MLB

• Yankees' Sheppard rules out return

  
  

  Bronx, NY (Sports Network) - Legendary New York Yankees PA announcer Bob Sheppard has officially announced his retirement, ruling out a return to the booth.

  Sheppard, who turned 99 years old in October, has not performed public address duties for the Yankees since 2007.

  But in a story on the team's website, Sheppard is quoted as saying he has no plans of coming back to announce a game at the new Yankee Stadium, adding that he doubts "very, very much" he will do so for a single 2010 contest.

  Sheppard debuted as the Yankees' PA announcer in 1951 and served in that role for about 4,500 games.

  His last games came in 2007, as he was forced to miss the postseason because of illness.

  11/26 20:47:48 ET