David Balfour loses brave cancer fight

Grant Balfour left Tampa Bay Rays spring training camp last month to spend time with his dying dad in Sydney.

The baseball world is mourning the death of Australia's David Balfour after he lost a long, brave battle against pancreatic cancer.

Balfour, the former general manager of the Sydney Blue Sox and one of the main drivers of the sport in Australia, inspired his son Grant and other Australians to make it to America's Major League Baseball.

Grant Balfour left spring training with the Tampa Bay Rays last month to spend the last few weeks with his 62-year-old dad, who passed away in Sydney on Wednesday.

"He seems OK," Rays manager Kevin Cash told reporters in the US.

"Not only is your dad sick and passes, but he's also organising a lot of the services.

"He's got a ton on his plate."

After Friday's funeral, the relief pitcher is expected to fly back to the US to join his team.

"Grant seemed clearly motivated to get back and maybe even a little bit more, just watching how his dad fought there at the end," Cash said.


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Source: AAP


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