It will be a big night for sports talk radio Saturday in Chicago. The 25th anniversary of the format will celebrated at the Chicago Theater.

Michael Wilbon and Chicago radio personality Dan McNeil of WSCR will serve as the co-hosts of the sold-out show. Among the honorees will be Jeff Smulyan, founder of WFAN, the first sports talk station in 1987.

Also being honored are Mike Francesa, Dan Patrick, Angelo Cataldi and the Wing Bowl in Philly.

The event is organized by Bob and Michelle Snyder. They met at a radio station. Bob went on to be a general manager at sports talk outlets in Chicago, Washington and Miami.

“This is a way for us to recognize the format,” said Sndyer, currently a radio consultant for teams and stations. “It is deserving because of the importance of the last 25 years. You look at the impact it had on fans and teams. It truly changed the landscape of sports in America.”

However, this event is highly personal for the Snyders on another level. Proceeds go to Parent Heart Watch, a program designed to protect youth from sudden cardiac arrest.

Their daughter, Jenny, died of sudden cardiac arrest on a soccer field in 2008. I continue to admire the Snyders for working to prevent this tragedy happening to other families.

“As a former GM, this is a chance to rally around an industry that was very good to me and use that industry to raise money for a good cause,” Snyder said.