William"Whitey"Munn "Skill-Full Willy"

Munn Bowls 231 Average

2011-07-24T19:38:00.000-04:00

Elizabeth Star Also Hits 300 in Winning 50- Game Endurance Match

William ( Whitey) Munn, Elizabeth bowling star and individual leader in the Newark recreation Major League, turned in one of the most sensational exhibitions in ally history when he won a 50-game endurance contest Saturday in Philadelphia.

rolling against Frank Serpico, a Quaker City ace, on the Bergman and Trucks alleys, Munn complied the phenomenal average of 231.38 and beat his opponent, who averaged 208.14 by 1174 pins.

The match started at 2:30 in the afternoon, with 25 games being completed by 5:45. The competition was resumed at 7 and the remaining 25 games were finished by 10:30.

The highlight of the match came in the 17th game of the afternoon block. Munn and Serpico matched strike for strike for eight frames. In the ninth Serpico faltered, but Munn continued and added four more for a perfect 300 game as Serpico wound up with 268.

Starting with the sixth game of the afternoon match Munn really went to town and in the next 20 games averaged 251.15, a mark that might well be termed a world record. During that stretch he turned in his 300 game and in addition had such towering counts as 279, 276, and 267, his low game being 222.

Twenty-Five Game Average of 240

At the end of the first 25 games Munn led his opponent by 394 pins to average 240.15. Serpico averaged 224.21 for the same string. During the final 25 games Munn rolled up 780 more pins.

At the conclusion of the match Munn appeared just as fresh as when he started, a fact indicated by his average of 241.3 for the last five games. During the 50 games Munn lost three pounds while his opponent dropped five pounds. Both bowlers used three different balls.

The pins used weighed three pounds six ounces.

Munn and Serpico will roll another 50-game match Saturday afternoon, March 23, at the Newark Recreation Center alleys.

Munn's Pin Marks Scare Off Rivals

2011-03-24T16:42:00.000-04:00

Newark Star Ledger

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.

Munn First Bowler Selected For Oldtimers Hall of Fame

2010-08-12T23:28:00.007-04:00

By Gus Bock

For the first time in its history the Old time Athletes Assn. will honor a bowler at its 19th annual dinner and reunion Thursday night at the Hotel Suburban, East Orange.

This man, and he is a mighty one, is William 9Whitey) Munn of Hillside. No athlete could be more deserving of the honor because Whitey has has been one of the country's great pin stars-and we do mean great- for too many years to remember.

Other old time sports figures who will be honored include George Mills (baseball, football); Matthew McDonald (track, boxing, football); Henry Wagner (gymnast, basketball, bowling); Harry McEnore ( baseball); Silvio Bojrotundi (baseball, basketball, bowling); Sam (Murph)Klugman ( basketball); Dr. Maclyn Baker (baseball, basketball, football); John Joyce (basketball, baseball, football); Joe O'Toole (basketball); Frank Terwilliger (track, football,baseball); William Hood (baseball, football); John (Pop) Brennan (cycling); Andrew Zazali ( basketball, bowling); and Joe Kasberger (St. Benedict's Prep athletic coach and a former football star), and two newspaper men, Sid Dorfman of the Star-Ledger and your correspondent.

One could write reams about the sport exploits of these individuals, but this is primarily a story about Munn because, as we mentioned before, he is the first bowler ever to receive the accolades of this association.

During his long career, Whitey, a former iron worker, was a national bowling figure. He hit the headlines first as a member of the Elizabeth Elks of the old New Jersey State Elks League. He was top man in that league for so many years that it wasn't funny. He also performed with many other championship teams in New Jersey and carved out a sensational record in national competition.

In 11 national championship tournaments he averaged over 200 an in the American Bowling Congress tournament he was a 10-year leader with an average of 200.47.

Munn also rolled 10 perfect 300 games along the way, but he will mostly be remembered as a marathon bowler. Whitey had the strength of a bull and he needed it because he fired a sweeping hook ball, one of the most difficult to control, and one of the most taxing on a mans muscles. But, of course, Whitey had muscles to spare. If it were not for a hand injury that cut his career in its prime we are sure that Whitey would still be in there with the best of them.

