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Longtime Athletics broadcaster Ray Fosse steps away amid 16-year battle with cancer

The Oakland Athletics announced Thursday that longtime broadcaster Ray Fosse will step away from the booth after battling with cancer for the last 16 years.

Fosse said in a statement that he wishes to focus on his treatment and spend time with his family given his "current medical condition." The A's and their television affiliate NBC Sports California also released a statement affirming their support for Fosse's decision.

Fosse's full statement:

Along with my wife of 51 years, Carol, today we share that I have been silently battling cancer for the past 16 years. Given my current medical condition, I am taking a step away from the A's and NBC Sports California effective immediately, to focus on my treatment and to be with my family during this time. My wife, Carol, and I extend our gratitude to the baseball community, and community at large, for your thoughts and prayers.

Ray Fosse

A 12-year MLB veteran at catcher and two-time World Series champion with the A's, Fosse has worked as a color commentator in Oakland since 1986. Alongside play-by-play announcer Glen Kuiper and fellow analyst Dallas Braden, Fosse's booths have ranked well among recent rankings of MLB broadcasters.

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