Mark Roth

Roth made a splash on the PBA Tour with a cranking, hard-throwing style that spawned a generation of imitators for years to come.[3] Often referred to as "The Original Cranker," he won 34 PBA titles, including two major championships, which both came in 1984 (The U.S. Open and the Touring Players Championship). His first title came in 1975, when he won the PBA King Louie Open in Overland Park, Kansas, and did so with a 299 game against Steve Jones. He also holds, to this day, the PBA record for most season wins, with eight titles earned in 1978.[1] He won the PBA Player of the Year award in three consecutive seasons (1977 through 1979), and won the honor again in 1984.[3] He is notable for being the first bowler to pick up the 7-10 split on television on January 5, 1980 at the ARC Alameda Open at Mel's Southshore Bowl in Alameda, California.[4]

Roth captured his 33rd PBA Tour title in 1987, then went through the longest title drought in his career before winning his 34th and final title at the IOF Foresters Open in 1995.[5] Roth made his last TV appearance at the 1998 PBA Peoria Open, finishing in fifth place with a 190 losing to Tom Baker, who scored 265. After reaching age 50, Roth captured two titles on the PBA Senior Tour (now the PBA50 Tour).[6]

Around 2002 Mark ran a bowling center in Ellwood City, PA called 'Mark Roth's Hall of Fame Lanes'. This lasted about 6 months and the partnership dissolved. [10]

On June 4, 2009, Roth suffered a stroke which has left him partially paralyzed on his left side.[11]

His rehabilitation is ongoing, but Roth was seen in late March 2010 on his feet and moving around at the Geico Mark Roth Plastic Ball Championship, a PBA Tournament named in his honor.[12]

He spent a week in intensive care after a heart attack in April 2019.[13]

Roth and his wife Denise[14] reside in Fulton, New York.[11] He is Jewish.[7][8]