In June of 1942 Munn competed in the world's marathon championship at Phoenixville, Pa., against 72 of the nation's top performers and he won the title on scores of 210, 188, 222, 299, 207, and 240 for a 228 average.

He held the title for several years, but, to our mind, his greatest feat came about in 1941. He was challenged by Frank Serpico of Philadelphia to a 100-game match for a very substantial purse. The first 50 games were rolled at Serpico's Philadelphia alleys, which, of course, were strange to Munn and the second 50 at the Newark Recreation Center.

Serpico and Munn rolled 50 games a day, 25 in the afternoon and 25 at night. After the first 50 games in Philadelphia there was no contest. Munn averaged 231 and, on the way, hit scores of 300 and 279. His average from the sixth game to the 25th-20 contest-was 251, a mark that is unequalled in bowling history.

Big Advantage

Serpico averaged 208.14 for the first 50 games and they entered the second 50 games at Newark with Munn holding an advantage of 1,174 pins. In these 50 games Whitey went into a "slump". He was able to average only 217.27 but he did manage to fire scores of 278, 276, and 275. Serpico averaged 196.15, an average we will take any time.

In addition to bowling, Munn was a fair country baseball player. He served five years on convoy duty with the navy in the first World War and during that period he pitched the USS Wyoming to the championship of the United States fleet. Anybody want to bowl 50 games? We'll get Whitey out of moth balls.

Bowlers Journal Team of New York Sweeps Series In First Block Of Title Match

2010-08-12T21:53:00.014-04:00

Manhattan may soon gain the same distinction in bowling that it enjoys in the baseball world, where the New York Yankees almost annually dominate the scene. For the crack Bowler's Journal team, under the leadership of the colorful Joe Falcaro, all but knocked the props from under the St. Louis Hermans, current world champions, in the first three-game block of their eighteen-game series fro the worlds' team match-game title last night at Feusers's Del-mar Recreation. After all firing had ceased, the New Yorkers held a commanding lead of 338 pins, the result of a clean sweep of the three games.
The Hermans , however, will have a chance to cut into the Journals' advantage when these teams meet in the second trio of games in the marathon series over the same Nos. 13 and 14 alleys tonight at 8 o'clock.

Hermanns Off Show

The Hermans, with a majority of the overflow crowd of 350 cheering them on, got off to a slow start and could never catch up. Capt. Cone Hermann, Sam Garofalo, Ed (Bud) Rice, Charles (Chuck) O' Donnell and Lowell Jackson opened the series for the Hermanns and after their first game, which added up to only 888, compared to the 1,009 for the journals, leaving the St. Louisans 121 pins behind, it was apparent that the St. Louis squad was not at its best.

Hermanns Improve

Then, in the second game, the Hermanns improved somewhat by firing 875, but this still wasn't as good as the Journals' total of 981, increasing their average to 227 pins.

After the second game , the Hermanns, in shaking up their lineup, benched Rice, who had tossed only 152 and 158 in his first two efforts, and sent Joe Pallardy into the game. Pallardy improved on Rices scores when he shot 175 and the team totaled 865, but this still was not good enough, for the "Bronx Bombers" rolled 976.

The visitors seemed right at home over the resurfaced Del-Mar alleys, especially little Marty Cassio, who came up with games of 190, 231 and 212 for 633 to cop scoring honors for the night. James ( Junie) McMahon wasn't far behind with scores of 235, highest single game in the first block, 205 and 179 for 619.

Falcaro Below Par

Falcaro, who has fifty-six 300 games to his credit, or more than any other bowler, didn't warm up until the last game, when he shot 204. His 188 and 158 gave him 550 for his contribution to the Journals' cause.
Jacksons' fine pin toppling as anchor man for the Hermanns kept the Journals' margin from reaching greater proportions with his games of 208, 196, and198 for 602, the highest total turned in by any bowler on the local squad.

