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Charley Steiner, Back From Cancer, Is Living His Childhood Dream With Dodgers

Charley Steiner, the longtime radio play-by-play man for the Los Angeles Dodgers, is calling the club's home playoff games this postseason on the Dodgers Radio Network. His work in the booth includes Tuesday's Game 3 of the National League Championship Series against the Milwaukee Brewers.

His return to the booth comes after a long fight with cancer, marking a triumph for a broadcaster who has spent the last 22 seasons serving as one of the voices of the Dodgers.

For Steiner, working for the franchise represents the realization of a goal formed in early childhood. He spent 14 years at ESPN before joining the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Steiner said, "When I was seven years old, I wanted to be the announcer for the Brooklyn Dodgers." He added, "Without any question, that’s what I wanted to be when I grew up." Lon Rosen, a longtime Los Angeles Dodgers executive, said, "You think about Charley Steiner’s voice; it’s just perfect," adding, "He wanted the job, so it was an easy negotiation."

The veteran announcer faced a major health challenge when he was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a blood cancer, in his mid-70s. Steiner said, "That’s not the kind of news you want to hear from anybody," and remembered thinking, "How am I going to get through this?" Steiner endured severe physical tolls, losing 50 pounds and fighting through fractures in his back.

Rick Monday, his longtime broadcast partner, said, "To wonder if he’s going to get better, how long it’s going to take him to get better," and stated, "He’s gone through hell."

Steiner kept his illness private until Game 4 of the 2024 World Series. During that game's Stand Up to Cancer moment, Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts honored Steiner by holding up a sign with Steiner's name written on it.

Roberts said, "I just felt that it was an opportunity for me to tell him I loved him, I’m thinking about him, and I’m praying for him."

Late in 2024, Steiner learned his cancer was in remission. Steiner said, "I started doing an inning here, inning there, and it wasn’t great." He added, "But I also knew if I get better, I can do this again." On Aug.

15, Steiner called all nine innings for the first time since his return, in a game against the Milwaukee Brewers. Steiner said, "This game was the most meaningful event I had ever been associated with."

This report also draws on coverage from Yahoo Sports, MLB.com.

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