Remembering idols

On Friday night among a sell out crowd, the NY Yankees paid tribute to both Bob Sheppard and The Boss George Steinbrenner.  The evening began with the infamous recording by Sheppard,"The Shortstop ... number 2 ...Derek Jeter ... number 2."  Jeter then asked for a moment of silence for the two fallen idols, and fans stood as "Taps" echoed through the ballpark.
  "Simply put, Mr. Steinbrenner and Mr. Sheppard both left this organization in a much better place than when they first arrived. They've set the example for all employees of the NY Yankees to strive to follow." 

The ceremony then continued with Mariano Rivera laying two long-stemmed roses wrapped in white and blue ribbon on home plate.  The game was then played without a public address announcer.  The Yankees in their winning fashion took the game in a 5-4 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays.

Bob Sheppard was laid to rest on Thursday.  Services were held at his local Parish in Baldwin, Long Island, where more than 800 mourners attended, however no current Yankee players attended.

George Steinbrenner surprisingly had a much more intimate funeral service, attended by about 40 guests. The Boss was laid to rest in a  cemetery near his Tampa home on Saturday.

Celebrations and continued through Saturday as the Yankees hosted their 64th annual Old Timers Game.  Players from the 1950 team were being honored in their 60th anniversary, joined by other players from every decade of Yankee history who all came to play two innings at Yankee Stadium before the current Yankees took the field against the Rays.  Yogi Berra missed the event after falling at his home and suffering some bruising.