Paul Doherty, a friend of Sheppard’s who has also represented him as an agent, says that the Yankees’ longtime public-address announcer is retiring. Sheppard, though, wouldn’t confirm it to the newspaper: “I never said I’m not returning. I never, never said I’m not returning and I say it to you now.” The Yankees have also since released a statement calling Doherty’s claim “categorically untrue.” Sheppard was absent from Yankee Stadium for all of 2008 while recovering from a bronchial infection. [NYT]
