Munn's Pin Marks Scare Off Rivals

Newark Star Ledger

Sunday, January 12, 1942

Elizabeth bowler has tallied nine perfect games in career -

Pitched baseball in Navy

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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.

Munn Mops Up

June 22, 1942
MUNN MOPS UP
Beats Voepel by 792 Pins in 90-Game Match

Special to Newark News

HEMPSTEAD, L.I., - The second half of the schedualed 100-game bowling match between Whitey Munn of Elizabeth and Fred Voepel of Hempstead, L.I., rolled yesterday on Heinemann's Hempstead Recreation alleys, saw Munn emerge the victor by a margin of 792 pins, with Voepel calling it quits at the end of 40 games becuase of an injured thumb.

Munn entered the second half of the match with a lead of 81 pins which he gained in the first 50 games rolled a week ago at the Hollywood Recreation alleys, Hillside.

In the Hillside block, Voepel led Munn right up to the 49th game and at one time had a lead of 312 pins, but yesterday he was not in Whitey's class. the latter averaged 204 for the 40 games, with some of his big counts being 278, 269, 264 and 247. Voepel averaged 186, with his best game being 255. Munn averaged 206 for the 90 games.

Munn-Varipapa Pin Duel Opens Here Tonight

Whitey Munn of Hillside, who for years was recognized as one of the leading bowlers in the country, signalizes his return to competition after a one-year layoff tonight when he opens a twenty-game home-and-home match with Andy Varipapa, trick shot artist, at Munn's Centre Recreation alleys. Rolling will begin at 9 o'clock.
Ten games will be rolled tonight and the final ten at Varipapa's Hempstead L.I., pin emporium tomorrow night.
Munn arranged the tussle mainly to ready himself for his big forty-game duel with Marty Cassio of Rahway, starting next weekend at Centre. The county rivals haven't clashed since their meeting in the 1943 Centre Classic, which Cassio won.
Whitey has been drilling hard for the Varipapa match and has averaged close to 225 the last few days. He rattled off a pair of 279 games during the week. Munn and Varipapa toured the country from 1937 to 1939, giving exhibitions and appearing in movie shorts.
Following tonight's set of ten games, Varipapa will give his inimitable demonstration of trick shots.

Munn To Enter

One or the out-of-state stars expected to have to have his entry in before the end of the current week is Whitey Munn from Elizabeth, NJ. Whitey is regarded as one of the greatest "money" bowlers of the times. he has travelled over Central United States as well as in the eastern states, taking in all the leading "sweeps" and tournaments. Several times Munn has been top man, winning three important affairs during 1943.
The contest is to be decided with six games over six alleys. The total pins will decide the winner. Each bowler rolls two games on a pair and moves to his right.
As a matter of courtesy to the many bowlers coming from a distance, the 9 & 11 o'clock shifts will be given to the out-of-towners whenever there is a preference to be had.
All entries may be sent to Bob Vandever at the Penn recreation Center, fifth and Penn streets.

Munn's Hot Pace Sinks Varipappa

Newark Sunday Call 10/15/44

ELIZABETH- Turning in an average of 246.4 for 10 games, Whitey Munn easily topped Andy Varipappa of New York, one of the nations best known bowlers, on the Centre Recreation alleys last night. Munn who fell below 200 only once, took a 297-pin lead in the 20 game match, which will be completed today at Varipappa's place at Hempstead, L.I.
Munn, co-owner of the Centre with Len Sauer, hit 286 in the seventh game and 279 in the eighth an d then wound up with a pair of 256 scores. He will meet Marty Cassio, Rahway tailor, in a 40-game match at the Centre beginning Saturday at 9P.M. The second block will be rolled a week from tonight, with the final blocks listed for October 28 and 29.
Cassio was challenged by Munn after the Rahway ace disposed of Junie McMahon twice and Ray Nolen and Frank Serpico in 40-game events. Scores last night.

Munn - 254, 256, 216, 246, 193, 222, 286,279, 256, 256 - 2,464.
Varipappa - 224, 216,207,237,195, 169, 259,245, 182, 233 - 2,167.

