The Ballard Gutter Ball
March 2, 1991 – This was the day professional bowler Del Ballard Jr. rolled a gutter ball in what should have been a routine victory.
It was the 10th frame of the Fair Lanes Open championship match. Ballard was on the verge of defeating Pete Weber. After throwing two strikes, he needed only seven pins on his final shot to win the title and a $150,000 payday.
It should have been a walk in the park.
Instead, Ballard’s shot slid into the gutter — one of the most infamous collapses in professional bowling history, and a reminder that even the greatest players can miss when the pressure is highest.
Even though he will always be associated with the dreaded gutter ball, Ballard is also celebrated as one of bowling's most consistent champions. He won 13 PBA titles and was inducted into the Bowling Hall of Fame in 2009.
