and racehorses. Murcer was involved with many charities, including serving as the chairman of the board of the Baseball Assistance Team (B.A.T.), which grants money to former players and other baseball figures who are in need, and holding an annual golf tournament which has raised more than $1 million for the American Cancer Society since 1990. In 1995, he joined with fellow Oklahoman Mickey Mantle to raise money for the victims of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building bombing. B.A.T. presents an annual "Bobby Murcer Award" to the two major league teams (one AL and one NL) whose players commit the most resources to the organization. Murcer also appeared in celebrity rodeos for various charitable organizations showing his skills in riding horses and roping. Illness and death According to the New York Daily News, Murcer had been suffering from headaches and a lack of energy. He was diagnosed with a brain tumor (glioblastoma multiforme) on Christmas Eve, 2006, and underwent surgery four days later at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. On January 10, 2007, it was announced that the tumor was malignant. Murcer made his first post-operative appearance on fellow Yankee broadcaster Michael Kay's radio show on WEPN on January 23, 2007. He was interviewed by Kay and took phone calls from listeners. Murcer concluded the interview by saying, "I want to thank you very much for giving me the forum to do this because I wanted you to know that even though this looks bad, I'm doing great. I really am. I'm in a great place. God has given me peace and the overwhelming love has been insurmountable for me to even deal with. I can feel the fans. I can feel their thoughts and their prayers and I wanted to tell them how much I love them." Murcer returned to Yankee Stadium for Opening Day of the 2007 season. He called an inning with the YES Network crew, and once his presence was pointed out on the video scoreboard, he received a standing ovation from the crowd, with the Yankees coming out of the dugout to applaud him. He returned to work as an announcer in the booth on May 1, 2007. The Tug McGraw Foundation, which supports research to improve quality of life for brain tumor patients and their families, honored Murcer as their "Good Guy of 2007". The award was