________________________________________________________

Chips of The Tenpins
( this is a small article written about the same matches posted above, unfortunately, my grandmother did not specify the name of the newspaper it was clipped from)

Harry Feuser announced that the afternoon sessions tomorrow ans Sunday will start at 2:30 o'clock instead of 3 . . . . Cone Hermann got the series under way with a strike, which turned out to be a bad omen, for his 486 total for three games was the lowest of the night. . . . William (Whitey) Munn, husky leadoff man for the Journals', was never without his cigar. He even leaves the bench and bowls with the stogie in his mouth. . . . The match was forty-five minuets late in the start and ended a few minutes before 11p.m.. . . . The crowed cheered when Jackson picked the six and seven pins in a split in the third frame of the first game.

Here is another article writen on this same match

Rivals Pay Dearly / Munn Claims Marathon Bowling Title.

2010-04-09T14:22:00.016-04:00

Detroit News Jaunuary 15, 1943

Rivals Pay Dearly
Munn Claims Marathon Bowling Title

By John Walter

Detroiters will be interested to know an Elizabeth, N.J., bowler, William (Whitey) Munn, is setting himself up as the undefeated claimant of the "world's marathon bowling championship," and is making his marathon bowling pay.
Recently Munn, 43-year-old New Jersey tenement inspector, defeated Fred Voelpel, of Long Island; Frank Serpico, of Philadelphia, and Ray Schultz, of Buffalo, in marathon matches. his opponents failed in the late games with numbed hands and bleeding fingers as Munn continued to top the 200 mark.

Against Serpico, Munn averaged 231 for the 50 games at Philadelphia. Serpico, incidentally, was Munn's teammate on Joe Falcaro's ill-fated National Bowlers Journal five that lost its world's match game five-man title to Joe Norris'Stroh team here last winter.

Detroiters also saw Munn, former structural iron worker, in action at the Petersen Classic at the Palace Recreation last month. Munn finished in fifth place. After that Munn bowled half a dozen money matches and averaged 216 for the distance as he cleaned up. Four of his matches were with Alex Graham of Dover, O., creamery proprietor.

WINNING ANOTHER
At present Munn is on his way to a victory over Joe Krupa, 35-year-old Clevelander, in a 100-game match for $2,000. The past week-end saw Munn out bowl Krupa by 679 pins in the first 50 games at Cleveland. The second 50 games will be rolled at Elizabeth, N.J., this week-end.

This article has also been featured on ActionBowlers.com

Munn Boosts Lead Over Marty Cassio

2010-04-09T13:51:00.003-04:00

ELIZABETH- William "Whitey" Munn, Hillside veteran, stretched his lead to 227 pins over Marty Cassio of Rahway in the next to last block of their 40-game challenge bowling match last night at the Centre Recreation alleys.
Turning in a 10-game average of 209.9, Munn picked up 83 pins as Cassio ran into numerous splits and emerged with an average of 201.6. Munn's high game was 241 in the second, in which he defeated his arch rival by 73 pins. Cassio's best was 234 in the opener.
The final 10-game block will be rolled tonight at Centre.

Scores:
Munn : 215, 241,172, 211, 235, 189, 217, 204, 212, 203, = 2,099.

Cassio: 234, 168, 207, 221, 182, 195, 223, 200, 215, 171, = 2,016.

Munn Beats Schultz In 50 Game Marathon

2010-04-07T22:01:00.005-04:00

CLICK ON IMAGES TO ENLARGE & READ

Munn Mops Up

2010-04-07T21:45:00.003-04:00

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

2010-04-07T20:47:00.007-04:00

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

2010-04-07T11:08:00.003-04:00

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 Hits 300

2010-04-07T10:54:00.004-04:00

William "Whitey" Munn, Elizabethan known throughout metropolitan bowling circles for his sweeping hook-ball, today has a fourth 300 game, and the first of the local pin season, to his credit. Bowling for the Club Royale team in the Elizabeth major League, Munn's fast-breaking ball snaked into the pocket for twelve strikes in the middle game. His other scores were 237 and 201.
Clube Royale bowled 1,030, 1,08?? and 1,068 to sweep the recreation Five, Munn showing the way. Munn also bowls for the Elizabeth Lodge team in the State Elks League.
The six-foot ironworker's flaw-less effort is the second for 1939 here. George Yorke hit a perfect game for Simmons at the Y.M.C.A. Industry League on February 14 last season, and George Scheuerman of the Epworth M. E., banged a 300 in the Church Federation Leauge late in 1938.

