Mark Roth
Encyclopedia
Mark Roth is a former professional bowler
. He was born in Brooklyn
, New York City
, New York
. As a youth he resided in Meiers Corners
, Staten Island
, New York City, New York.
(PBA). His 34 PBA titles place him fourth on the all-time PBA Tour
winners list, behind Walter Ray Williams
, Earl Anthony
and Pete Weber
. He was the second professional bowler to surpass US$1 million in career winnings, with Anthony being the first. His eight titles won in 1978 are still the PBA record for a single season, topping the previous mark of seven titles set by Billy Hardwick
in 1969. Roth won another seven titles in the 1979 season while collecting his third consecutive PBA Player of the Year award. He won his only career major title (U.S. Open
) in 1984, after having qualified for 10 previous "major" television finals without winning. Roth was inducted into the PBA Hall of Fame in 1987, and the United States Bowling Congress
(USBC) Hall of Fame in 2009.
Roth was well known for his high powered "cranker" style that has been copied by many bowlers since. Despite the power he generated, Roth was also one of the best spare shooters of all time, as he is notable for being the first bowler to pick up the 7-10 Split on television, on 5 January 1980. In addition, Roth utilized a unique six-step delivery. (Most bowlers regard a four-step or five-step delivery to be the classic form and the most effective way to throw a bowling ball.)
Roth shot a 299 during the televised finals to win his very first PBA tournament at the 1975 King Louie Open in Overland Park
, Kansas
. Roth repeated the feat, shooting a 299 during the televised finals of the 1987 Greater Buffalo Open in Cheektowaga, New York. On 6 October 2006, Roth won the very first Generations Bowling Tour event, defeating Dale Eagle in the final 237-234, and averaged 241 over the three-game stepladder final.
which has left him partially paralyzed on his left side. His rehabilitation is ongoing, but Roth was seen in late March 2010 on his feet and moving around at the Geico
Mark Roth Plastic Ball Championship, a PBA Tournament named in his honor. On March 6, 2011, as part of the 2011 Mark Roth Plastic Ball Championship, he rolled the honorary first ball for the televised finals and downed seven pins.
. He is Jewish.
Ten-pin bowling
Ten-pin bowling is a competitive sport in which a player rolls a bowling ball down a wooden or synthetic lane with the objective of scoring points by knocking down as many pins as possible.-Summary:The lane is bordered along its length by semicylindrical channels Ten-pin bowling (commonly just...
. He was born in Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
, New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. As a youth he resided in Meiers Corners
Meiers Corners, Staten Island
Meiers Corners is a neighborhood on Staten Island, one of the five boroughs of New York City, USA.-Location:Meiers Corners is sometimes confused with the adjacent neighborhood of Westerleigh; however, Westerleigh is generally understood to mean the area immediately west of Castleton Corners that is...
, Staten Island
Staten Island
Staten Island is a borough of New York City, New York, United States, located in the southwest part of the city. Staten Island is separated from New Jersey by the Arthur Kill and the Kill Van Kull, and from the rest of New York by New York Bay...
, New York City, New York.
Bowling career
Roth is a member of the Professional Bowlers AssociationProfessional Bowlers Association
The Professional Bowlers Association is the major sanctioning body for the sport of professional ten-pin bowling in the United States. Headquartered in Seattle, Washington, the PBA membership consists of almost 4,300 members worldwide...
(PBA). His 34 PBA titles place him fourth on the all-time PBA Tour
PBA Tour
The Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour is the major professional tour for ten-pin bowling, operated by the Professional Bowlers Association. Headquartered in Seattle, Washington, the PBA Tour consists of "exempt" bowlers who are a part of the almost 4,300 members worldwide...
winners list, behind Walter Ray Williams
Walter Ray Williams
Walter Ray Williams, Jr. is one of the top-ranking professional ten-pin bowlers in history. He currently holds the record for all-time standard PBA Tour career titles and total PBA earnings...
, Earl Anthony
Earl Anthony
Earl Roderick Anthony was a left-handed American professional bowler who amassed records of 41 titles and six bowler of the year awards on the Professional Bowlers Association Tour. His title count was amended to 43 in 2008, when the PBA chose to include ABC Masters titles earned by a PBA member...
and Pete Weber
Pete Weber
Peter David "Pete" Weber, nicknamed “PDW”, , is a famous bowling professional on the Professional Bowlers Association Tour. Weber is one of the sport's most popular active players and is well known for his maverick, rebellious personality...
