Mark Roth

For the biochemist and cell biologist, see Mark Roth (scientist).

Mark Roth (born April 10, 1951) is a former professional bowler. He was born in Brooklyn, New York City, New York. As a youth he resided in Meiers Corners, Staten Island, New York City, New York.^[1]

Bowling career

Roth is a member of the Professional Bowlers Association (PBA). His 34 PBA titles place him fourth on the all-time PBA Tour winners list, behind Walter Ray Williams, Earl Anthony and Pete Weber. He was the second professional bowler to surpass US$1 million in career winnings, with Anthony being the first. His eight titles won in 1978 are still the PBA record for a single season, topping the previous mark of seven titles set by Billy Hardwick in 1969. Roth won another seven titles in the 1979 season while collecting his third consecutive PBA Player of the Year award. He won his only career major title (U.S. Open) in 1984, after having qualified for 10 previous "major" television finals without winning. Roth was inducted into the PBA Hall of Fame in 1987, and the United States Bowling Congress (USBC) Hall of Fame in 2009.^[2]

Roth was well known for his high powered "cranker" style that has been copied by many bowlers since. Despite the power he generated, Roth was also one of the best spare shooters of all time, as he is notable for being the first bowler to pick up the 7-10 Split on television, on 5 January 1980.^[3] In addition, Roth utilized a unique six-step delivery. (Most bowlers regard a four-step or five-step delivery to be the classic form and the most effective way to throw a bowling ball.)

Roth shot a 299 during the televised finals to win his very first PBA tournament at the 1975 King Louie Open in Overland Park, Kansas. Roth repeated the feat, shooting a 299 during the televised finals of the 1987 Greater Buffalo Open in Cheektowaga, New York. On 6 October 2006, Roth won the very first Generations Bowling Tour event, defeating Dale Eagle in the final 237-234, and averaged 241 over the three-game stepladder final.

Awards and recognition

• Four-time PBA Player of the Year (1977, 1978, 1979, 1984)
• Six-time winner of the PBA High Average Award
• PBA recordholder for most titles (8) in a single season (1978)
• Inducted into PBA Hall of Fame, 1987
• Inducted into International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame, 1992
• Ranked 5th on the PBA's 2008 list of "50 Greatest Players of the Last 50 Years"

Post-career

On June 4, 2009, Mark Roth suffered a stroke which has left him partially paralyzed on his left side.^[1] His rehabilitation is ongoing, but Roth was seen in late March 2010 on his feet and moving around at the Geico Mark Roth Plastic Ball Championship, a PBA Tournament named in his honor.^[4] On March 6, 2011, as part of the 2011 Mark Roth Plastic Ball Championship, he rolled the honorary first ball for the televised finals and downed seven pins.

Personal life

Roth and his wife Denise^[5] reside in Fulton, New York.^[1] He is Jewish.

In the media

• Roth makes a brief appearance in the bowling movie Kingpin, along with several other professional bowlers.
• Roth also appears in an early 1980s episode of Fantasy Island. He plays an opponent of a 153-average bowler fulfilling a fantasy to compete and win against professionals.

Notes

1. ^ ^{a b c} Waggoner, Jim (June 5, 2009). "Bowling hall-of-famer Mark Roth recovering from recent stroke". Staten Island Advance. http://www.silive.com/sports/index.ssf/2009/06/bowling_halloffamer_mark_roth.html. Retrieved 2010-03-13. 
2. ^ Vint, Bill. "Roth, Petraglia, Macpherson elected to USBC Hall of Fame", bowl.com, 7 January 2009.
3. ^ Mark Roth's 1980 televised 7-10 Split spare on YouTube
4. ^ Schneider, Jerry. "Roth-Petraglia Reunion at PBA Geico Mark Roth Championship Brings Back Tour Memories", pba.com, 25 March 2010.
5. ^ Official website for Mark Roth

External links

• Official website
• Biography at pba.com
• Jewish Hall Of Fame

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Name	Roth, Mark
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Date of birth	April 10, 1951
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