Legendary San Diego Padres broadcaster, Ted Leitner, will have his final broadcast tonight before his indefinite leave of absence; after being diagnosed with cancer.
San Diego Padres legendary play-by-play broadcaster Ted Leitner has called thousands of athletic events over the years as the radio steadfast for San Diego Sports.
That list includes the (former) San Diego Clippers and Chargers, San Diego State athletics, and of course, his beloved San Diego Padres — as well as the sports anchor for San Diego’s KFMB Channel 8.
Tonight’s San Diego Padres home game will be the last broadcast for Ted Leitner before his indefinite leave of absence, after recently making public that he’s in the midst of an intense battle with cancer.
According to the San Diego Union-Tribune, Ted Leitner is diagnosed with kidney cancer, which he will have such organ removed with a surgical procedure tomorrow.
Have always tried to be honest with the radio & TV audience. So will do that now also: I have cancer-and will be off the #Padres broadcast indefinitely after Wednesday’s game. Thank you Padres fans and #aztecfamily for all your support all these wonderful years.
— Ted Leitner (@TedLeitner) May 29, 2018
Ted Leitner is optimistic he will return in a handful of weeks, revealing so in a recent conversation with Kevin Acee.
"“I’m so thankful to be able to continue this last couple months doing the job I love and hopefully be able to do it again in a few weeks.”"
In the interim, Tony Gwynn Jr., (yes, the son of that Tony Gwynn) will sit behind the mic in the absence of Ted Leitner — with Leitner’s partner in crime Jesse Agler joining him in the booth, also.
Mark Grant and Mark Sweeney will also tag team the broadcasting effort when the duo of Gwynn Jr. and Agler are unavailable, while Ted Leitner recovers from surgery.
The San Diego Padres community has taken hit after hit in recent years, with the deaths of Ken Caminiti, Tony Gwynn, and Ted Leitner’s long-time broadcasting partner, Jerry Coleman who passed away in 2014 — to name a few.
"Oh, doctor. You can hang a star on that baby!"
Even though I’m not a St. Louis Cardinals fan, it wasn’t always so. As a young kid in the mid to late 90’s, I grew up in San Diego, listening to the dynamic duo of Jerry Coleman and Ted Leitner.
“…Ball going. GONE!”
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When the San Diego Padres are winning, he labels them as “My Padres.” But, when they are losing, he designates them as “Your Padres.” Ted Leitner has always been outspoken, wearing his heart on his sleeve; full of energy and spunk.
He’ll always tell it like it is, no matter how hard it is to speak such truth about his cherished teams — even if it hurts doing so.
Before the day of smartphones, and, my family couldn’t afford the expensive cable channels, so the radio was always my go-to when consuming San Diego Padres, San Diego State Aztecs, and San Diego Chargers games.
It was a sad day when my family moved to Missouri during my freshman year of high school in 1999, leaving behind the San Diego Padres, Tony Gwynn, Trevor Hoffman, Jerry Coleman, and Ted Leitner.
Remember, the Internet wasn’t nearly what it is now and we couldn’t afford it anyway; so I had no way of listening to Ted Leitner and Jerry Coleman make the call on my beloved San Diego Padres — making my transition into a St. Louis Cardinals and Missouri sports fan that much easier.
After Wednesday night, it’s going to be an end of an era, at least for a significant portion of this MLB season, where the entire San Diego Padres fanbase will have to leave the familiar voice behind — at least for the time being.
Fortunately for me, times have changed, and I’ll get to listen to Ted Leitner’s broadcast before he hangs up the mic — at least for the time being.
Next: Tony Gwynn: Mr. Padre’s legend and legacy
Here’s to a quick recovery, Mr. Leitner. YOUR Padres need you back in that broadcasting booth ASAP. Oh, Doctor, it won’t be the same without you. Hurry back!