Greatest Television Moments in Bowling History
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Don Johnson in 1970.Bowling may not boast the sky-high television ratings these days to rival America’s premier sports, but few can match its rich history and enduring legacy on the boob tube.
Bowling became a staple of TV programming practically from the advent of the television age, and though its popularity has ebbed and flowed over the past 70 years, the sport has managed to retain a robust following on the airwaves. The Professional Bowlers Association made its return to broadcast television in 2019 thanks to a multiyear deal with Fox Sports that includes prime-time events.
From bowling shows hosted by broadcasting legends such as Milton Berle and Mel Allen to the 35-year run of the Pro Bowlers Tour with Chris Schenkel on the mic for ABC, the sport has produced countless magical and memorable moments through the decades.
These are the top television moments in bowling history.
15. Bowling Enters the Television Age
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Comedian Milton Berle and actress Diana Dors on "Jackpot Bowling" in 1961.Date: Dec. 26, 1948
Location: Queens, New York
TV network: ABC
Bottom line: Bowling’s status as one of the longest-running televised sports dates to the medium’s first regularly scheduled bowling television show, "Bowling Headliners," which aired from 1948 to 1950, and was featured on a 1949 cover of TV Guide.
Although the series was shortlived (and apparently all copies of the series have been lost), it established bowling as a viable TV sport and led to far more successful programs such as "Jackpot Bowling," "Make That Spare" and ABC’s "The Pro Bowlers Tour."
14. The $100,000 Perfect Game
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Pete McCordic, second from right, collects his $100,000 check for rolling a 300.Date: Jan. 31, 1987
Location: Los Angeles, California
TV network: ABC
Bottom line: Pete McCordic didn’t win the Greater Los Angeles Open in 1987, but he turned in by far the most memorable performance, rolling a perfect game in the televised stepladder finals to earn a $100,000 bonus.
It was only the fourth televised 300 game in PBA history (and by far the most lucrative to that point) and the first since 1974.
13. Bowling Enters the Major Leagues
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A happy Danny Wiseman.Date: Oct. 31, 2004
Location: Milwaukee, Wisconsin
TV network: ESPN
Bottom line: The 2004 Miller High Life Masters always will be remembered as the first televised bowling match held in a Major League Baseball stadium.
Danny Wiseman won the lone major title of his career at Miller Park, the home of the Milwaukee Brewers.
12. The Battle of the Traber Brothers
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David and Dale Traber.Date: March 5, 1994
Location: Toledo, Ohio
TV network: ABC
Bottom line: In bowling’s version of tennis sibling stars Serena and Venus Williams, David and Dale Taber became the first brothers to meet for a PBA title, in the final match of the PBA National Championship.
David prevailed, 196-187.
11. The Final PBT Telecast
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Longtime ABC bowling broadcaster Chris Schenkel was inducted into the PBA Hall of Fame in 1988.Date: June 21, 1997
Location: Fairview Heights, Illinois
TV network: ABC
Bottom line: One of the longest-running programs in television history came to an end as ABC televised its final match of the Pro Bowlers Tour, which had debuted on the network in 1962.
The emotional final match of the St. Clair Classic featured giants Walter Ray Williams Jr. and Pete Weber, with Williams prevailing 206-196.
In a fitting ending, Weber tossed the final ball of the program, 35 years after his father, Dick, tossed the first one on ABC.
10. Bob Benoit’s Perfect Stunner
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Bob Benoit let the good times roll.Date: Jan. 23, 1988
Location: Grand Prairie, Texas
TV network: ABC
Bottom line: Appearing in his first PBA Tour championship match, Bob Benoit became the first bowler to roll a 300 game in a televised title game, defeating the legendary Mark Roth 300-255 to win the Quaker State Open.
The perfect game brought Benoit a $100,000 bonus to go along with the $27,000 tournament winnings.
9. Liz Johnson’s Television Breakthrough
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Liz Johnson qualified for the men's PBA Uniroyal Tire Classic in Ohio in 2004.Date: March 20, 2004
Location: Wyoming, Michigan
TV network: ESPN
Bottom line: Liz Johnson made history by becoming the first woman ever to appear in the televised finals of a PBA Tour event.
She won her semifinal match at the Banquet Open over Wes Malott before falling to eventual PBA Player of the Year Tommy Jones in the final.
