Now returning…as public address announcer…Bob…Sheppard..heppard..eppard..ard.

The Voice of Yankee Stadium, Bob Sheppard, is expected to return to his duties by the All-Star game in July.

The 97-year-old Sheppard has been out since last year with various illnesses. Now Yankee COO Lonn Trost said the team expects him to be healthy enough to rejoin the team to close out the ball park. The team is hoping he things will go well enough for him to open the new stadium next year as well.

“We’ve spoken to Bob, and with a little luck he’ll be there,” Trost said. “We want him to finish off this year. We want him for the All-Star Game and, of course, we want him to open up the brand new stadium.”

Sheppard came on as PA announcer in 1951. The first batter he introduced was Boston Red Sox center fielder Dom DiMaggio and the first Yankee was first baseman Johnny Mize. Throughout this season Derek Jeter has come to the plate with a voice recording of Sheppard.

When asked how long he wanted to continue to announce Yankee games Sheppard said, “As long as God gives me the ability to do it well, as long as I like it, and as long as Steinbrenner [is] happy with what I do.”