A Syracuse graduate and an Army veteran, Mr. Musser was in the booth for Phillies games from 1976 to 2001. During that time, he worked with the team's most revered broadcasters, Harry Kalas and Richie Ashburn. He broadcast two World Series, two Super Bowls and two Masters Championships.
In more than a quarter-century of calling Phillies games, Mr. Musser missed only two - both because of laryngitis.
He was instrumental in the careers of Phillies broadcaster Chris Wheeler and 76ers coach Doug Collins, a longtime NBA announcer.
"I can't look at anybody in my life who was more important than Andy Musser," Wheeler said. "He was my first partner. He and I, with Harry and Whitey [Ashburn], we were it.
"They put me in the booth in '77 because he had worked by himself in '76. They wanted somebody to help out. That's how I got in there. I owe him everything. He was the ultimate professional. Andy was the guy who held the booth together, we always said."
Mr. Musser also made an impact on Collins, who became a highly regarded broadcaster before returning to coaching.
"Andy was my first TV partner and he taught me the TV business." Collins said. "There was no better pro than him and we're all going to miss him. Andy was a hell of a guy."
Mr. Musser's most memorable call came in the penultimate game of the regular season in 1980, when the Phillies beat the Expos in Montreal to clinch the National League East on a Schmidt home run.
"There's a great replay when Mike hits the home run off Stan Bahnsen and Andy goes, 'He buried it!' Wheeler recalled.
"I remember thinking to myself [of Musser], 'He nailed it.' I was so happy for him. Those are the kinds of things a lot of broadcasters don't rehearse. It happens, and you either hit it or you don't. And he hit it. He hit it right on the nose."