Bowling Echoes / Newark News 3/10/44

March 10th 1944 / Newark News

Bowling Echoes
William (Whitey) Munn, one of the country's leading pinners, has turned promoter and will conduct the second annual Elizabeth Individual Classic at the Center Recreation allys.
The competition will start Monday -night, bringing together 16 of the leading keglers in the section, and will continue for 15 weeks with bowling each Monday, Tesueday, Wednesday and Saturday night. The prize fund amounts to $2,750, with $600 for first, $400 for second, $300 for third, $225 for fourth, $200 for fith and 11 other prizes decreacing in amounts to $50 for 16th place.

Munn Breaks 700 Again

Tags 714 on to 701 of Last Week in Major Bowling Loop

Another major Leauge bowling record went into the books last night when Whitey Munn of the Wilson team broke 700 for the second straight week. Munn rolled 714 last night on the Recreation Center alleys after hitting 701 last week. Johnny Mcevoy of Larkeys helped set the other mark last week with his 701 series, it being the first time this season two keglers had broken 700 the same night.

Munn started his big series with 258, following with 200 and 256. oddly enough, his Wilson teammates slumped when Whitey did because it was the middle game that Arrow linen managed to salvage in the match with Wilson. As a result of the 2-1 win, Wilson is now three games back of the pace setting Arrow crew.

Tom Siano and Marty Cassio had 634 and 623 for Wilson, while Al Arlington shot 635 and Charley Johnson 643 for Arrow. The latter opened with a very poor 144, but found the pocket with 244 and 255 in his last two games.

Munn vs. Varipapa

Eager to be in top shape for his forty-game duel with Marty Cassio, starting October 21, Whitey Munn of Hillside has arranged a twenty-game home-and-home match with Andy Varipapa this week-end. Ten games will be rolled at Centre Recreation Saturday night and the final block at Varipapa's Hempstead, L. I., alleys Sunday.
Munn and Varipapa toured the country for three years, 1937 to 1939, giving exhibitions and appearing in movie shorts. Munn proved he hasn't lost any of his old skill by rolling games of 286 and 279 this week.

Munn Tops Voelpel in 100-Game Match

LEADS BY 795 PINS WHEN MATCH CONCLUDES AFTER 91ST GAME - HITS 278

Going into the last block of fifty games on his opponent's home lanes at Heineman's in Hempstead, L.I., last Sunday with a narrow margin of 83 pins which he gained in the final three games of the first block of fifty at the Hollywood Recreation at Hillside the week before, Bill "Whitey" Munn of Elizabeth, Marathon Bowling Champion of the country, successfully defended his title by swamping Freddie Voelpel so that the match was abandoned after the 91st game, at which time the Jersey star had amassed a 795-pin lead. The match was for a $2,000 purse, winner take all.

Munn, as is his custom, started low, hitting a poor 164 in the first game, but at that topped Voelpel's mark by a pin. Voelpel hit 214 the second game to Bill's 190 and cut down his opponent's lead to 43 sticks in the third contest when he hit 182 while "Willyum" was floundering around at 165. But after that came the revolution. Munn started a click and by the 6th contest of the -

(we have not found the end of this article in our archives)

Munn Predicts Bowling Win Over Cassio 11-26-44

Quite confident that he's going to emerge vicoriouse in their fourty-game grudge duel which winds up this week-end at Centre Recreation, Whitey Munn announced today he will gladly give Marty Cassio a return match "any time he wants it."

Munn holds a 144-pin lead over his arch rival after the first twenty games rolled last week-end, considerably less than his 236-pin advantage at the end of the first block. The third ten-game set will be rolled Saturday night and the final block Sunday night, each starting at 9 o'clock.

"Cassio won't be so cocky after Sunday night," Munn predicted, " but I'll give him a chance to get even if he wants it. Win or lose, I'll be ready to meet him on absolutely neutral allys anywhere in the State - and he can make it easy for himself."

