Chicago Radio Host Grobstein Honored By Mayor With Bobblehead

CHICAGO — Les Grobstein was many things to many overnight sports radio listeners to Chicago. He was their walking sports encyclopedia, a companion for those who suffered from insomnia and a familiar voice for those who couldn’t get enough chatter about their favorite teams.

Now, the long-time radio personality, who died in January at the age of 69, has been memorialized in a bobblehead unveiled Friday by the Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum in Wisconsin.

The release of the bobblehead bearing Grobstein’s image comes on a day Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot has proclaimed Les Grobstein Day in Chicago. Friday would have marked Grobstein’s 70th birthday, which made for the perfect occasion to remember the popular media personality who was known affectionately by his fans and colleague as “The Grobber.”

“(Friday) is in recognition of his indelible contributions to Chicago sports and encourages all residents to join in honoring the life of a man whose legacy will live on in the hearts and lives of all those who knew and loved him,” Lightfoot wrote in the proclamation.

Grobstein spent more than 50 years working in Chicago media, most recently as the overnight host at 670-AM The Score. He previously served as the sports director at WLS-AM and was a fixture in press boxes across the city. Among his accomplishments was covering more than 100 Bears-Packers games during his career.

Grobstein is perhaps most known for recording former Cubs manager Lee Elia's memorable profanity-laced postgame tirade criticizing fans for turning on the team during a losing season. Grobstein was known to play the recording on an annual basis to commemorate the anniversary of the long rant.

Each of the bobbleheads will be individually numbered and they are only available through the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum’s Online Store. The bobbleheads, which are expected to ship in July, are $30 each plus a flat-rate shipping charge of $8 per order.

“The family is still reeling from the sudden loss of Les, but we are thrilled to see this bobblehead released on his birthday,” Grobstein’s family said in a statement released by the Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum, “He was a bobblehead fan and would have loved seeing his bobblehead unveiled today."

For long-time colleagues of Grobstein’s, the popular radio voice who also served as the play-by-play announcer for several of the city’s minor league sports franchises, being remembered by being honored by the city and in bobblehead form would have been special — even though he would have never lent to voice to making a push to be honored.

“Outwardly you wouldn’t hear him express it, but internally Les would have loved it,” Grobstein's friend and colleague, WBEZ sports contributor Cheryl (Raye) Stout wrote in an email to Patch on Friday. "It would have been interesting to see Les finally get the accolades he so richly deserved. Les loved being in the moments of every sporting event. That is why he took photos at every opportunity, but this being centered on him would have been very interesting. (I) still can’t believe Les is gone."