Hall of Famers to Receive Commissioner’s Exemptions
PBA recognizes five of its greats as part of 50th anniversary celebration

The PBA announced today five Hall of Famers will receive Commissioner’s Exemptions to bowl in Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour events this season – beginning with Mark Roth at this week’s Lumber Liquidators Shark Championship in Baltimore – as part of the PBA’s season-long 50th anniversary celebration.

In addition to Roth, Wayne Webb, Marshall Holman, Brian Voss and Johnny Petraglia will also receive Commissioner’s Exemptions at their respective events which will place them directly into the field of 64. All were also named among the “50 Greatest Players” by the PBA released earlier this year.

“The PBA is proud to award exemptions to some of the biggest names in the history of our sport as another tribute to the 50th Anniversary of the PBA,” said PBA Commissioner and CEO Fred Schreyer. “Our fans will enjoy the opportunity to watch these living legends compete.”

Roth is looking forward to his Commissioner’s Exemption at the upcoming Lumber Liquidators Shark Championship at AMF Country Club Lanes in Baltimore, Md., Dec. 10-14.

“It’s great to be a part of the 50th anniversary celebration and it’s an honor to be given this opportunity,” Roth said. “Hopefully I can make it into the show.”

Roth, 57, owns 34 career Lumber Liquidators PBA titles. Eight of those came during his 1978 season, which some argue was the greatest year for a PBA player in the history of the Tour. He became the second player in PBA history to reach the $1 million career earnings mark in 1984. He has also made a name for himself on the PBA Senior Tour, winning two titles and being selected Senior Rookie of the Year in 2001 and Senior Player of the Year in 2002.

Webb will participate in the National Bowling Stadium Championship in Reno, Nev., Jan. 7-11.

Webb, 51, has won 20 PBA Tour titles, including the Tournament of Champions in 1980, and ranks 17th on the all-time money list. In 1992, he became the PBA’s sixth millionaire. He also has had some recent success on the PBA Senior Tour, winning the Senior U.S. Open and Senior Rookie of the Year in 2008.

Holman, a native of Medford, Ore., will enter the field at the Earl Anthony Medford Classic, Jan. 14-18.

Holman, 54, known as a fiery competitor, owns 22 career PBA titles, twice winning the Tournament of Champions (1976, 1986) and U.S. Open (1981, 1985). He also won the George Young High Average Award in 1982, 1984 and 1987, the 1987 PBA Player of the Year and in 1986 became the third PBA millionaire.

Voss’ exemption will come during the GEICO Plastic Ball Championship in Wheat Ridge, Colo., Feb. 18-22.

Voss, 50, has 24 career PBA titles, ranking him 10th all-time, and he won at least one title in 12 consecutive seasons from 1987-1998. He was named PBA Player of the Year in 1988 and won the Harry Smith Point Leader Award in 1987 and 1988. He amassed $2.3 million in career earnings, ranking fifth all-time.

Petraglia will compete in the Long Island Classic in West Babylon, N.Y., March 25-29.

Petraglia, 61, owns 14 career PBA titles and is one of only five bowlers to win the Triple Crown of Bowling (1971 Tournament of Champions, 1977 BPAA U.S. Open and 1980 PBA National Championship). He is one of three players to win a title in each of the last five decades and in 1994 joined a select group of bowlers to have a perfect game on national television. He also has six Senior Tour titles and was named Senior Rookie of the Year in 1998. He has also amassed more than $1 million in career earnings.

50th Anniversary Celebration Commisioner Exemptions (players and events are as follows):
Mark Roth – Lumber Liquidators Shark Championship, Baltimore, Md., Dec. 10-14
Wayne Webb – National Bowling Stadium Championship, Reno., Nev., Jan. 7-11
Marshall Holman – Earl Anthony Medford Classic, Medford, Ore., Jan. 14-18
Brian Voss – GEICO Plastic Ball Championship, Wheat Ridge, Colo., Feb. 18-22
Johnny Petraglia – Long Island Classic, West Babylon, N.Y., March 25-29

About the PBA
The Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) features the best bowlers in the world competing in National, Regional and Senior Tour events. The organization has more than 4,000 members spanning 13 countries, and nearly one million viewers tune-in to watch the Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour every Sunday on ESPN throughout the season. PBA sponsors include Bayer, Brunswick, CLR, Denny's, Etonic, Flomax, GEICO, Go RVing, H&R Block, Lumber Liquidators, Motel 6, Pepsi-Cola and the USBC, among others.