Untitled Document

All About Professional PBA Bowlers

The Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) 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. Members include "pro shop" owners and workers, teaching professionals and bowlers who compete in the various events put on by the Association.

The PBA also oversees competition between professional bowlers via the following tours:
PBA Tour - An annual calendar of events, running from September to April each year. Through 2011, Lumber Liquidators will be the major sponsor of the PBA Tour.
PBA Women's Series - Selected PBA Tour events include a separate event for female professionals.
PBA Senior Tour - Like the PBA Tour, PBA members 50 years and older are able to compete in their own events.
PBA Regional Tour - Allowing exempt and non-exempt members, and amateurs to compete in weekend events. The Tour consists of seven regions: Central, East, Midwest, Northwest, South, Southwest, and West.

The PBA Hall of Fame was founded in 1975 with eight initial inductees: Ray Bluth, "Square" Earl Anthony, Don Carter, Carmen Salvino, Harry Smith, Dick Weber, Billy Welu, Frank Esposito and Chuck Pezzano. Since its inception, it was located at the International Bowling Museum and Hall of Fame in St. Louis, Missouri. It will now become part of the new USBC headquarters in Arlington, Texas, and is slated to open in early 2010.
Through January, 2009, there are 83 PBA Hall of Fame Members in three categories:
Performance (43)
Meritorious Service (26)
Veterans/Special Categories (14)
Membership in the Hall of Fame was originally determined by annual elections. From 2000-2008, those in the Performance category had to have ten PBA titles (or two major championships) on their resume, as well as be retired from the tour for five years.