Frank Messer was a renowned American sportscaster, best known for his work in radio and television broadcasting of Major League Baseball games. Born on June 8, 1925, in Asheville, North Carolina, Messer's career spanned over four decades, during which he covered a wide range of sports, including baseball, football, and basketball.

Messer began his broadcasting career in 1949 at a small radio station in Maryland. He then moved to WFMD in Frederick, Maryland, where he worked as a play-by-play announcer for the Frederick Hustlers, a minor league baseball team. In 1956, he joined WBAL-TV in Baltimore, where he served as the sports director and play-by-play announcer for the Baltimore Orioles.

In 1968, Messer joined the New York Yankees' broadcasting team, replacing Joe Garagiola. He worked alongside Phil Rizzuto and Bill White, forming a broadcasting trio that would become one of the most famous in baseball history. Messer was the lead play-by-play announcer for the Yankees from 1968 to 1985, during which he called three World Series championships (1977, 1978, and 1981) and several other memorable moments in Yankees history.

Messer was known for his calm, straightforward broadcasting style, which contrasted with the more colorful and flamboyant styles of his colleagues Rizzuto and White. He was also known for his meticulous preparation for each game, often arriving at the ballpark hours before the game to gather information and statistics.

In addition to his work with the Yankees, Messer also worked for ABC Sports, where he covered college football and basketball games, and for CBS Radio, where he covered the World Series and All-Star Games. He also served as a play-by-play announcer for the New York Giants football team from 1976 to 1985.

Messer retired from broadcasting in 1985, but remained active in the sports world, serving as a consultant for the Yankees and working on various sports-related projects. He was inducted into the New York State Broadcasters Association Hall of Fame in 1998.

Frank Messer passed away on April 8, 2001, at the age of 76. His legacy lives on in the world of sports broadcasting, where he is remembered as one of the great voices of baseball.

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