John "Count" Gengler

The King Of Action: Count Gengler

AMONG THE MANY BOWLING polls that have been taken over the years was a 1970 survey in which a group of 48 veteran bowling writers were asked by the ABC to select an All-America bowling team from the pre-1950 era.

The first nine men named were Hank Marino, Jimmy Smith, Ned Day, Joe Wilman, Andy Varipapa, Jimmy Blouin, Joe Norris, Junie McMahon, and Buddy Bomar, in that order. That was no great surprise because all of them had previously been elected to the ABC Hall of Fame.

The 10th man was John "Count" Gengler, a selection that raised many eyebrows. His name can't be found in the record books because he did very little formal competitive bowling. Gengler didn't participate in leagues, tournaments, or organized matches. He shunned notice and hid from headlines. During his heyday in the 1920s and before, it was in his interest not to be well known. You see, Gengler was a bowling hustler.

By the time Gengler died in 1957 at age 80, the tales of his prowess were legendary. He quietly toured the country, enticing bowlers into big-money matches with his non-threatening onestep delivery. It has been said that he once rolled a 300 game in the dark and was one of the most accurate bowlers in history.

His feats were acknowledged by contemporary bowlers--and, obviously, by bowling journalists as well. Today he's still considered one of the greatest bowlers of all time, despite his lack of official standings and statistics.

John Gengler gained notoriety as the best bowling hustler of all time but few knew his first name--he was almost exclusively known as "Count" Gengler. He got that tag because he dressed so well and was a man of impeccable manners--great assets for luring lesser bowlers into big-money games.

This is a story I came Across of a by gone era!!! It was about Count Gengler as there is far and few. He could have been the best to ever throw a ball and we must remember that this was a time when scoring was low and the toughest bowlers averaged 190's and over 200 which was outstanding in that era, NO WALL SHOTS!!!!

This happened in Kokomo IND. when bowling was just getting organized and is titled " Hunger for Competition". Compiled and by researched by Jon Kelley. I will quote his work:

In January, 1920, Kokomo held its first bowling exhibition when Count John Gengle came to town. Gengler was one of the leading bowlers of the world. He had six 300 games and at one time had thrown 34 strikes in a row. In a 60 game match bowled in Buffalo and Chicago he averaged 224.

Gengler packed Menig Alleys to capacity. He bowled against four of Kokomo's best bowlers, defeating them all. Harry O. Davis, KBA president held a sizable lead against Gengler but eventually lost 608 to 605. Gengler's other victims were Leroy Kulow II, Carl Maudlin and Claude Jones. Gengleraveraged 213 for the 12 games.

Even more amazing was that the "Count" only used a one-step delivery. One of his trick shots was throwing a palm ball without putting his thumb or fingers in the ball.
Anyone want to try that!!!

daryld