Media

The longtime host of "The Sports Huddle," Andelman was known for his quick wit and the millions he helped raise for cystic fibrosis research.

Legendary broadcaster Eddie Andelman, who helped pioneer the modern-day sports talk radio format, has died at the age of 89. 

Andelman’s children announced his death Monday on social media. 

“Eddie Andelman was loved by his wife of fifty seven years, worshipped by his sons, and adored by his grandchildren,” they wrote. “From humble roots in Dorchester, he went onto great success in business and broadcasting. Some call him the godfather of sports radio. He certainly changed and elevated the sports radio game.”

Andelman’s 42-year broadcasting career began in 1969 when he started “The Sports Huddle” with friends Jim McCarthy and Mark Witkin. The show was born after a local radio station owner overheard Andelman and his friends talking sports at a bar, he told The Boston Globe. 

“The Sports Huddle” was first broadcast on WUNR, a small Brookline-based station before moving to WBZ, WEEI, and WHDH. The groundbreaking show brought a live, interactive experience to Boston-area airwaves for the first time. What started as a weekly, Sunday night show grew into a primetime weekday series that set a template that dominates the market today. 

Andelman participated in around 13,000 radio broadcasts over his career, according to his Massachusetts Broadcasters Hall of Fame biography. He also appeared more than 1,200 times on TV. Andelman retired at the end of 2010. 

“Andelman’s astute observations and good humor attracted fans of all ages to join the discussions. The show became a model for similar programs across the country,” the biography reads. 

Andelman was a Boston University graduate who obtained an MBA from Northeastern University. Outside of the radio booth, Andelman worked in commercial real estate development. 

“One of the reasons I was successful in radio is because I never gave a damn if I was fired because I knew I could make a living doing something else,” he told the Globe.

Andelman’s legacy also includes substantial charitable work. He created the annual Hot Dog Safari event in 1989, as a way to showcase local restaurants and raise money for cystic fibrosis research. Through 21 Hot Dog Safaris, Andelman helped raise more than $5 million for the Joey Fund, which works to find a cure for cystic fibrosis. Andelman was named Jimmy Fund Man of the Year, Joey Fund Man of the Year, and Jewish Big Brother Man of the Year over the years. 

Andelman’s sons carried on his broadcasting tradition through the Phantom Gourmet restaurant review program.  

“There would be no Phantom Gourmet without Eddie Andelman. His passion and pride in the work, down to earth and sometimes irreverent style, and the reverence for small business owners and hard working people only enriched our lives and well as many others as well.  We learned all that we do from our dad. He was one of a kind. He helped thousands and entertained millions,” Andelman’s sons wrote on social media.