Les Grobstein, 670 The Score overnight host, dead at 69

Les Grobstein, 670 The Score overnight host, dead at 69

 

Les Grobstein, a Chicago sports broadcasting legend and longtime host on 670 The Score, died Sunday at his home in Elk Grove Village, according to the station. He had died at the age of 69 years. Grobstein is survived by his son Scott and his lifelong partner Kathy.

 

Les Grobstein, A Legend:

“Meanwhile, everyone on our team is in shambles. Mitch Rosen, The Score’s operations director, remarked, “Overnight, our audience lost a terrific friend.” “Les Grobstein was explicitly a legendary figure whom we will never forget the rest of his life. He was a best friend to a lot of people who didn’t even know he existed. This is radio’s power.”

 

A Walking Encyclopedia of Local Sports Knowledge:

“The Grobber,” who had been off the air due to sickness, started working overnights at The Score in 2009. Somehow, he has a long career in Chicago sports media. Moreover, he was a walking encyclopedia of local sports knowledge, with a steel-trap memory for the tiniest of details.

 

“Sports are discussed in terms of eating, living, and breathing.” He was wed to this life, and nothing could separate them,” said George Ofman, a long-time Chicago radio host. “He had a savant-like ability.” For much over 30 years, I sat next to him in press boxes. Les was a hilarious guy at the same time who wasn’t actually funny. He was generally everyone’s friend

 

In 1970, he began his broadcasting career as a commentator for Northwestern basketball. However, he did this after graduating from Von Steuben High School and Columbia College. He worked as a reporter for Sportsphone Chicago while being the sports director for WLS (890-AM) and as a reporter for WMVP (1000-AM). Many former local teams used Grobstein as a broadcaster and public-address announcer.

 

Working in Sportsphone:

From 1977 through 1990, Ofman and Grobstein worked together at Sportsphone, a paid service that offered callers with up-to-the-minute news and scores. While recalling Les Grobstein eating Gino’s pizza and watching “The Three Stooges” daily in his old office on the 31st floor of the John Hancock Center.

 

After a tight loss at Wrigley Field on April 29, 1983, Grobstein was the only person in the clubhouse with a microphone when then-Cubs manager Lee Elia embarked on his memorable profanity-laced rant. Elia screamed at Cubs fans who heckled the players that day. However, Grobstein, who worked at WLS at the time, videotaped everything.

 

“We are profoundly saddened to learn of the demise of our friend and 670 The Score radio broadcaster Les Grobstein,” the Bears said in a statement regarding Grobstein. Generally, Les was a true media legend of the last 50 years, with an unrivaled understanding of Chicago sports history. Les Grobstein was happy to have seen over 100 Bears-Packers games during his career.  The first of which he remembered vividly from 1963.

 

 

A Delight to Talk:

On game days, he was always a delight to talk to, and anybody who spoke with Les learned something new. We send our condolences and sympathies to his family, especially his beloved Kathy and son Scott. Our deepest condolences to his friends, and countless loyal listeners on behalf of the entire Bears organization.

 

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