Dodgers Broadcaster Battling Cancer Was Honored During World Series
A familiar voice of the Los Angeles Dodgers has been silent for nearly a year and the reason why was revealed on national television Tuesday during Game 4 of the World Series.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts and broadcast Joe Davis held up their Stand Up To Cancer signs with the name “Charley Steiner” written in the blank space.
Steiner revealed to Los Angeles Times columnist Bill Plaschke that in January, he was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a cancer of the plasma cells in the blood.
Only those in his inner circle knew the battle he was facing, but days ago, after the Dodgers’ victory over the New York Mets in the National League Championship Series securing a World Series showdown with the New York Yankees, Steiner received news that his cancer was in remission.
“Remission is a beautiful word,” he told Plaschke. “Monday was one of those days where it was like, OK, we’re good.”
While Steiner fought his battle away from the spotlight, his world was turned upside-down. He faced relentless, debilitating pain in his lower back, shed 50 pounds, and ended up in a wheelchair. Unable to manage the stairs, he relocated his bed from the second floor to the family room. Nurses were brought in for round-the-clock support. It was a difficult, unrelenting journey.
“He did not want to be the story,” said his longtime broadcasting partner Rick Monday. “I can’t imagine how challenging it has been for him.”
Steiner visited Dodger Stadium a handful of times this season and did his best to be the voice for a few innings “But it hurt. It hurt bad.”
“I could talk and do all the things one does for a living, but the difficulty was remaining upright for an extended period of time, so after only three or four innings I was toast,” Steiner told the New York Post.
This season was supposed to be one of celebration for Steiner, but instead, he spent the summer from his family room bed watching games on television.
“I’ve had incredibly mixed emotions, I should be there, I wanna be there, I’ve been there 20 years, but these are the cards I’ve been dealt,” he said. “This year was supposed to be so great, I turned 75, it’s my 20th with the Dodgers … but it’s been a pain in the ass.”
Steiner intends to return to the booth for the 2025 season and he’s taking life one step at a time to make it happen.
Photo Credit: John Jones-Imagn Images
Have you subscribed to our YouTube Channel yet? Subscribe and hit that notification bell to stay up to date on all the latest Dodgers news, rumors, interviews, live streams, and more!