Whitey said a victory Sunday night would give him extream satisfaction, particularly since Cassio had predicted last week that he would take Munn as easily as he defeated Junie McMahon, Ray Nolan and Frank Serpico. The Rahway kegler found Whitey far from a pushover. His hook ball working beautifully, Munn averaged 228.4 Saturday and 216.2 the following night.

Cassio came back nicely Sunday, averaging 225.4 and picking up ninety two pins. He had averaged 204.8 Saturday and seemed to be in a bad slump.

"It'll be a different story now." Marty said after reducing his deficit Sunday. "I'll admit I was worried when he had me by 236 pins, but I'm sure I'll be able to pick up 144 sticks in the next twenty-games."

More than 500 spectators witnessed the hectic matches last week-end and larger crowds are expected for the wind -up.

Jersey Bowler / January 5th 1945

The 20-game $1,000.00 match between LOU CAMPI and WHITEY MUNN resulted in a 124-pin victory for the hefty marathoner from Elzabeth. It was a fine contest all the way. The kegling was shy of the sensational order but it was mighty sturdy and produced gruelling competition, reflecting favorably on winner and loser alike.

The first 10-game block was rolled Saturday night on Munn's home lanes at Hillside Recreation. Whitey's 2,286 total for a 228.6 average provided a slender 80-pin margin over Campi's 2,206 tally for a 220.6 average. The hight points of this block were witnessed in the firth and 10th games. In the former, Lou threw in a 263 against the winners 258. In the final game at Hillside, which the Bergenfield contender entered with a 156-pin deficit, Lou fought back with the highest tally of the entire match, a scorching 276 which picked up 76 pins on his opponent's 200 flat.

The situation loomed up favorably in the eyes of Campi adherents when the Sunday night match got under way at Bergenfield Recreation. It was figured that the little guy who pegs them off his right foot would have no great trouble picking up 80 sticks and go to victory. However, later events proved that Munn's style and great experiance were readily adapted to the Bergenfield lanes. After Campi had chopped off only 38 pins during the first six games Whitey stepped up the pace, putting putting on a sterling finish and going on to a 44-pin edge for the second block, for which his total was 2,158 for a 215.8 average, Campi's tally 2,114 for a 211.4 average.

Even after Munn had placed the match beyond the reasonably doubtful stage the Campi followers continued to nurse cain hopes that their favorite might get in a couple of the sensational games he is capable of uncorking but apparently this was a night when it wasn't in the wood. Munn was impressive with his consistently good game and his strong displays in practically all the late frames. The Sunday evening thrills were Munn;s conversion of the 4-9 split in the seventh game, conversion of the 5-7 by Campi in successive frames of the fith game and the 4-7-10 in the ninth.

Both blocks of the match brought out big crowds. We did not witness the one rolled at Hillside but as we sat at Bergenfield we were impressed with the fine conduct of the match. The sportsmanship of the rival followings was noteworthy, generouse applause greeting the deeds of both participants. Such well handled matches are a cradit to the game.

Munn's 1366 Wins Bowling tournament

Munn Is Victor In Sweepstakes

Wins Phoenixville, Pa., Test - Has 299, Averages 227.

By the Associated Press.
Phoenixville Pa., March 22 - A sensational Saturday performance by William "Whitey" Munn of elizabeth, NJ., withstood all assaults yesterday in the Phoenixville Bowling Classic, leaving the New Jersey hookball artist winner of the $500 forst prize.

During his six-game string Munn soared to 299 in his fourth game, missing the No. 10 pin as a perfect score eluded him. The big Elizabethan previously had hammered tallies of 210, 188 and 222, and, unshaken by his bad break in the fourth game, finished up with scores of 207, amd 204 for an average of 227. His total was 1,366.

Taking second place was Private Vincent Mikiel of Mitchell Field, NY., winner of Chicago's Petersen's Classic in 1941. Mikiel had 1,337. Other New Jerseyans were among the leaders. Junie McMahon of Lodi had 1,230 for fith place, Sid Baum of Lakewood, 1,213 and Tilton Lake of Atlantic City, 1,199.

The competition was part of the opening ceremonies of thenew Phoenixville recreation allys, and Munn's effort on newly laid drives was extraordinary