1962 PBA Season

Originally written by JohnnyO

There were 16 tournaments aired on ABC this season (and 16 other tournaments without TV finals)...A prefect game on TV would have been worth $10,000, paid by ABC...The telecasts this season were 3 matches each; two semi-finals, with the winners advancing to the final match...The 1962 TV Listings in the Milwaukee Journal strongly suggest that WITI-TV in Milwaukee aired these programs on a one week tape delay at 2 PM CT.

Saturday, March 24, 1962

Houston PBA Open; Belfort Lanes, Houston, TX

ABC; 4:30 PM ET; ; Chris Schenkel, Jack Buck

Bowlers (Winner in Bold); Don Carter ($5,000), Keith Little, Dick Hoover, Don Bickford

The championship "pair" was lanes 14 & 15, which was unusual; typically the lower numbered lane on the championship pair is an odd number (e.g., lanes 15 & 16).

Saturday, April 14, 1962

St. Louis Coca-Cola PBA Open; Northland Bowl, Jennings, MO

ABC; 4:30 PM ET; ; Chris Schenkel, Jack Buck

Bowlers (Winner in Bold); Joe Joseph ($5,000), Harry Smith, Jim Schroeder, Billy Welu

In the opening to this telecast, there were three presentations after the bowlers were introduced; (1) Harry Smith received a trophy for leading the qualifying portion of the tournament; (2) Gene Kessler was introduced as the TV alternate; and (3) Dick Weber was presented with his BWAA 1960-1961 Bowler of the Year Award