Munn's Hot Pace Sinks Varipappa

2009-10-20T19:10:00.006-04:00

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.

The Bowling Experience

2009-09-28T22:15:00.009-04:00

In 1987 a book titled "The Bowling Experience" was published by Lou Marks.

In his book Marks dedicates a chapter to "Skill-Full Willie" on pg 129 called
"A winning Combination: Bowling's "Butch & "Sundance" it read as follows:

please click on the image to magnify

Lou Mark's book is still in publication as of 2009. It is available to purchase at Amazon.com HERE

This article was first published in the Florida Post in 1982

Munn To Bowl Cleveland Ace

2009-08-23T11:13:00.004-04:00

MUNN TO BOWL CLEVELAND ACE
--------
Marathon duel With Krupa Starts Here Sunday.
---------
Gelhausen to Oppose Kollmar Tonight
---------

Bill "Whitey" Munn, big Elizabeth bowler who is the undefeated claimant of the "world's marathon title," takes on the strongest opposition he has ever faced in defense Joe Krupa of Cleveland at the Centre Academy Sunday. The first fifty games of their 100-game match will be rolled here and the remainder in Cleveland June 19th.
The 35-year-old Krupa is a "Johny-come-lately" to the Nation's top-flight bowlers, but he has been very much in the limelight for the last three seasons. He has rolled twenty-two 300 games, won the Chicago all Star Sweepstakes last winter, the 1943 Middle States all-events crown and twice has beaten Joe Bodis and Walter Ward, Two of the best, in the individual matches.
At top of game.
Munn , who has crushed three notched opponents in those wearing 100-game matches, is at the top of his game. He is currently leading the Centre Recreation Classic with an average of 205 for sixty games.

Fred Voelpel of Long Island, Fank Serpico of Philadelphia and ray Schultz of Buffalo have been unable to stay with Munn over the marathon route, fading in the late games with numbed hands and bleeding fingers as Munnn continued to pile up double centuries.
One of the greatest in modern bowling history was accomplished by Munn in his fifty-game strip against Serpico in Philadelphia. Bowling on his opponent's alleys, Munn deluged his foe by averaging 231 for the fifty games.
Sunday's match will start at 3 P.M. At the end of the twenty-fifth game there will be an intermission of approximately two and one-half hours, with the second twenty-five-game block slated to start at 9 o'clock.

Bowling Echoes / Newark News 3/10/44

2009-08-23T10:45:00.002-04:00

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.

Second Sweep For Elizabeth; Munn Scores

2009-03-11T00:20:00.004-04:00

{Writen in the Elizabeth Daily Journal}

Elizabeth found itself in the bowling spotlight yesterday, with the local Elks scoring their second sweep to take the lead in the Central New Jersey Elks League and Whitey Munn marking his return to competition by scoring a 199- pin victory over Andy Varipapa in a twenty-game series.

Munn piled up a commanding 297-pin lead in the first ten-game block Saturday night at his Centre Recreation alleys and had little trouble coasting to victory, although Varipapa won by ninety-eight pins in last night's wind-up at the trick shot artist's Hempstead, L.I., alleys.

Munn Averages 246.4.

Munn, who opens a forty-game struggle with Marty Cassio of Rahway at the Centre lanes next Saturday night, proved that a years layoff has not affected his game by turning in a sparkling average of 246.4 Saturday. Whitey was under 200 only once- a 193 in the fifth game- and folloed with a brilliant barrage to wind up with 222,286, 279, 256 and 256. A spare in the first frame cost him a 300 in the seventh. He finished the game with eleven straight strikes for 286.

Varipapa, whose best game Saturday was a 259, put on a belated flurry toward the end of last nights encounter, but was too far in arrears to threaten to any great extent. he shot 235 in the sixth and followed it with 246 and 232 to pick up 115 pins in those three games.

Munn then came back to shoot 244 in the ninth- his best of the night.

