Where have all the duckpins gone?

Not so long ago you could go down to South Maple Avenue in Falls Church and find a duckpin bowling center where you would hear the sounds of scattering pins and whoops of excitement when someone rolled a strike or a spare. You would see small balls with no finger holes lined up on the return racks looking more like cannon balls than bowling balls. The chubby looking pins were squat and toppled in a funny way. But no longer can you go there because the center was torn down a few years ago. In fact all duckpin bowling has vanished from Northern Virginia.
What exactly is duckpin bowling? Duckpin bowling differs from ordinary tenpin bowling in the size of the balls and pins. A duckpin ball is much smaller than a tenpin ball, about five inches in diameter and weighing only a few pounds.
Because of its small size, it can be held comfortably in a cupped hand and no holes are necessary. The pins are much smaller and lighter than tenpins, although their number (10) and arrangement on the pin deck are identical to tenpins.
The early beginnings
Duckpin bowling was born in Baltimore around 1900. Tenpin bowling (invented much earlier) used to be strictly a winter sport. Most centers closed down for the summer, but a few of them remained open so that bowlers could practice with small balls, about 5 inches in diameter. Summer bowlers at a bowling center in Baltimore suggested it might be interesting to trim down the standard pins to match the size of the ball. Manager John Van Sant liked the idea. He had a wood turner do the job and many of his customers enjoyed the new bowling game.
Van Sant demonstrated the new sport to the owners of the center, John McGraw and Wilbert Robinson. Although both are better known as baseball managers, McGraw and Robinson were also avid duck hunters. When they saw the way the small pins flew wildly, one of them remarked that it looked like a “flock of flying ducks.” That was the beginning of duckpin bowling. Originally a summer sport, it became so popular in the area that winter leagues were organized in Baltimore in 1903 and in Washington DC, in 1904.
Scoring
At first, the rules of tenpin bowling were used. But, because it is much harder to get strikes and spares, one small rule change was made: A bowler was allowed to use three throws on each turn.
If you knock down all pins with the 1st ball it is a strike. Knock down all pins with the 2nd ball and it is a spare. Knock down all pins with the 3rd ball and you get a ten count. Strikes count as 10 pins plus your first two balls from the next frame. Spares count as 10 pins plus your first ball from the next frame. Tens count as just ten. That’s it - you get no more.
Scoring is much lower than in tenpins and a perfect 300 game is unheard of. The highest sanctioned scores on record are 279 for a man and 265 for a woman.
The rise and fall of duckpin bowling
During the 1920s, duckpin bowling spread along the east coast, from New England to Georgia. Duckpin bowling grew rapidly during the 1930s.
By 1938, an estimated 200,000 bowlers were participating in the game. Growth continued more slowly after World War II, reaching a peak of 300,000 league and casual bowlers in 1967.
Duckpins suffered a technical blow when the only company that manufactured its automatic pinsetters ceased operations in 1973. The game has steadily evaporated over the past thirty-five years as one center after another closed its doors, victims of a confluence of demographic, technological, cultural, and economic factors.
At present there are only about 50 centers in the United States, 25 of which are in Maryland and about a dozen in Connecticut. League bowling has been particularly hard hit: In 1973, there were 40,000 sanctioned duckpin bowlers; today, that figure has plummeted to 9,000.
However, keeping the flame alive are diehard enthusiasts, the National Duckpin Bowling Congress, a Hall of Fame and even a Duckpin Professional Bowlers Association that sponsors duckpin bowling tournaments.

The scores shown are for bowling leagues in Prince William County that reported their scores for the week. Each league has its own characteristics and different levels of bowling averages. Scores reflect high series and high games for both men and women.
