“Bowling has played a significant role in the history of sports and games played in America. Anyone who has ever rolled a ball down the lanes will find the people, places and events
covered in this segment of its history a worthwhile read.” --Al Matzelle, American Bowling Congress historian and past Executive Director
“Facing a formidable task in writing a history of bowling in Milwaukee, Doug Schmidt rolls a perfect game. From the founders, through the boom years and to the declining popularity of
leagues, Doug’s extensive research not only pays tribute to the greats of the sport but reveals the causes behind its fluctuations in popularity. All the names are there and revisiting
them brought back a flood of pleasant memories for this reader.”
--Hank Stoddard, Retired Sports Director, WTMJ Milwaukee
Bowling! From the thrill of the perfect strike to the agony of a ball gone astray, this popular sport is known throughout the nation. In this authoritative and lively book, Doug Schmidt
traces bowling’s roots from a German religious rite centuries ago to the sport that made Milwaukee famous. From the taverns and saloons that housed recreational games to the sell-out crowds
and million-dollar beer sponsorships of televised tournaments, this well-illustrated book covers both sport and city. Schmidt employs wide-ranging research and interviews with popular players
to chart the changing face of bowling over the century. Packed with memorable showdowns and improbable heroes, They Came to Bowl will take you back to the changing lanes of
bowling in Milwaukee—and the sport as a whole.
