Rangers broadcast Grieve diagnosed with prostate cancer

5/23/2008 6:41 PM

CLEVELAND (AP) -Texas Rangers television analyst Tom Grieve, who was also a player and general manager in the organization, will have prostate surgery next month.

The 60-year-old Grieve will broadcast the team's games through June 8, a day before his scheduled surgery in Arlington, Texas. He expects to be out of the booth for two to three weeks after surgery.

``I feel fine,'' Grieve said before the Rangers opened a three-game series against the Indians in Cleveland. ``I'm confident this is the best possible treatment I can get. Hopefully, I will be back at work two or three weeks after the surgery.''

Grieve said he learned there may be a problem during his annual physical in February. After further testing, he was informed of the cancer diagnosis in mid-April.

``I won't say it's a common thing, but most people know somebody who has had this type of surgery,'' Grieve said. ``With early detection, the success rate is very high. I feel very good about the prognosis.''

Grieve has served as the TV analyst on Rangers broadcasts for 14 years. He was the team's general manager from 1984-94.

As a player, Grieve was picked in the first round of the 1966 draft by the Washington Senators. He made his major league debut with the Senators in 1970, and was with the franchise when it moved to Texas in 1972. He played with the Rangers through 1977.

Grieve played for the New York Mets in 1978 and retired after playing nine games for the St. Louis Cardinals in 1979. In 670 games and nine seasons, mostly as an outfielder, Grieve batted .249 with 65 homers and 254 RBIs.

His son Ben Grieve also played in the major leagues and was AL Rookie of the Year in 1998 for Oakland.