Last Night's Scores
Munn 226, 212, 204, 210, 198, 206, 194, 198, 244, 211........................2,103

Varipapa 214, 227, 219, 197, 199, 235, 246, 232, 221, 211..................2,201

Saturday's Scores
Munn 254, 256, 216, 246, 193, 222, 286, 279, 256, 256......................2,464
Varipapa 224, 216, 207, 237, 195, 169, 259, 245, 182, 233................2,167

Munn Breaks 700 Again

2009-03-11T00:04:00.002-04:00

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.

Small Clipping/ Unknown Article title

2009-03-10T23:49:00.003-04:00

Bill "Whitey" Munn, is still with-out a peer in marathon match -game competition. He beat Frank Serpico, Philadelphia star, in a sixty game, three-day match across the alleys of tweleve Quaker City academies over the week-end, coming up in the next-to-last game to overhaul his rival.

"Whitey," who had trailed by 430 pins after the first day (Friday) waged an uphill fight to win. in that fifty-ninth game the Elizabeth hookster banged a 259 to forge ahead. His high game for the entire set was at 288 and Munn averaged 199.52 to Serpico's 198. The match realized $1,800 for the Bowl of Victory Ambulance Fund, and the keglers were battling for a reported purse of $500.

Munn vs. Varipapa

2008-02-20T21:31:00.004-05:00

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 Demonstrates His Match Game Ability

2008-02-20T21:07:00.004-05:00

Whitey Munn, who is holding down the top average in the Newark Major Leauge and has been barred from many sweepstake events, showed his match game ability when he took over Tony Sparando in a seven-game struggle at the St. Charles Borromeo lanes last Sunday afternoon. He averaged 207.4 in turning back Sparando. A margin of 33 pins serparated the two keglers. Sparando found the lanes in the sixth game for a 255 high game of the match. Munn had 36 strikes and Sparando 31.

The scores:

Munn - 224, 205, 223, 222, 193, 204, 182 = 1453.

Sparando - 182, 175, 194, 212, 204, 255, 198 = 1420.

Munn Tops Voelpel in 100-Game Match

2008-02-20T20:45:00.004-05:00

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)

Cassio Clipped

2008-01-27T23:28:00.000-05:00

Munn Predicts Bowling Win Over Cassio 11-26-44

2008-01-27T23:08:00.001-05:00

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.

Kegling Stars Begin Series Here Tonight / Cassio's Rival

2008-01-27T22:32:00.001-05:00

A keen Bowling rivalry that took root about twelve years ago will be resumed tonight when Marty Cassio of Raahway and whitey Munn of Hillside, two of the East' leading , keglers open their fourty game challenge match at the Centre Recreation allys. Ten games will be rolled, with the second block being held tomorrow night. The match will conclude next week-end.

Cassio has been moving along at a rapid pace, having scored recent victories over Junie McMahon, Ray Nolen, the Centre Classic champion, and Frank Serpico, who conceded to Marty at the halfway mark of their duel two weeks ago.

Munn, who had been inactive for a year, hurled a challenge at Cassio just before the Serpico match. Whitey has been beaten often by his Rahway rival, but he feels the years rest has done him a world of good and contends he's bowling better now than he has in many years. Just to prove his point, Munn chalked up a 199-pin triumph over Andy Varipapa in a twnety-game match last week-end.

Brilliant ten-Game Set

Whitey was never more brilliant than in the first block Saturday at Centre. He had a giant average of 246.4, winding up with big games of 222, 286, 279, 256 and 256. Naturally, he's hoping to uncork the same brand of pin-toppling against Cassio.

Cassio who throws a straight ball as compared to Munn's sweeping hook, is as cocky as he was before the McMahon, Nolen and Serpico contests. There isnt a bowler in the country whom Marty fears. He has flung challenges at the best of them, including champion Ned Day, and strangely enough hasn't had many takers.

The title Rahway tailor claims to have beaten Munn fourteen times since their rivalry began. And he says Whitey has defeated him only once - the first time they met. This time they'll be battling for the highest stake ever, and the fans are expecting to see the fur and the wood fly plenty.

