The date was Feb. 27, 1982 at the Imperial Lanes in Toledo, Ohio. Earl Anthony owned the PBA National, and Imperial Lanes. It's a day I'll never forget, as Earl, the defending champion, qualified 1st, and needed to taste victory to become the first PBA player to reach $1 million in career earnings. He was up against my friend, Charlie Tapp, who had qualified 5th, and plowed through Dave Davis, Steve Westberg, and Mike Durbin in order to challenge Earl for the title. It wasn't Charlies's day, as Earl was victorious, 233-191, and earned his 5th PBA National. Earl would come back in 1983 to defend his title, once again, ending up with 6 PBA National titles.  Sit back, and enjoy the final game of the 1982 PBA National. 

Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9k8Vk8kfgD8

Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T7OZJaIyCxU

 

Earl's opponent was Charlie Tapp. I asked Charlie if he had any insight into the match..here's what he said:

"The year before I just missed the top 24 and right afterwards I told my roomie Joe Hutchinson "Hutch,I can win this thing next year". So I looked forward to it for an entire season.

Right before the show Hutch and I talked on the phone and he told me, " Charlie, be sure to stay close no matter what, because somewhere along the line Earl will throw one bad and give you a chance".
I thought he threw 2 of them bad, the greek church in the second and the first one in the 10th. That thing was DOA but he got lucky. I really thought I bowled a better game than he did.
Also considering that the ball I used all week somehow turned up missing on Saturday morning. I had to use one I never touched the entire tournament. I spent more time working on that stupid thing than paying attention to what I was doing.
It was a great thrill no matter what. Plus I have to be in the LeRoy Neiman painting somewhere.

I got a smooth $250.00 for wearing the shirt!

I think that was the show that (Dave) Davis asked for a re-rack and told (Tournament Director) Harry Golden he did it just so he could get him on camera.

Speaking of the re-rack, it took 15 seconds to get Harrys attention because he was looking down while opening a piece of candy. He couldn't hear me because he had the head set on and the wrapper crackled like the building was on fire.
What great memories!"


 

$200,000 TOLEDO TRUST PBA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
Imperial Lanes, Toledo, Ohio, Feb 21-27, 1982

Anthony Makes History

After months of anticipation, years of hard work and brilliant bowling, Earl Anthony climaxed his unparalleled career by winning an unprecedented fifth PBA National Championship to become the first bowler in tour history to surpass $1 million in lifetime money earnings.

Anthony achieved the long-sought goal by defeating Charlie Tapp from the top-seeded position, 233-191, to earn the $38,000 top prize in the $200,000 Toledo Trust PBA National Championship at Imperial Lanes.

Just as in his previous National Championships (1973, 1974, 1975 and 1981), Anthony was the man to beat practically all the way. After surpassing qualifying leader Mike Durbin in the fifth round, the seemingly unstoppable lefthander took control and built a 272-pin first-place margin going into the championship round.

Durbin outlasted Steve Westberg for second place while two-time National Champion Dave Davis secured fourth, with Tapp barely edging veteran Roy Buckley for the fifth and final spot.

Tapp, enjoying an outstanding Winter Tour but still looking for his first PBA title, set out to make his initial victory a major one. He slipped past Davis, 198-194, and Westberg, 221-211, as well as Durbin, 226-197, in his climb up the stepladder format to the championship game.

Anthony, bowling "the biggest game of my life," started with a strike before leaving a 4-6-7-8-10 split in the second frame to fall behind Tapp, who had also suffered an open frame, by three pins.

Anthony came back with three straight strikes, but Tapp doubled in the eighth and ninth frames to put the pressure on, making Anthony mark in the final stanza to lock up the victory.

Anthony's million-dollar ball was uncharacteristically light in the pocket, but the pins scattered as he raised his arms in triumph.

"I've never been this thrilled before in my bowling career," said the winner. "There is no way I can top this victory. It was our national championship on national TV in the highest-paying tournament yet. All that and going over the $1 million mark."

