Posts
Sunday, January 12, 1942
Elizabeth bowler has tallied nine perfect games in career -
Pitched baseball in Navy
___________________________________________
Ever since William ( Whitey) Munn of Elisabeth defeated Frank Serpico in 50-game matches at Philadelphia and here in Newark last year, he has been unable to get anyone to answer his challenge to a 50-game bowling contest. A fact, coupled with several other major arguments, that serves to prove Whitey is the best endurance kegler in the country.
Whitey , who has rolled no less than nine 300 games in his dozen years of bowling, included a perfect game in the match at Philadelphia.
During that fray the Elizabeth iron worker averaged 231. At Newark, his average for the 50 games was 217. And he had only one game below 185 in the entire 100 games!
The 42-year old ex-sailor, who served on convoy duty in the first World War, still makes the offer to meet anyone anywhere in 50 games.
After he defeated Serico, he had more than one would-be opponent pull out from contemplated matches.
The Newark born bowling star, who moved to Elizabeth from Hillside eight years back, broke two ribs last April and he claims he has been unable to reach his top form since then. However Whitey is doing alright for himself, broken ribs or not. He has a 204 average in the Newark Major League, where he rolls with the Wilsons, and he is the owner of a 194 figure with the Maurors of Union City.
The year 1939 was Whitey's best. That season he rolled a 220 average with the John F. Connelly Association in the Camptown Recreation Wednesday Night League. He has a 208 average with Elizabeth in the New Jersey Elke's League and turned in an average of 211 in the Elizabeth Major League. That amounted to a 213 average for three of the best leagues in the state.
Munn, who did not take up bowling until several years after he was honorably discharged from the United States Navy in 1922 after serving for five years, gained his first fame in sports as a baseball pitcher. Whitey, who doesn't believe in doing things half-way, merely pitched the S.S. Wyoming to the championship of the United States fleet.
Munn's wife, as might be assumed if you know Whitey, is a bowler, too, competing in the Chancellor Women's Friday night circuit. It was through bowling that Whitey meet the missus. The pair have a prospective bowling star in Barbara, a baby daughter. Whitey and his wife have been Mr. & Mrs. for three years, " three of the happiest years a man could ever have," Munn added.
Whitey will compete in the Petersen Classic at Chicago this month and will then move onto St. Louis for matches Feb. 5 to 8, inclusive. Hew will serve on the National Bowler's Journal five-man team at St. Louis and, unless something goes awry, is practically certain of placing in the money at both cities.