Bowl America Bull Run
Balls Ford Seniors (1-2-09): Men - Sal Buscema 628 Darius Johnson 583 Jerry Jerard 579 Ken Wilson 569 John Holland 569 Jerry Jerard 241 Ken Wilson 224 Sal Buscema 224 Ron Weber 210 Darius Johnson 204 Women - Betty Bottjer 497 Gloria Jenkins 490 Shirley Holland 450 Patricia Maddy 422 Pauline Davis 415 Betty Bottjer 179 Gloria Jenkins 178 Nancy Cox 158 Shirley Holland 155 Patricia Maddy 154
Rt. 66 Mixed (12/30/08): Men - Vincent Eberlein 678 Gary Spurgeon 634 Vince Sievert 631 Allen Collier 631 David Exten 625 Allen Collier 265 Vince Sievert 256 Jeremy Entremont 246 David Exten 245 Jeremy Glaspy 243 Women - Fe Fronda 610 Terry Hall 576 Michelle Jett 543 Patti Inouye 540 Patty Capozoli 536 Patti Inouye 231 Terry Hall 214 Fe Fronda 214 Michelle Jett 202 Katy Pasieka, Terry Gilbert and Patty Capozoli 194
AMF Dale City
Kings & Queens (12/29/08): Men - Dwayne Locke 254-215-660 Dave Zamora 216-588 John Breidenstine 555 Josh Regan 232-517 Wally Phillips 514 Chuck Grove 200 Women - Carole Nord 203-154-501 Marie Snyder 174-166-161-501 Linda Wise 183-162-491 Jae Breidenstine 163-160-154-477 Mun Showers 160 Marilyn Mallery 155
Bowl America Manassas
Sunday Night Mixed (12/28/08): Men – Albert Utterback 266-226-662 Allen King 256-194-617 Paul Geoffroy 198-256-614 Jason Dye 238 Jim Hurt 201 Bryan Smith 199 John Humphrey 194 Women – Mary Burress 222-170-180-572 Paula Ditamore 165-209-167-541 Kimberly Bentley 183-174-178-535 Margie Prichard 182-177-503 Lassie Dean 186-162-495 Jean Sinopoli 187 Kimber Nation 179 Kandi Kinney 173 Catherine Neese 165 Ann Humphrey 162
Monday Night Mixed (12/29/08): Men – Michael Beauvais 225-236-264-725 Rob Dillinger 246-244-226-716 Ray Cox 225-237-237-699 Mike Pilkington 233-237-225-695 Donny Cornwell 225-233-227-685 Mark Cornwell 267 Matt Beauvais 255 James Ennis 253 Stevan Hynson 249 Ricky German 248 Women – Cheryl Comfort 225-235-184-644 Erin Fleischer 170-208-189-567 Lassie Dean 203-205-552 Polly Bishop 161-183-206-550 Libby Bolton 179-176-171-526 Pam Worton 234 Nikki Bowman 229 Patricia Utterback 224 Mary Kegley 223 Terry Jerman 209
Friday A.M. Mixers (12/26/08): Men – Tom Foskey 245-232-637 Buck Crouch 224-182-203-609 Richard Ashworth 174-202-211-587 Gerry Sproles 197-215-175-587 Bob Armstrong 205-208-569 George Maghan 220 Jon Shinabarger 220 Jim Reed 208 Hal Blackburn 183 Joe Dazza 181 Women – Lil Lansdown 181-179-161-521 Bobbie Shiabarger 189 Phyliss Erlwein 176 Suzanne Metras 168 Barbara Fisher 167 Donna Green 161
Sunday Night Foursome (12/28/08): Men – Diego Dyhenart 212-257-198-667 David Jenkins 214-222-226-662 Mike Eberly 234-230-644 Ray Ballard 246-225-643 Kenny Gregory 223-199-215-637 Travis Harrison 256 Alan Foltz 255 Bill Cunningham 254 Garry Breeden 247 Chuck Miller 244 Women – Janice Burlovich 190-168-199-557 Wendy Harrison 181-171-192-544 Patricia Utterback 187-190-161-538 Donna Lanham 158-215-156-529 Janice Brown 178-193-153-524 Anita Robinson 193 Sharon Moran 182 Sheri Ryan 175 Peggy Fincham 170 Becky Middaugh 165