He reached the seven-figure plateau with $12,586 to spare, all earned since 1970. The National represented his 38th PBA title, far more than any other bowler has achieved.

It was an historic victory, highlighting a tremendous career by a truly great individual.

 

CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND

Pos. Name, City/State Total Amount
1 Earl Anthony, Dublin, Calif. 233 (1 game) $38,000
2 Charlie Tapp, S. St. Paul, Minn. 836 (4 games) 20,000
3 Mike Durbin, Chagrin Falls, Ohio 197 (1 game) 11,000
4 Steve Westberg, Cottage Grove, Ore. 211 (1 game) 8,000
5 Dave Davis, Tinton Falls, N.J. 184 (1 game) 6,000

PLAYOFF RESULTS - Tapp defeated Davis, 198-194; Tapp defeated Westberg, 221-211; Tapp defeated Durbin, 226-197; and in the championship match, Anthony defeated Tapp, 233-191.

56-GAME TOTALS

  Name, City Pins Avg   WLT + Tot Amt
1 Earl Anthony, Dublin, Calif.   12502   223.2   15-9-0   450   12952  
2 Mike Durbin, Chagrin Falls, Ohio   12290   219.4   13-11-0   290   12680  
3 Steve Westberg, Cottage Grove, Ore.   12194   217.7   13-10-1   405   12599  
4 Dave Davis, Tinton Falls, N.J.   12077   215.6   16-8-0   480   12557  
5 Charlie Tapp, S. St. Paul, Minn.   12029   214.8   15-9-0   450   12479  
**6 Roy Buckley, New Albany, Ohio   11976   213.8   16-8-0   480   12456   $5,050
7 Bobby Knipple, Long Beach, Calif.   11909   212.6   15-9-0   450   12359   3,850
  John Weltzien, Huntley, 111.   11999   214.2   12-12-0   360   12359   3,850
9 Kevin Gillette, Florence, Ky.   11937   213.1   14-10-0   420   12357   3,300
10 Steve Cook, Roseville, Calif.   12017   214.5   9-15-0   270   12287   3,000
11 Gary Dickinson, Burleson, Texas   11833   211.3   15-9-0   450   12283   2,800
12 Mike Aulby, Indianapolis   11919   212.8   12-12-0   360   12279   2,600
13 Jay Robinson, Van Nuys, Calif.,   11939   213.1   10-13-1   315   12254   2,400
14 Palmer Fallgren, Boca Raton, Fla.   11927   212.9   10-14-0   300   12227   2,300
15 Johnny Petraglia, Manalapan, N.J.   11802   210.7   13-11-0   390   12192   2,200
16 Boysie Huber, St. Louis   11840   211.4   11-13-0   330   12170   2,100
17 Dick Nardozza, Bellefonte, Pa.   11804   210.7   11-13-0   330   12134   2,000
18 Mal Acosta, Hayward, Calif.   11764   210.0   12-12-0   360   12124   1,900
19 Ernie Schlegel, Vancouver, U.S.A.   11704   209.0   12-12-0   360   12064   1,800
20 Paul Moser, Somerset, Mass.   11710   209.1   9-15-0   270   11980   1,700
21 Carmen Salvino, Chicago   11746   209.7   7-17-0   210   11956   1,600
22 Don Johnson, Las Vegas, Nev.   11587   206.9   10-14-0   300   11887   1,500
23 Tom Robards, Carmichael, Calif.   11519   205.6   9-15-0   270   11789   1,400
24 Dave Wilkerson, Chapel Hill, N.C.   11465   204.7   8-16-0   240   11705   1,350

