Del Ballard, Jr.

Delmas Perry "Del" Ballard Jr. (born July 1, 1963, Richardson, TX) is a professional ten-pin bowler and member of the Professional Bowlers Association. He was a 2009 inductee into the PBA Hall of Fame, and a 2011 inductee into the USBC Hall of Fame.^[1] Del is the husband of top female bowler Carolyn Dorin-Ballard with whom he has one daughter. The Ballard family now resides in Keller, TX. He is also the brother-in-law of another top female bowler, Cathy Dorin-Lizzi.

It was announced on PBA.com in August, 2010, that Ballard is battling tonsil cancer. He is undergoing chemotherapy and radiation treatments at Texas Oncology, an affiliate of Baylor University Medical Center, and the prognosis for a full recovery is good.^[2]

Bowling career

Del entered the PBA Tour in 1982 at the age of 19. He won two titles in 1987, including his first major, the U.S. Open Championship. In 1988, Ballard won his second major, the ABC Masters (this was not considered a PBA Tour event at the time, but is now recognized as a PBA title and a major). He went on to win two additional majors, the 1989 Firestone Tournament of Champions and the 1993 U.S. Open. In 1991, he had his most successful year on the tour, winning 4 titles. As of 2010, he has won 13 PBA Titles (all between 1987-1993) and has career total earnings of $1,130,857. He has cashed in 259 of 482 tournaments. In 31 TV appearances (the latter stages of an event) he has a 30-21 record, with a 216.29 average.

Del Ballard received an exemption for the 2006-07 PBA tour season, by finishing tenth in the Tour Trials. He was unable to retain the exemption the following year.

Alcoholism

In 1989, Del admitted to an alcohol addiction that made him unable to perform to his potential in the early stages of his career. This was received poorly by many of his colleagues on the tour. He was criticized for his admission by many. Several bowlers, however, did support him and his decision to come forward with the admission.

The "Ballard Gutter-Ball" Incident

In 1991, Del was on the receiving end of one of the most bizarre and infamous incidents in PBA history. At the Fair Lanes Open nationally-televised championship match, Ballard was facing Pete Weber for the title. Weber finished with three strikes in the 10th frame to force Ballard to strike twice and get seven pins for the win. Ballard struck twice, then on his final shot he proceeded to throw the ball into the right gutter, thus handing Pete Weber the title. A few weeks later, Ballard would rebound by winning the Long Island Open, defeating Jim Johnson Jr. But despite all his accomplishments, Ballard will always be remembered for the gutter ball incident.

Notable Facts

• 13 PBA titles, including four majors

• Del needs only a PBA World championship title to complete both a Triple Crown and Grand Slam. (The Triple Crown for PBA Bowlers is The U.S. Open, PBA World Championship and Tournament of Champions. To complete the Grand Slam, a bowler must also win the USBC Masters.)

• Del became the 11th bowler in PBA History to surpass $1 million in career earnings in 1994.

• Del won the first six-figure first place prize in PBA History ($100,000 at the 1987 U.S. Open).

• Ballard was ranked #29 on the PBA's 2008 list of "50 Greatest Players of the Last 50 Years."

• Ballard was inducted into the PBA Hall of Fame on January 24, 2009.

• Ballard was inducted into the USBC Hall of Fame on July 1, 2011.

External links

• Hickok Sports Bio
• PBA Tour Bio

References

1. ^ Vint, Bill. "PBA Stars Ballard, Webb, Richgels Inducted into United States Bowling Congress Hall of Fame." Article at www.pba.com on July 2, 2011. [1]
2. ^ Vint, Bill. "PBA Hall of Famer Del Ballard Jr. Successfully Battling Tonsil Cancer." Article at www.pba.com on August 4, 2010.

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Name	Ballard, Del Jr.
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Date of birth	July 1, 1963
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