Post by Zoo Master on May 7, 2010 0:21:22 GMT -5
AMONG THE MANY BOWLING polls that have been taken over the years was a 1970 survey in which a group of 48 veteran bowling writers were asked by the ABC to select an All-America bowling team from the pre-1950 era.
The first nine men named were Hank Marino, Jimmy Smith, Ned Day, Joe Wilman, Andy Varipapa, Jimmy Blouin, Joe Norris, Junie McMahon, and Buddy Bomar, in that order. That was no great surprise because all of them had previously been elected to the ABC Hall of Fame.
The 10th man was John "Count" Gengler, a selection that raised many eyebrows. His name can't be found in the record books because he did very little formal competitive bowling. Gengler didn't participate in leagues, tournaments, or organized matches. He shunned notice and hid from headlines. During his heyday in the 1920s and before, it was in his interest not to be well known. You see, Gengler was a bowling hustler.
By the time Gengler died in 1957 at age 80, the tales of his prowess were legendary. He quietly toured the country, enticing bowlers into big-money matches with his non-threatening onestep delivery. It has been said that he once rolled a 300 game in the dark and was one of the most accurate bowlers in history.
His feats were acknowledged by contemporary bowlers--and, obviously, by bowling journalists as well. Today he's still considered one of the greatest bowlers of all time, despite his lack of official standings and statistics.
www.bowlersjournal.com/?p=491
The first nine men named were Hank Marino, Jimmy Smith, Ned Day, Joe Wilman, Andy Varipapa, Jimmy Blouin, Joe Norris, Junie McMahon, and Buddy Bomar, in that order. That was no great surprise because all of them had previously been elected to the ABC Hall of Fame.
The 10th man was John "Count" Gengler, a selection that raised many eyebrows. His name can't be found in the record books because he did very little formal competitive bowling. Gengler didn't participate in leagues, tournaments, or organized matches. He shunned notice and hid from headlines. During his heyday in the 1920s and before, it was in his interest not to be well known. You see, Gengler was a bowling hustler.
By the time Gengler died in 1957 at age 80, the tales of his prowess were legendary. He quietly toured the country, enticing bowlers into big-money matches with his non-threatening onestep delivery. It has been said that he once rolled a 300 game in the dark and was one of the most accurate bowlers in history.
His feats were acknowledged by contemporary bowlers--and, obviously, by bowling journalists as well. Today he's still considered one of the greatest bowlers of all time, despite his lack of official standings and statistics.
www.bowlersjournal.com/?p=491
