Yankees PA announcer Paul Olden to miss first games in 16 years

Friday marked the beginning of a three-game series between the Chicago Cubs and New York Yankees, the final series for each team before the All-Star break. It also marked the end of an impressive streak for Paul Olden, Yankee Stadium’s public address announcer.

Olden has served as the PA announcer for the Yankees since 2009, when they began playing at the current Yankee Stadium. But for the first time in more than 1,300 games, Olden’s shoes will be filled by someone else.

The reason for missing the games, which Olden explained on Instagram, is solid. Olden is attending a family wedding.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Paul Olden (@nyypaguy)

“My four year running streak ended almost two years ago and now my 1,339 games Yankees P.A. streak ends tonight with me happily being in southern California for my grand nephew’s wedding,” Olden said. “A new announcing streak starts in two weeks.”

Ryan Giancola of the New York Post reported that Olden’s replacement will be a voice familiar to other sporting events at Yankee Stadium.

“With Olden not handling his normal duties, Mark Fratto will instead be the one announcing the names,” Giancola said. “Yankee Stadium frequenters may already know him since he serves as the announcer for NYFC of the MLS, who play most of their games in The Bronx.”

The first home series for the Yankees after the All-Star break will be a three-game set against the Philadelphia Phillies from July 25-27.