Chuck Swirsky Dancing Bobblehead with a Cause Unveiled

MILWAUKEE – This morning, in conjunction with the Chicago Bulls’ first victory of the 2024-25 season on Friday night against the Milwaukee Bucks, the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum unveiled a limited-edition Chuck Swirsky Dancing Bobblehead. The longtime play-by-play voice for the Bulls, who just began his 27th season as an NBA broadcaster, celebrates victories by posting dance videos to his social media accounts. The special edition bobblehead is being produced by the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum in conjunction with Chuck Swirsky.

Standing on a red circular base bearing his name, the smiling Swirsky bobblehead, wearing a black suit with a red tie, is in a celebratory dance pose with his right arm in the air. Each bobblehead is individually numbered to 2,024 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 February, are $30 each plus a flat-rate shipping charge of $8 per order.

“After each Bulls win, I love to celebrate with a victory dance,” Swirsky said. “I’m thrilled that we have an opportunity to share the joy with you through this bobblehead. Every penny of my proceeds will go to Chicago Bulls Charities to support children and families in need. This charity is very dear to my heart and I’m glad in some small way I can give back.”

Previously, a talking bobblehead of Swirsky was released in celebration of his 25th season as an NBA broadcaster. In stock and ready to ship, the bobblehead includes several of Chuck’s signature catchphrases that play with the push of a button. Wearing a headset and dressed in a black coat with a red and black striped tie, the smiling Swirsky bobblehead is sitting at a courtside table bearing his name at the bottom of the base with CHICAGO across the front. With Swirsky being known for his enthusiastic catchphrases, the bobblehead plays one of the following at the touch of a button:

• To the rack! Count it! And a foul!
• Bam!
• Onions! Baby onions!
• Oh, baby! What a play!
• Put him in the Hall! Put him in the Hall of Fame!
• A corner snow cone three … Yes! Right down the pipe!
• He rocked the rim with a two-handed power jam!

Hired in May of 2008, Swirsky is in his 17th season handling the radio play-by-play duties while sitting alongside color commentator Bill Wennington on the Bulls Radio Network. He called his 2,000th NBA game during the 2022-23 season. In addition to his in-game duties, the 70-year-old Swirsky has served as a pregame and postgame reporter for BullsTV for all home games. He also contributes regularly to Bulls.com. Swirsky joined the Bulls from the Toronto Raptors where he served as the team’s television play-by-by announcer for seven seasons. Prior to that, he called the action for the Raptors radio broadcasts for three seasons. On March 23, 2007, Swirsky was honored by the Raptors when they gave out 18,000 bobbleheads with his likeness.

Born in Norfolk, Virginia, and raised in Bellevue, Washington, Swirsky started his broadcasting career in Chicago in 1979 at WCFL (AM 1000), hosting the city’s first nightly sports talk show. In 1980, Swirsky was named the public address announcer for the Bulls, serving until 1983. He later rose to prominence while serving as the sports director for WGN-AM in Chicago from 1982 to 1994.  In addition to hosting various sports talk shows, Swirsky also did play-by-play for DePaul basketball games and was the host of the Chicago Bears Radio Network for 10 years and held similar responsibilities for the Chicago Cubs Radio Network for 12 seasons. “Chuck is on the Mount Rushmore of Chicago sports talk radio,” said David Marran, better known at SoxNerd on Twitter. Swirsky’s broadcasting career also included stints with University of Michigan basketball and WJR-AM in Detroit where he anchored the pregame and postgame shows for the Detroit Red Wings and University of Michigan football.

On September 7th, 2016, Swirsky was inducted into the Chicagoland Sports Hall of Fame. He has also been inducted into the Illinois Basketball Coaches Hall of Fame and the WGN Radio Walk of Fame. A three-time winner of the Best Sportscast Award for the state of Michigan, Swirsky was also awarded Best Play-by-Play announcer by The Associated Press in 1996. At the start of the 2022-23 NBA season, Swirsky announced the release of his memoir, “Always a Pleasure.” 

“We are honored to release this second bobblehead of Chicago radio legend Chuck Swirsky,” National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum co-founder and CEO Phil Sklar said. “With his popular catchphrases, positivity and unbridled enthusiasm, Chuck has been a fan favorite for decades. This bobblehead, which will benefit Chicago Bulls Charities, is a must-have for all Bulls’ fans!”

About the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum:
The National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum, which is located at 170 S. 1st St. in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, opened to the public on February 1st, 2019. The HOF and Museum also produces high quality, customized bobbleheads for retail sale as well as organizations, individuals, and teams across the country. Visit us online and on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.