Dulaney’s Dollies (12/30/08): Series – Cheryl Comfort 238-210-217-665 Tammy Rowe 168-204-162-534 Chris Moore 206-169-520 Niki Drake 170-155-194-519 Andrea Reid 189-161-160-510 Lisa Parker 204 Marlene Griffenhagen 202 Alma Gravely 190 Mary Burress 186 Pat Beckner 182
Tuesday Early Mixed (12/30/08): Men – Butch Sullivan 225-200-216-641 Andy Sullivan 206-237-631 Mark Dedberg 235-205-629 Pete Shell 193-244-626 Matt Toms 221-199-601 Dustin Maness 235 Erick Thomas 208 Harry Acheson 201 Jason Sherman 200 Ted Wynes 190 Women – Michelle Wynes 173-154-179-506 Bobbie Shinabarger 169-187-475 Pat Craddock 190 Becky Hornbrook 177 Monica Cook 169
Bowl America Woodbridge
Sunday Night Mixers (12/28/08): Men – Joseph Hansen 267-246-225-738 Justin McGuire 258-226-196-680 Pete Wingers 247-227-203-677 Jim Anthanas 228-221-210-659 Tobias Trader 245-201-190-636 Johnny Wilson 244 Harvey Izes 232 Anthony Harris 226 Al Massey 225 Tony Abel 225 Women – Lynnette Fanning 238-210-191-639 Sheila Cephas 249-194-630 Joyce Massey 224-203-199-626 Alex Gathof 232-200-192-624 Paula Williams 222-203-595 Dorothy Copeland 245 Kathy Baziluik 222 Haw Sok Yi 219 Jennifer Ashworth 203
Merchants Mixed (12/30/08): Men – Mark Glover 267-266-279-812 Brad Strickland 245-266-267-778 Mike Caruso 257-290-213-760 Rob Baziluik 257-279-218-754 Jim Ramge 233-258-263-754 Damon Price 288 Bob Mosser 268 Eddie Moreira 266 Mike Andrejack 259 Jason Pritchard 259 Mike Cozzi 259 Women - Dawn Fay 233-183-244-660 Louise Jefferson 235-181-236-652 Terri Franklin 242-183-208-633 Lynn Frechette 246-189-197-632 Ruthie Bonta 173-185-268-626 Rose Cooper 236 Linda Newman 234 Teri Smith 223 Shirley Ginwright 219 Shelley Bowers 218
Utopia Ladies (12/30/08): Series - Marsha Vaughan 218-184-190-592 Debbie Smith 167-207-206-580 Gayle Levy 146-202-201-549 Bonnie Gembarowicz 163-179-200-542 Game - Cathy Herald 203 Pete Joseph 201 Deb Britton 200 Janice Cephas 190 Jan Lascody 190
Nightengale (1/2/09): Men – Brian Hood 682 Chris Chapman 663 Frank Johnson 658 Harry Jenkins 646 Dan Azzato 637 Gary Brauzer 264 Joseph Hansen 218 Doug Gathof 217 Derek Smith 215 Jeff Amos 208 Women – Debbie Kraus 568 Mindy Hood 556 Shelly Hansen 504 Alex Gathof 503 Judy Brewer 492 Kathy Plutz 203 Cheryl Levin 193 Mona Hairston 171
Woodbridge Handicap Trios (12/30/08): Men – A.J. McDaniel 772 Shawn Bevenour 754 Brandon Thomas 738 Mark Glover 704 Skeeta Brooks 687 Dave Meaker 687 David Martin 254 Robert Stierle 250 Melvin Smith 247 Sean Glass 245 Renny Micheletti 238 Letisha Giggetts 545 Judith Hankins 538 Cindy Swords 521 Anita Hawkins 486 Gayle Schreiber 481 www.postcardsfromsanantonio.com
Saturday Nite Mixed (1/3/09): Men – Matt Howery 701 Gary Llewellyn 691 Johnny Gutridge 682 Anthony Hickok 672 Lee Torry 660 Matt Rogue 258 Manny Fret 258 Mike Youmans 247 Skeeter Cuevas 246 Tim Anders 245 Women – Sherry McKinney 606 Michelle Mullally 592 Kathy Goode 576 Lauren Hicks 574 Remy Sheppard 572 Patti Fret 208 Missi Strickland 203 Mary Lou Simpson 202 Lori Alwine 195 Teresa Medina 193
DCMMCL (12/29/08): Series – Mike Skufca 226-274-258-758 Chris Merrill 277-211-245-733 Jim Anthanas 268-203-251-722 Ray Clark 245-243-217-705 Ken White 243-214-235-692 Jason ritchard 299 Martin Toman 290 Geovel Lopez 287 Ron Richardson 278 Rob Easterday 267