The Cleveland News / Endurance Kegler

2008-01-27T22:08:00.000-05:00

Whitey Munn of Elizabeth, N.J., who claims the national endurance bowling title, concludes his 100-game marathon match against Joe Krupa Sunday at Linsz Recreation. At the end of the first 50 games, Munn is leading by 679 pins.

Twenty-five games will be bowled Sunday afternoon starting at 3 and the final 25 at 8:30, The contestants are rolling for the national endurance crown, and a purse of $1,000.

Jersey Bowler / January 5th 1945

2008-01-25T21:53:00.001-05:00

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 Still MArathon Champion

2008-01-25T21:26:00.000-05:00

Jersey Star Rolls Up Wide Lead In Final Block to Retain Title -

HEMPSTEAD- What promised to be one of the closest bowling contests ever stages over the hundred game route was turned to a route here Sunday night when Whitey Munn, New Jersey's venerable marathon champion of the world, checked the championship aspirations of Heineman Centre's stocky Freddie Voelpel. Munn came over from his Jersey digging's with a narrow lead of 83 pins picked up in the 50-game block rolled at Hollywood Recreation on June 14th.

He opened the matinee block at Heineman Bowling Centre with 164 to add another single stick to his fragile lead. Voelpel reduced this in the second number to 60 sticks when the Laurelton star chalked up 214 and then followed up with 182 to further reduce Munn's lead to 43 pins. From that point Munn gradually increased his lead until at the end of the 56th game he held an advantage of 132. In the next ten frames Voelpel toppled 203 to cut this to 101 as Munn was pacing himself nicely with 172.

Going intot he 60th game, the Jersey star was rolling along at a smooth clip, piling up a lead which saw him 391 to the good at the end of the 75th game. From there on it was Munn all the way. The "over the river " representative started his big guns a- blazing and at the end of the 91st game, at which point Voelpel conceded defeat, the Garden Stater had rounded out an average of 795 sticks.

Munn featured the final block with a 278 in the 86th game while Voelpel's high game came in the 74th when he chalked up242. The total pin count for 91 games for Munn was 18,799 for a grand average of 206.5, while the Heineman Centre prexy's 18,004 total count gave him an average of 197.8.

Munn Bowls 217 Average

2008-01-25T18:16:00.000-05:00

Dupont Hits 276 as He and Knapp Bow in Benefit Match -

A brilliant 10-game performance by Whitey Munn highlighted the two-man benefit match for the Navy Relief Fund last night at the Chancellor recreation allys. Munn averaged 217 and teamed with Len Sauer to easily defeat Emil Dupont and Rickey Knapp, 4,043 to 3,654.

A crowd of 350 saw Munn start in sensational style. He hit 257 in his first game and went under the double century mark only once, getting 193 in his sixth game. Munn's other scores were 204, 220, 216, 226, 200, 207, 223, and 227 for a total pinfall of 2,173.

Dupont Rolls 276

Sauer did little for his team, blowing hot and cold during the match. His scores were 149, 169, 199, 180, 223, 194, 188, 197, 201, 170.

Dupnot was the victim of some tough luck, getting 276 in his last game ever having a chance for a perfect score. His other games; 189, 147, 182, 169, 155, 204, 189, 196, 224.

In rolling his 276 game, Dupont has seven strikes in a row. On his eighth ball, the No. 5 pin remained standing as the No. 4 spun around. He got three more strikes and then ran into the 4-7-10 split on his last ball.

Knapp failed to roll a double century game. His scores; 188,185, 155, 156, 179, 162, 191, 166, 158, 183.

They Hope to OUtroll the Hermans

2008-01-25T17:22:00.000-05:00

( The National Bowlers' Journal team of New York which tonight opens a series with the Hermanns of St. Louis for the national match game title. Left to Right: MARTY CASSIO, JOE FALCARO, CHESTER ARNHORST, JAMES McMAHON AND WILLIAM (WHITEY) MUNN. The Hermanns are defending match game champions.)

Hermanns Risk U.S. Bowling Title in Facing New Yorkers -

Entire 18-Game Match With Joe Falcaro's Squad to be Rolled at Del-Mar Allys Here.

