“Wild, unpredictable, and hilarious.”
That’s how Boston Magazine described Eddie Andleman in 1988, the year he won the mag’s title as “Best Radio Talk Show Host.”
Andelman “transforms the usually numbing sports call-in format into the kind of comedic theater even non-sports fans can enjoy,” the magazine said.
He died Monday at age 88.
“We lost the king,” said veteran New England broadcaster Tom Shattuck, an occasional Howie Carr fill-in and now managing editor of The Maine Wire.
Andelman worked for more than 40 years in sports talk radio in Boston and appeared on more than 100 sports stations throughout the U.S.
He was born in the Boston neighborhood of Dorchester and raised in Brookline, graduating from Brookline High School in 1954.
Andelman then graduated from Boston University and earned an MBA from Northeastern University.
Before starting his career in radio with WBZ in 1969, he ran his family’s real estate development business.
“Sports Huddle,” which had started on WUNR, aired Sundays from 7-10 p.m., and also featured Jim McCarthy and Mark Witkin.
Andelman remained at WBZ until 1971, when he and the show moved to WEEI.
He began a TV program for WNAC, now WHDH, in 1972, which ran until 1976.
Andelman also appeared as a host on WCVB.
Sports Huddle later moved to WTKK and lasted for many years, until 2011.
Andelman’s son David created the Phantom Gourmet restaurant-review television show.
His other sons, including Dan Andelman, also hosted the show.
Andelman and his wife of 57 years, Judith, whom he often called “the fabulous Judy” on Sports Huddle, lived in West Palm Beach, Florida.
“Some call him the godfather of sports radio” sons Dave, Mike and Dan posted online. “He certainly changed and elevated the sports radio game.”
They said he worked tirelessly on the Hot Dog Safari for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation “because he loved to give people a great time and he was thankful that his own family was healthy.”
“There would be no Phantom Gourmet without Eddie Andelman,” his sons said. “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 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. Eddie Andelman lived a truly incredible life.”
