Bowling’s biggest name visits Albert Lea

Published 12:00 am Tuesday, September 3, 2002

The man with one of bowling’s most famous names visited Albert Lea for the first time for the weekend &045; but he hopes it’s not his last visit.

Dick Weber, who was one of professional bowling’s earliest and greatest superstars, was in town to participate in a regional senior Pro Bowlers Association tournament at Holiday Lanes. The weekend also included two pro-am tournaments, where professionals and amateurs teamed up.

The tournament was the first played in Albert Lea, but Weber said the tour could be back.

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&uot;Hopefully we’ll come back next year,&uot; Weber said. &uot;It sounds like we will.&uot;

The Albert Lea event was the 15th tournament Weber has particpated in this year, he said.

&uot;It’s a pleasure for me because I get to see many of the people I bowled with in the ’40s and ’50s,&uot; Weber said.

As one of pro bowling’s pioneers, Weber holds many of the sports most hallowed records, and they stand to this day. He has won 26 PBA titles, including one in every decade from the ’50s to the ’90s, a feat that hasn’t been matched. In 1962, he cashed in every event in which he participated, and set an all-time record of 72 consecutive cashes, which is compared to Joe DiMaggio’s 56-game hitting streak in baseball as an incredible record.

He also put together a streak of 23 top-24 finishes in a row and was the first bowler to roll three 300 games in the same PBA event.

Known almost as much for his class off the lanes as his killer instinct on them, Weber summed up his career in understated terms.

&uot;I’ve had a great career,&uot; he said. &uot;I’ve been very fortunate in life to have a career like I’ve had.&uot;