Del Ballard Jr.
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Delmas Perry "Del" Ballard Jr. (born July 1, 1963, Richardson, TX) is a professional ten-pin bowler and member of the PBA Tour. Del is the husband of top female bowler, Carolyn Dorin-Ballard with whom he has one daughter. He is also the brother-in-law of another top female bowler, Cathy Dorin-Lizzi.
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[edit] Bowling career
He entered the PBA Tour in 1982 at the age of 19. He won his first title, a major, in 1987. It was the 100,000 U.S. Open Championship. He would win another title that season. In 1988, Del won his second major the ABC Masters (this, however, wasn't considered a PBA Tour event). Del would go on to win Majors in 1989 (Firestone Tournament of Champions) and 1993 (BPAA U.S. Open). In 1991, he had his most successful year on the tour, winning 4 titles. To date, he has won 12 PBA Titles (all between 1987-1993) and has a 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.
Although Del has achieved great success in his career, he is known by many bowling fans for throwing a gutter ball late in a match against Pete Weber in 1991 that handed Weber the title. Because professional bowlers rarely throw the ball in the gutter, especially on their first ball, this was seen as a somewhat extraordinary occurrence.
Del Ballard has received an exemption for the 2006-2007 PBA tour season, due to his finish at Tour Trials. He will, therefore, compete on the tour full-time again.
[edit] 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.
[edit] Trivia
- Del needs only a PBA World championship title to complete both a Triple Crown and Grand Slam.
- Triple Crown of PBA Bowlers is The U.S. Open, World Championship and Tournament of Champions.
- To complete the Grand Slam, a bowler must also win the USBC Masters (a non-PBA event)
- Del became the 11th bowler in PBA History to surpass $1 million in career earnings in 1994.
- Del was the first to win a six-figure first place prize in PBA History. $100,000 at the 1987 U.S. Open)