8. Don Carter 'Makes That Spare'
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Don Carter was one of the most successful bowlers in history.Date: Oct. 28, 1961
Location: Paramus, New Jersey
TV network: ABC
Bottom line: Television shows like ABC’s "Make That Spare" and NBC’s "Jackpot Bowling" helped make bowling one of the nation’s most popular sports in the 1950s and ’60s, paving the way for the Pro Bowlers Tour as a staple of Saturday afternoon sports programming for decades.
Don Carter was known as the Babe Ruth of bowling and turned in one of the most memorable moments of this golden era when he became the first bowler to convert the 6-7-8-10 sweepstakes spare on the show.
Carter would convert the same split four episodes later.
7. Walter Ray Williams Jr. passes Earl Anthony
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Walter Ray Williams Jr. seals the deal.Date: Sept. 24, 2006
Location: Tokyo, Japan
TV network: ESPN
Bottom line: Walter Ray Williams Jr. set the record for PBA titles, passing the legendary Earl Anthony, in the Dydo Japan Cup, where he outdueled longtime rival Pete Weber in the final and flirted with a 300 game.
Williams Jr. was two strikes from perfection in the 10th frame, before finishing with a 289 score to capture his 42nd title.
6. Pete Weber’s Historic Win and Outburst
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Pete Webber, champion bowler.Date: Feb. 12, 2012
Location: North Brunswick, New Jersey
TV network: ESPN
Bottom line: The legendary Pete Weber passed his legendary father, Dick, to win a record fifth U.S. Open title in thrilling fashion, rolling a strike on his final ball to edge Mike Fagan, 215-214.
But it was his victorious outburst in response to the heckling he had received from a fan during the match that became etched in bowling lore and inspired an ESPN "30 for 30" short film.
"Who do you think you are? I am!" Weber shouted after winning.
5. Randy Pedersen’s Near Miss
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It's a game of inches.Date: Nov. 8, 1995
Location: Harmarville, Pennsylvania
TV network: ESPN
Bottom line: The championship match of the Touring Players Championship will be remembered as one of the greatest in the sport’s history.
It featured two of the sport’s stars, Ernie Schlegel and Randy Pedersen, who had 20 career PBA titles between them. And the see-saw match came down to the final frame.
Needing a strike to win, Pedersen left an 8 pin standing on what appeared to be a perfect shot.
The always colorful Schlegel reacted by prancing around the lane in celebration like a prizefighter after a last-round knockout.
4. Mark Roth’s 7-10 Split
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Mark Roth, the magician.Date: Jan. 5, 1980
Location: Alameda, California
TV network: ABC
Bottom line: One of the greatest bowlers of all time (34 PBA titles), Mark Roth cemented his place in the history of the sport when he became the first person to pick up the famous 7-10 split on national television at the ARC Alameda Open.
3. Kelly Kulick Breaks the Gender Barrier
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Kelly Kulick in 2010.Date: Jan. 24, 2010
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada
TV network: ESPN
Bottom line: Kelly Kulick became the first woman ever to win a PBA Tour event, dominating 12-time tour winner Chris Barnes, 265-195, in the championship match of the PBA Tournament of Champions, one of the sport’s premier events.
The feat earned Kulick an invitation to the White House for the International Women’s Day reception and kudos from tennis legend and women’s rights pioneer Billie Jean King, who predicted that it would serve as a "motivational and inspirational event for girls and women competing at all levels all around the world."
2. The First Televised 300
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Jack Biondolillo made history in 1967.Date: April 1, 1967
Location: Akron, Ohio
TV network: ABC
Bottom line: Jack Biondolillo rolled the first 300 game on national television at the 1967 Firestone Tournament of Champions.
He accomplished bowling perfection in the opening match of the final round against Les Schissler.
Biondolillo ultimately lost to Don Johnson in the semifinals but pocketed $10,000 for the perfect game.
1. One Pin from Perfection
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Don Johnson can't look after falling a pin short of a 300 game.Date: April 3, 1970
Location: Akron, Ohio
TV network: ABC
Bottom line: Perhaps the most iconic moment in televised bowling bowling history resulted from a failure. Sort of.
One strike away from a perfect 300 game in the finals of the 1970 Firestone Tournament of Champions, Don Johnson left the 10 pin standing on his final ball — planting his face to the floor in disbelief.
Johnson won the prestigious tournament, but that one pin was the difference of $10,000, a hefty sum in 1970 dollars.
He is forever remembered for his dramatic reaction to the final roll, along with that of his wife in the audience, who was in tears.