OTHER CASHERS

Pos. Name, City/State Amount
*25 Mike Orlovsky, Endicott, N.Y. $1,335
26 Tom Hinz, Joliet, Ill. 1,230
27 Sam Flanagan, Parkersburg, W. Va. 1,205
28 Pete McCordic, Houston 1,180
29 Randy Pierce, Canton, Mich. 1,155
30 Dick Weber, St. Louis 1,140
31 Jim Robinette, Alexandria, Va. 1,130
32 Jerry Held, Monroe, Mich. 1,120
33 Louie Moore, Columbus, Ohio 1,105
  Dave Soutar, Leawood, Kan. 1,105
35 Ed Martin, Kokomo, Ind. 1,090
36 Ed Ressler Jr., Merrimack, N.H. 1,080
37 John Hricsina, Franklin, Pa. 1,065
  Wayne Webb, Indianapolis 1,065
39 Larry Laub, Santa Rosa, Calif. 1,050
40 Jeff Dreischer, Van Wert, Ohio 1,040
41 Nelson Burton Jr., St. Louis 1,030
42 Ed Walsh, Perth Amboy, N.J. 1,020
43 Jim Ragnoni, Elyria, Ohio 1,010
44 Joe Berardi, Brooklyn, N.Y. 995
  Mark Roth, Spring Lake Hts., N.J. 995
46 Jeff Morin, Cleveland 980
47 Rich Hartman, Godfrey, Ill. 970
48 Jim Snow, Altoona, Pa. 960
49 Art Trask, Fresno, Calif. 950
50 Steve Fehr, Cincinnati. Ohio. 940
51 Alan Granat, Palisade, Colo. 930
52 Steve Lickliter, Beckley, W. Va. 915
  Mike Steinbach, Alsip, Ill. 915
54 Steve Ray, Irving Texas 900
55 Tommy Hudson, Akron, Ohio 890
56 Les Zikes, Palatine. Ill. 880
57 Bob O'Connor, Poway, Calif. 870
58 Gary Cunningham, Baldwinsville, N.Y. 855
  Roger Haskell, Renton, Wash. 855
60 Jim Poulos, Daly City, Calif. 840
61 Steve Smith, Toledo, Ohio 830
62 Butch Soper, Newport Beach, Calif. 820
63 Daniel Ghezzi, Childs, Pa. 810
64 Pete Couture, Windsor Locks, Conn. 800
65 Alvin Lou, El Cajon, Calif. 790
66 Teata Semiz, Fairfield, N.J. 780
67 Mark Baker, Garden Grove. Calif. 765
  Steve Grimes, Escondido, Calif. 765
69 Joe Losurdo, Oswego, N.Y. 745
  George Pappas, Charlotte, N.C. 745
71 Mike Keefe, West Nyack, N.Y. 725
  Hugh Miller, Seattle 725
73 Tom Baker, Buffalo, N.Y. 710
74 Ken Fernandez, Grants Pass, Ore. 700
75 Ken Hochstein, Canton, Mich. 690
76 Ron Bays, Bloomington, Ill. 680
77 Jack Bruderly, Salem, Ohio 670
78 Steve Neff, Sarasota, Fla. 660
79 Bill Spargo, Redford, Mich. 650
80 Guppy Troup, Jacksonville, Fla. 640
81 Cecil Caddel, Dallas 630
82 Joe Viscomi, New London, N.C. 620
83 Greg Nicora, Dearborn Hts., Mich. 610
84 Mike Bair, Hanover, Pa. 600
85 Mark Miller, Twin Falls, Idaho. 590
86 Neil Burton, St. Louis 580
87 Larry Franz, Margate, Fla. 570
88 Tom Nevitt, Jacksonville, Fla. 560
89 Jeff Edens, Wilmington, N.C. 550
90 Gary Morgan, Bloomfield, Conn. 540

* - Match play alternate. ** - TV finals alternate. 32-game qualifying leader - Durbin, 7117. 24th place -Robards, 6701. PRO-AM CASHERS - Earl Anthony ($100). Bill Spigner, Arnie Goldman, Roger Haskell, Pete Weber, Dave Kappel, Mike Durbin, Jimmie Pritts, Mitch Jabczenski, Dick Weber, Gary Skidmore, Jeff Valentine, Ron Williams, George Pappas, Guppy Troup, Alvin Lou, Jim Vernacchio, Paul Gibson, Bob Handley and Fred Conner ($50 each).