The hermanns, one of St. Louis' few national champions, will put their United States match-game bowling title on the line tonight, when the first block of an 18-games, total pins to count match is rolled at the Del-Mar recreation, 5025 Delmar Boulevard. Opposing the Hermanns will be the Bowlers Journal Quintet of New York, captained by Joe Falcaro, one of the countrys outstanding pinntopplers.

It will be the second time since the defended the Heils of Milwaukee that the Hermanns will be called upon to defend their championship. In their last defence, they won from the Linsz Recreation of Cleveland in a home and home match, 18,178 to 17,995, a difference of 183 pins.

In order to get a shot at the title, the easterners won an elimination tournament at Buffalo, rolling 9012 to beat the Kendalls of Erie, Pa., by 122 pins. In that watch C. Arnhorst, who'll be in there pitching again in the series with the Hermanns, was the individual star for a total of 1899 for the nine games. Falcaro hit for 1786, Marty Cassio 1799 and Whitey Munn, who has been in action here several times, 1763. Munnis one of the 10-year leaders in the A.B.C. with an average of 200.47. Falcaro has a mark of 198.11 for eight and Cassio 202.45 for seven.

So the Hermanns will have no snap despite the fact that the entire match will be bowled here instead of on a home-and-home basis as has previously been the case. The Hremanns will rely on the same bowlers who defeted the Linsz quintet. In that match Sam Garofalo totaled 3880 for the 18 games; Cone Hremann, 3756; Lovell Jackson, 3621; Charles O'Donell, 3444; Joe Pallardy, 1783, for his nine games, and Bud Rice 1684.

For the first time in histoy of the team competition under the auspices of the Bowling Proprietors of America, the match will be decided on newly surfaced allys - Nos. 13 and 14 at the Del-Mar Recreation. It was on this pair that the hermann five a few years back rolled its record total of better than 3700. The New Yorkers figured that the Hermanns " knew too much" about the drives, so insisted on a resufacing job and after a long argument between the captains and officials of the national body, this was done.

Following tonight's block, which starts at 8 o'clock, the teams meet in another three games tomorrow night, while there will be afternoon and evening blocks Saturday and Sunday. The admission prices are $1.10 for reserved seats and 55 cents for general admission.

Whitey Munn Awarded $500.00 Major Prize; Misses Perfect Game

2008-01-24T20:45:00.002-05:00

Maraton Kegler From Elizabeth, N.J., Rolled 210-188-222-299-207-240 To surpass Pvt. Vince Mikiel, of U.S. Army Air Corps, in Competition at Phoenixville Recreation Center; No. 6 Pin Refuses to Fall in lAst Frame of Fourth Game.

The $1,000 added individual bowling sweepstakes on the new Phoenixville Recreation Center allys is now history.

Chalking up 1337 pins in the six games, averaging nearly 228 pins a game, William (Whitey) Munn, burly kegler from Elizabeth, NJ., claimant to the world's marathon championship, copped first prixe of $500.

Munn, performing on Saturdays night before a capacity crowd, displayed dazzling form to surpass Pvt. Vince Mikiel, of the U.S. Army Air Corps, Mitchel Field, Long Island, who rolled 1337 on Friday night. Mikiel won second honors, $200.

The tourney winner nearly enteres bowldom's hall of fame in the fourth game when he came within one pin of a perfect game. Munn, with the crowd applauding his every effort, racked up 11 straight strikes and on the 12th try the No. 6 pin failed to drop- robbing him of a 300 game, finishing with 299. He started off with a 210 and then continued with a 188, 222, 207 and 240.

Munn's 1366 Wins Bowling tournament

2008-01-24T20:33:00.001-05:00

Munn Is Victor In Sweepstakes

2008-01-23T20:56:00.000-05:00

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

Munn In Phonenixville

2008-01-23T20:13:00.000-05:00

Renowed Jersey Pinner Shoots 299-1366; Mikiel is Runner-up

PHOENIXVILLE.Pa., Mar. 20 - Another chapter in the biography of one of the East's outstanding ten-pin personalities was written here last night when William "Whitey" Munn, the man from New Jersey with a cigar in his mouth, went to the small town to make good.

