1960 World Tournament
Muncie, Ind. - Aug. 1-9, 1960

   In the 1959 N.H.P.A. convention, the delegates decided tha for the advancement of the sport a change of venue was in order. Therefore the beautiful Heekin Park courts in Muncie, Indiana would now be the new tournament site.
   Qualifying scores in Muncie were extraordinary with 25 men crashing the magic 500 plateau! Twenty-four veterans qualified for this event. With Reno, Dugle, Titcomb, Tate, Day, Steinfeldt, Focht, Toole, Tamboer, Johnson, Lindmeier, Standard, and the incomparable Allen, anything was possible! As 1959 was a subpar year for rookies, 1960 would be one of the most exceptional of all time!

   Headed for the top 100 was Marvin Cragi. Headed to the top 20 of all time were Ray Martin, Ralph Maddox, and Elmer Hohl. It is said that when Elmer first beat the Canadian legend, Dean McLaughlin, that Dean himself had to report to the scorer's table to confirm that the scorekeeper had not made a mistake!

   It is rumored that one day on an outing, some Canadians wanted to set up some pegs but had no tape measure. Elmer pitched a shoe with the exact center of his shoe to be used as the forty foot distance. Legend says that when the tape measure arrived the pegs were lass than an incho off! Elmer pitches a hard driving 1 3/4 turn. Ray Martin's 1 3/4 had much the appearance of a beautiful butterfly while encircling the peg. Ralph Maddox used a rocking chair motion to toss his 1 3/4. When Ralph was on his rocker, opponents were in trouble.

   After seven games the undefeated were Allen, Titcomb, Day, Focht, Reno. Hohl took a beating from Rogers, 55-36. McFatridge fell to Tamboer, 51-37. In the seventh game Hohl pounded Reno 53-33 in 120 shoes. Titcomb (90.0) slaughtered Standard 52-7. Steinveldt (91.9 percent) trounced Johnson, 52-8. Reno (94.1 percent) mistreated Craig, 51-2. Ohler walloped Martin 50-14.

   After 14 games only Allen survived the attack on the leaders. Ted (14-0) had extended his latest winning streak to 50! Tied at 13-1 were Hohl and Titcomb. Don's lone loss was to Reno, 50-46. In a huge deadlock for fourth place at 12-2 were Day, Maddox, Reno, and Toole. Alone at 11-3 was Focht and at 10-4 were Steinfeldt and Brumfield. In feature matches of the day, Curt Day was drubbed by Reno, 50-19; and by Focht, 50-28 in games 13 and 14. Maddox went down to Hohl, 51-45, 84.2 percent not being good enough in this 108 shoe match. Reno received a trundling from Steinfeldt, 51-31. Toole (83.0 percent) fell to Reno, 50-33 in 108 shoes. Floyd took a 50-15 pasting from Maddox. Focht took a licking from Hohl, 52-27 in 114 shoes. Paul was immediately upset by Dixon, 52-44. Focht later lost to Toole, 51-41. Ohler was nipped by Maddox, 51-48 in 116 shoes. Steinfeldt, while pitching 80 percent each time, was tripped by Focht, 51-33 and Maddox, 51-49. In a very exciting down to the wire marathon which lasted 148 shoes, Allen escaped the ambush prepared by Brumfield, 51-48! In an earlier match of 128 shoes, Gene tangled with Titcomb and finally lost 55-42.

   At the end of 21 games with some surprising results, Don Titcomb now led the tournament. Don was absolutely fabulous while upping his record to 20-1! Don (90.2 percent) winning 53-23 over tough Maddox. Don (94.6 percent) giving a severe lacing to veteran Lindmeier. In between games, Don was forced to 114 shoes to take McFatridge, 53-46. Tied for second were Hohl and Allen at 19-2. In the shocker of the day, Ted Allen saw his 51 game winning streak go down the drain. Terry Earley had the game of his career, pitching 86.0 percent for 136 shoes while dumping Allen, 51-45. Allen fell short in a bid to maintain a share of the lead, bowing to Hohl, 53-47. Elmer in his preceding match lost to Ohler, 50-43. So Elmer Hohl, a rookie, upset World Champion Ted Allen to remain in the thick of the race. Tied for fouthg place were Day, Maddox and Reno at 18-3. Even for seventh place were Focht and Steinfeldt at 17-4. In some other big matches Reno was upset by Jensen, 51-36, Maddox measured Day, 50-41, Steinfeldt easily won seven straight and Focht was blasted by Titcomb, 50-12.

   After 28 games Titcomb moved into command at 27-1. Only a complete collapse could stop him now. In a five way tie for second at 24-4 were Day, Steinfeldt, Maddox, Allen, and Reno. Hohl finished the day losing three straight. Losses were to Steinfeldt, 51-48; Day, 52-44; and Titcomb, 50-34 in 120 shoes. Titcomb had his highest percentage game in his World Tournament career with an immortal 97.7 percent while shutting out great veteran Marines Tamboer, 51-0! Day was upset by Early, 50-47 in 112 shoes. Steinfeldt again won all seven with ease. Maddox was toppled by the tough Brumfield, 52-45 in 138 shoes. Allen stumbled through a 62.5 percent game, falling to Taylor, 53-38 and later to Toole, 50-38 in 112 shoes.

   In the 28th game, Reno was subdued, 50-30 by Focht in 114 shoes. In the 30th game, Reno was thumped by Maddox, 50-29 in 108 shoes. Giving the chasers hope was Titcomb's upset by Kelso, 51-49 in 118 shoes. In the 31st game, Reno fell fromt eh race by a 51-38 setback to McFatridge. In a battle of contenders, Allen stopped Steinveldt's 16 game winning streak, 51-46. Maddox hopes were dashed by Focht, 52-49 in 106 shoes. Titcomb (85.5 percent) courageously struggled by Toole, 50-49, in 138 shoes. In the 32nd game, Titcomb (93.7 percent) took a giant step closer, whipping Fulton, 51-13. Steinfeldt bowed out by losing to Day, 50-20. Maddox made an exit after losing a hard fought 50-44 game to AAllen in 136 shoes. In the 33rd game, in a survival match, Day held off Allen, 50-46 in 120 shoes. Meanwhile the eliminated Steinfeldt pitched 87.5 percent against Titcomb in one of the greatest matches in history. Titcomb in this 176 shoe affair pitched 88.6 percent to win 55-47 - a very fine performance for one under the pressure of championship aspirations. Now only Titcomb and Day were still alive.

   In game 34, Don locked up the title by turning back Day, 53-44 in 114 shoes. In game 35, Hohl sneaked back into second by beating Brumfield, 50-36. Titcomb, the new World Champion, proved his worthiness by beating the old champion Allen, 51-26 in 124 shoes. In winning the Championship, Don had dispelled the myth that a left hander could not win the World Tournament. Don had finally found that thrilling moment he has been seeking since 1947! Still to be altered was the California connection which has lasted since 1933. Don, who has always taken a strong forward path for the advancement of the sport, had finally walked to his just reward!

   The 176 shoe Titcomb-Steinfeldt match broke the 1957 single game record of 174 shoes by Allen and Day. Titcomb's 156 ringers broke Allen's record of 155. Titcomb's 69 doubles equalled another record. The combined total of 310 ringers equalled still another record.

   Records were established in the complete toutnament category. Titcomb's total of 1033 doubles and Allen's 2966 shoes pitched were new records. Titcomb, Allen, Day, Maddox, Steinfeldt, and Hohl broke the ringermark of 2261 previously held by Allen.