16 Facts About Earl Anthony

Earl Roderick Anthony was an American professional bowler who amassed records of 43 titles and six Player of the Year awards on the Professional Bowlers Association Tour.

Earl Anthony is widely credited for having increased bowling's popularity in the United States.

Earl Anthony was the first bowler to earn over $100,000 in a season, and the first to reach $1,000,000 in lifetime PBA earnings.

Never brash or flashy in a crew-cut and plastic-frame "marshwood" style eyewear, Anthony was dubbed "Square Earl" by fellow pro bowlers.

Earl Anthony led that season's first tournament going into the televised finals at Crestview Bowl in Wichita, Kansas, but lost the championship match to Skee Foremsky, finishing in second place.

Earl Anthony won the first of his 43 PBA titles on June 7,1970, when he defeated Allie Clarke at the Heidelberg Open in Seattle, Washington.

Earl Anthony finished runner-up to fellow lefty Mike Aulby in the 1979 PBA National Championship.

Earl Anthony joined the PBA Senior Tour in 1988 and accumulated another seven titles there, giving him 50 total PBA titles.

Earl Anthony was a minor league baseball pitcher with the Baltimore Orioles organization before his days as a professional bowler.

Earl Anthony was an excellent golfer, achieving a near-scratch handicap at the age of 60.

Earl Anthony once set the course record at Crow Canyon Country Club in Danville, California with a scratch score of 64.

Earl Anthony was married to Susie Anthony; and had a son, Mike, and two daughters, Tracy and Jeri.

Earl Anthony missed some time on the PBA Tour during the 1978 season after suffering a heart attack in June of that year.

Earl Anthony died in 2001 due to head injuries sustained from falling down a flight of stairs at his friend Ed Baur's home in New Berlin, Wisconsin.

Earl Anthony was voted into the PBA Hall of Fame in 1981 and the ABC Hall of Fame in 1986.

In 14 seasons, Earl Anthony made the top five for the televised final round a record 144 times.