Murcer said clear of cancer growth

NEW YORK, March 27 (UPI) -- Former New York Yankee slugger Bobby Murcer has been cleared of a malignant brain cancer, the team said Tuesday.

Murcer was diagnosed with brain cancer on Christmas Eve. He had surgery to remove the tumor shortly after the cancer was discovered. Tests completed last week at the MD Andersen Cancer Center in Houston led doctors to report that Murcer was clear of any growth from the tumor.

The course of treatment included extensive chemotherapy and radiation treatments. He has also qualified for a clinical trial and will receive a vaccine shot this week and once a month thereafter.

Murcer played 13 of his 17 major league seasons with the Yankees. He was a career .277 hitter with 252 home runs and 1,043 runs batted in. He also played for San Francisco and the Chicago Cubs.

He has been a broadcaster on Yankees games since his retirement as a player in 1983.