard and Steinbrenner had health problems and it wasn't a secret.
Sheppard's last season was in 2007 when he had to be sidelined for a bronchial infection. However his voice can still be heard at the New Yankee Stadium for Derek Jeter's introduction to the plate as an audio recording.
Steinbrenner's health started to decline in the fall of 2007, in which ironically his team was just about to concede to second place to the Boston Red Sox in the American League East. From that point on you didn't hear much about George Steinbrenner and once his two sons, Hal and Hank, took over as part-owners of the Yankees that winter, it was apparent that George was planning for the future of him not being around much longer.
Coming from a Red Sox fan, this is a big blow to the organization and I give out my deepest sympathy. Not just to lose one icon, but two in three days is pretty rough.Even the Sox organization is doing the same with the kind words.
But with these two passings, it in a way, makes the Yankees a scary team to contend with in the second half of the season. They got something (or in this case someones) to play for. They already have a two game lead over the Tampa Bay Rays in the East and that could very well be plenty.
You can't count out Boston though. Not with key players hoping to make returns from the disabled list such as Josh Beckett, Clay Buchholz, Victor Martinez, Dustin Pedroia, Mike Lowell, Jason Varitek, and Jeremy Hermida, and perhaps Jacoby Ellsbury.
This'll be one interesting ride.Like what you see? Follow me on Twitter http://twitter.com/batterupbruno
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