BOSTON — Eddie Andelman, an 89-year-old sports talk radio personality, died in Boston. His sons Dave, Mike, and Dan Andelman announced his death on Monday in a statement posted on the Phantom Gourmet's Facebook page.

Andelman worked in Boston sports talk radio for 42 years. He began his radio career in 1969 at WNUR and started "The Sports Huddle" with Jim McCarthy and Mark Witkin. The show was first broadcast on WUNR, a Brookline-based station, before moving to WBZ, WEEI, and WHDH, where it ran for 17 years.

Andelman appeared in approximately 13,000 radio broadcasts and more than 1,200 television appearances, including several commentaries on WCVB. He returned to WEEI in 1991 and retired on December 31, 2010. In 2011, he was inducted into the Massachusetts Broadcasters Hall of Fame.

Andelman was married for 57 years. His sons stated that "Eddie Andelman was loved by his wife of fifty-seven years, worshipped by his sons, and adored by his grandchildren." They also said, "From humble roots in Dorchester, he went on to great success in business and broadcasting." Andelman, who was from Dorchester, obtained a degree from Boston University and an MBA from Northeastern University. He also worked in commercial real estate development.

Andelman helped to create WWE's King of the Ring in 1985. He also created the annual Hot Dog Safari event in 1989 for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Through 21 Hot Dog Safaris, he helped raise more than $5 million for the Joey Fund. He received several honors, including being named Jimmy Fund Man of the Year, Joey Fund Man of the Year, and Jewish Big Brother Man of the Year.

His sons stated, "Some call him the godfather of sports radio. He certainly changed and elevated the sports radio game." They also noted, "There would be no Phantom Gourmet without Eddie Andelman." Andelman once said, "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." His sons concluded, "Eddie Andelman lived a truly incredible life."