San Diego Radio: Padres Radio Voice Discloses Cancer

Ted Leitner (Union-Tribune photo)

Ted Leitner, who has called MLB San Diego Padres games since 1980, is taking an indefinite leave of absence to undergo treatment for kidney cancer.

According to ESPN, Leitner, 71, posted the news on Twitter on Tuesday, writing that Wednesday would be his last game for the near future.

"I'd love to be back for the next homestand," he told reporters. "I don't do well being away from the booth and the Padres, so let's make this as short as possible."

Leitner will undergo surgery to remove the kidney on Thursday and said he is hopeful he'll be able to return to the booth later this season. He said his doctors have told him the cancer hasn't spread.

"From everything I've been told, the outlook is positive," Leitner said. "My other kidney is apparently healthy. My attitude is let's get this done and return to what I love doing as soon as possible."

Leitner is also the radio play-by-play voice of San Diego State football and basketball, and called Clippers and Chargers games when those teams were in San Diego.

He has not missed a Padres road trip since he became the radio play-by-play voice of the team almost 40 years ago, he said. Tony Gwynn Jr. is expected to fill in for Leitner while he is gone.

"We wish our dear friend Ted Leitner a speedy recovery from surgery," Padres executive chairman Ron Fowler and managing partner Peter Seidler said in a statement. "While we'll miss hearing his voice in the booth over the next few weeks, we know he'll be back healthy and stronger than ever. Our thoughts and prayers are with him during this time."