Munn, long a headline performer along metropolitan New York's ten-pin trail, but who, during the current season had failed to produce anything startling in the way of strikes and spare sprees, despite an extensive campain in local sweepstakes and tournaments, showed a flash of his most brilliant form at Alfred Disanno Jr.'s newlt opened Phoenixville Recreation Center to annex top honors in the Phoenixville Classic, stellar attraction on a brilliant grand opening program.

Sophisticated metropolitan New Yorkers had heard little of Phoenixville, a small chester county town located on the banks of of the historic Schuykill River until Alfred Disanno, who plays a prominent role in business life of a small town of 12,000 population decided to renovate an abandoned theatre and open a de luxe bolwing academy. The business ingenuity of Disanno, who rose to a position of prominence in a towm noted for its huge iron and steel mills, boiler works, cotton mills, hosiery, shirts, pottery, building materials, paint and needle factories was all needed to put Phoenixville on the ten-pin map in indelible letters.

And Munn, big time ten-pin campaigner only a few minutes from Broadway was all that Disanno needed to make his show complete.

The man with the cigar in his mouth puffed his way to the top of the heap and a $500 prize by racking up a six game total of 1366 to take first place from Vince Mikiel, a buck private in Uncle Sam's Army, who on the previous night had taken the lead with a 1336 score.

Munn started off in a pacific manner but once the El Ropo began to cloud the cozy seven-ally establishment with billowy waves of smoke, the Elizabeth knight of the bakelite began warming to his task.

Pinning along at a steady clip which was to see him safely home, Munn began sighting the pocket with deadly aim. ever fearful of those disastrous splits, the Jersey jolter played it safe until he was within reach of the top, then took one grand fling. The net result of his do or die effort was a 299 game, one of the most spectacular performances ever witnessed in major tourney play in any part of the country.

Upon the completion of his six game series, Munn was the toast of the town.

Manager Cuthbert, of the newly opened establishment presented him with a specially engraved pin to fit the occasion and informed him overthe amplifying system that his check was in the mail and probably would beat him home as Whitey reserved a seat to watch the final squad on Sunday afternoon.

"Iron Man" Recalled

2008-01-23T13:44:00.001-05:00

By Pat McDonough

Wednesday, June 19, 1974

The bond young man walked up to the check-in table at the Landgraf Classic and signed his name : Whitey Munn, Jr.

The name of Whitey Munn immediately evoked memories of an almost legendary bowling "Iron Man."

A generation ago the late Munn was the acknowledged "Marathon" champion. Anyone who was interested in bowling 50 games in one day was welcome to contact Whitey and he had a match.

Whitey had been an iron worker for most of his life and his ace card was stamina. Plus a bowling hand and thumb which could withstand a ten to twelve hour bowling session.

His most celebrated match was with Frank Serpico of Philadelphia. The pair bowled 25 games on a Saturday afternoon, thenreturned in the evening for 25 more. Whitey averaged an incredible 231 for the match, his opponent averaged a creditable 208 for the event.

In the 17th game of the match both opened with eight-timers. Serpico stopped at that point but but Munn went on to a 300 game.

In the final five games Whitey had 235, 246, 278 218 and 231 for a 241 average. In one stretch he averaged 251 for 20 games.

Munn's unique talent was for marathon matches but he met and beat the best in the area in matches of less than marathon length. He was a great team bowler and was a member of the National Team Match Champions, the Bowlers Journal outfit which included Joe Falcaro, Marty Cassio, Chester Arnhorst and Junie McMahon. McMahon and Cassio are in the ABC Hall of Fame and Falcaro has been close to election in recent voting.

Munn, who is a member of the Union County Hall of Fame, once served as secratary of the New Jersey State Proprietors Assn. He also toured with Andy Varapapa in the late 1930s.

As Whitey Munn, Jr. came off the lanes in the Landgraf Classic Manny Falcaro was ready to go on for the next squad. Manny is a son of the late Joe Falcaro, a rival of Whitey in many matches, individual and team. The sons had never met previously.