Carmen Salvino facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Carmen Salvino
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Salvino in 2016
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| Born | November 23, 1933 |
| Years active | 1953−present |
| Bowling Information | |
| Affiliation | PBA, ABC |
| Dominant hand | Right |
| Wins | 17 PBA Tour (1 major) 2 PBA Senior Tour (1 major) |
Carmen Salvino (born November 23, 1933, in Chicago) is a famous professional bowler, inventor, and author. He was one of the people who helped start the Professional Bowlers Association (PBA). People call him "PBA's Original Showman" because he was so exciting to watch.
Carmen won 17 PBA Tour titles during his career. This includes a big win in 1962, the PBA National Championship, where he beat another bowling legend, Don Carter. He also won two PBA Senior Tour titles, including the 1984 Senior National Championship. Carmen is right-handed and is a member of many Halls of Fame, like the PBA Hall of Fame (since 1975) and the USBC Hall of Fame (since 1979).
Contents
Growing Up and Discovering Bowling
Carmen Salvino was born in Chicago, Illinois, on November 23, 1933. His family moved to Florida when he was young so his father could work as a farmer. Carmen learned to work hard by helping his dad in the fields. His family was very poor back then.
When he was 11, Carmen found a bowling pin outside a building in Chicago. He went inside and got a job as a "pin-boy," setting up pins for bowlers. This was his first introduction to bowling. He started practicing, and the very first ball he ever threw was a strike! This was the beginning of his amazing bowling journey.
High School Bowling Star
Carmen went to Crane Tech High School in Chicago. By age 16, he was already averaging 203 points per game, which was very high for that time. At 17, he joined his high school's first bowling team and averaged 211. He was one of the first people to earn a "letter" in bowling for his school.
While still in high school, Carmen won a national tournament called the Dom DeVito Classic. He beat about 6,000 other bowlers and won $3,000! He became the youngest bowler to compete in The Chicago Classic League, a well-known competition. People started calling him "Chicago's Boy Wonder." Carmen even wore special overalls that said, "I'm great and I'm gonna be the best bowler alive" to show his confidence.
Carmen married his wife, Virginia Morelli, on May 17, 1956.
Becoming a Professional Bowler
Carmen Salvino started his professional bowling career in 1953. He won the National Match Game Doubles with his partner Joe Wilman. He quickly gained a reputation as a great bowler. By the time he was 21, he had won several big titles and was named Chicago Bowler of the Year.
In 1954, Carmen won his first ABC (American Bowling Congress) title with his team, Tri-Par Radio. He became very well-known by appearing on TV bowling shows, like Bowling Stars. On that show, he once scored 846 points in three games, which was the highest score ever shown on TV at that time.
Founding the PBA and Major Wins
In 1958, Carmen and 32 other bowlers each gave $50 to help start the Professional Bowlers Association (PBA). This organization changed professional bowling forever.
The 1960s were a big decade for Carmen's PBA career. He won ten PBA titles during this time. His first win was in 1961 at the Empire State Open. His biggest win, and only major championship, was the 1962 PBA National Championship. Carmen continued winning PBA Tour titles into the 1970s. He even beat another famous bowler, Earl Anthony, twice in 1975. His 17th and final singles title was in 1979 when he was 45 years old.
One of Carmen's most memorable tournaments was a loss to his good friend Dick Weber in 1988. Even though they were both original PBA members, they had never bowled against each other on TV until that match.
Carmen was also known as "The Professor." In the 1970s, he said his bowling style was based on a secret mathematical equation that helped him be very accurate.
PBA Tour Titles
Here are some of Carmen Salvino's major wins:
- 1961 Third Empire State Open (Albany, New York)
- 1962 Pontiac PBA Open (Pontiac, Michigan)
- 1962 PBA National Championship (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
- 1963 Jacksonville PBA Open (Jacksonville, Florida)
- 1964 Rockford Coca-Cola Open (Rockford, Illinois)
- 1965 Bergen Mall PBA Open (Paramus, New Jersey)
- 1965 Birmingham PBA Open (Birmingham, Alabama)
- 1967 Saint Paul Open (Saint Paul, Minnesota)
- 1967 Mobile-Sertoma Open (Mobile, Alabama)
- 1968 Venezuelan Invitational (Caracas, Venezuela)
- 1973 Lincoln-Mercury Open (New Orleans, Louisiana)
- 1974 New Jersey Open (Edison, New Jersey)
- 1975 Showboat Invitational (Las Vegas, Nevada)
- 1975 Home Box Office Open (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania)
- 1976 Quad Cities Open (Davenport, Iowa)
- 1977 Houston Open (Houston, Texas)
- 1979 Miller High Life Open (Anaheim, California)
PBA Senior Tour Titles
Carmen also won titles on the PBA Senior Tour:
- 1984 PBA Senior National Championship
- 1988 Kessler Senior/Touring Pro Doubles Championship with Randy Pedersen (Cheektowaga, NY)
Carmen Salvino's Legacy
Carmen Salvino has left a huge mark on the sport of bowling over many decades. He is known as a champion, a Hall-of-Famer, a showman, and someone who studied the science of bowling. He also helped lead the PBA, even serving as its president from 1985 to 1986.
In 2008, the PBA ranked Carmen as the #17 greatest player of the last 50 years. He also won the Dick Weber Bowling Ambassador Award in 2008. This award is given to bowlers who always show good sportsmanship and promote bowling in a positive way.
There's even an oil pattern used in PBA tournaments called the "Carmen Salvino 44." This pattern is 44 feet long and helps make the game challenging.
Fun on and off the Lanes
Carmen Salvino is famous for his exciting personality and fun behavior during bowling games and outside of them. In 2019, he not only bowled in the PBA Tournament of Champions but also provided live commentary, sharing his insights with viewers.
Later Life and Continued Activity
As of 2022, Carmen Salvino and his wife Virginia live in Schaumburg, IL. He has stayed very active with the PBA for over 20 years. In an interview from 2013, Carmen said he had bowled 105 perfect 300 games! He believes his deep understanding of physics, good health, and long life are key reasons for his success in bowling.
Carmen even competed in the Go Bowling! PBA 60th Anniversary Classic in 2018. At 84 years old, he was the oldest player ever to participate in a regular PBA Tour event. He didn't make it past the first round, but he threw the honorary first ball for the televised finals and got a strike!
Resources
- www.pba.com, official website of the Professional Bowlers Association and the PBA Tour
