A ten-year-old boy walked through the concourse of the "old" Yankee Stadium, a first glimpse at what always seemed like heaven just on the otherside of the television screen.

The walkways were packed, the steps steep, but the aura left a deep impression. It always does. Part of it was the night (World Series). Part of it was the mystique of the New York Yankees and their home ballpark. And part of it was the booming voice that seemingly rained down from the dark sky with Derek Jeter's name and Bernie Williams' number.

Yes, when Reggie Jackson dubbed Bob Sheppard "The Voice of God," Mr. October knew something the rest of us would come to know. The voice of the Yankees passed away Sunday, but he will always be The Voice.

At 99 years old, Sheppard lived more life than many of us will ever know. He sat in his perch at The Stadium until 2007, well into his 90s, and took pride in showing up to work. Except it was never work.

"I don't go to work," Sheppard would say, "I go to a game."

That boyish zeal for the game never disappated, which is why shortly before he left the booth three years ago Jeter insisted that Sheppard record his introduction so that it would always be played before his at-bats in The Bronx. Jeter came in with Sheppard, and call Ruth a Red Sox if Jeter wasn't going out with The Voice, too.

"At shortstop, Number 2, Derek Jeter, Number 2."

As long as Jeter is a Yankee, those words will always be there.

Sheppard came in with Mantle and DiMaggio and left with the Yankees' all-time hits leader and the greatest closer that will ever live. What a career.

The funny thing is, even as that ten-year-old boy tasting the magic of a World Series at Yankee Stadium, my ears perked up whenever The Voice beckoned from the speakers, and I knew we were the lucky ones.