. He was the second professional bowler to surpass US$1 million in career winnings, with Anthony being the first. His eight titles won in 1978 are still the PBA record for a single season, topping the previous mark of seven titles set by Billy Hardwick
Billy Hardwick
Billy Hardwick is a former right-handed ten-pin bowler and member of the Professional Bowlers Association. He currently hails from Florida.-PBA career:...
in 1969. Roth won another seven titles in the 1979 season while collecting his third consecutive PBA Player of the Year award. He won his only career major title (U.S. Open
U.S. Open (bowling)
The U.S. Open is one of the four major tournaments in the Professional Bowlers Association. The first modern-day U.S. Open tournament in the PBA took place in 1971 and was won by Mike Limongello. With four victories, Pete Weber holds the most modern-day U.S. Open trophies.The U.S...
) in 1984, after having qualified for 10 previous "major" television finals without winning. Roth was inducted into the PBA Hall of Fame in 1987, and the United States Bowling Congress
United States Bowling Congress
The United States Bowling Congress is a sports membership organization dedicated to ten-pin bowling in the United States. It was formed in 2005 by a merger of the American Bowling Congress, Women's International Bowling Congress, Young American Bowling Alliance, and USA Bowling...
(USBC) Hall of Fame in 2009.
Roth was well known for his high powered "cranker" style that has been copied by many bowlers since. Despite the power he generated, Roth was also one of the best spare shooters of all time, as he is notable for being the first bowler to pick up the 7-10 Split on television, on 5 January 1980. In addition, Roth utilized a unique six-step delivery. (Most bowlers regard a four-step or five-step delivery to be the classic form and the most effective way to throw a bowling ball.)
Roth shot a 299 during the televised finals to win his very first PBA tournament at the 1975 King Louie Open in Overland Park
Overland Park, Kansas
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 149,080 people, 59,703 households, and 39,702 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,627.0 people per square mile . There were 62,586 housing units at an average density of 1,102.9 per square mile...
, Kansas
Kansas
Kansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
. Roth repeated the feat, shooting a 299 during the televised finals of the 1987 Greater Buffalo Open in Cheektowaga, New York. On 6 October 2006, Roth won the very first Generations Bowling Tour event, defeating Dale Eagle in the final 237-234, and averaged 241 over the three-game stepladder final.
Awards and recognition
- Four-time PBA Player of the Year (1977, 1978, 1979, 1984)
- Six-time winner of the PBA High Average Award
- PBA recordholder for most titles (8) in a single season (1978)
- Inducted into PBA Hall of FamePBA Hall of FameThe Philippine Basketball Association Hall of Fame is an institution that honors selected former players and personalities of the Philippine Basketball Association. It was launched in 2005 during the Reunion Game pitting two teams consisting of the PBA's 25th Anniversary All-Time Team...
, 1987 - Inducted into International Jewish Sports Hall of FameInternational Jewish Sports Hall of FameThe International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame was opened July 7, 1981, in Netanya, Israel. It honors Jewish athletes and their accomplishments from anywhere around the world....
, 1992 - Ranked 5th on the PBA's 2008 list of "50 Greatest Players of the Last 50 Years"
Post-career
On June 4, 2009, Mark Roth suffered a strokeStroke
A stroke, previously known medically as a cerebrovascular accident , is the rapidly developing loss of brain function due to disturbance in the blood supply to the brain. This can be due to ischemia caused by blockage , or a hemorrhage...
which has left him partially paralyzed on his left side. His rehabilitation is ongoing, but Roth was seen in late March 2010 on his feet and moving around at the Geico
GEICO
The Government Employees Insurance Company is an auto insurance company. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway that as of 2007 provided coverage for more than 10 million motor vehicles owned by more than 9 million policy holders. GEICO writes private passenger automobile insurance...
Mark Roth Plastic Ball Championship, a PBA Tournament named in his honor. On March 6, 2011, as part of the 2011 Mark Roth Plastic Ball Championship, he rolled the honorary first ball for the televised finals and downed seven pins.
Personal life
Roth and his wife Denise reside in Fulton, New YorkFulton, Oswego County, New York
Fulton is a small city in Oswego County, New York, United States. The population was 11,855 at the 2000 census. The city is named after Robert Fulton, inventor of the steamboat.The city of Fulton is located in the western part of the county....
. He is Jewish.
In the media
- Roth makes a brief appearance in the bowling movie KingpinKingpin (film)Kingpin is a 1996 slapstick comedy film directed by the Farrelly brothers and starring Woody Harrelson, Randy Quaid, Vanessa Angel, and Bill Murray...
, along with several other professional bowlers. - Roth also appears in an early 1980s episode of Fantasy IslandFantasy IslandFantasy Island is the title of two separate but related American fantasy television series, both originally airing on the ABC television network.-Original series:...
. He plays an opponent of a 153-average bowler fulfilling a fantasy to compete and win against professionals.
External links
- Biography at pba.com
- Jewish Hall Of Fame