1965 World Tournament

For the first time in history the East would host the World Tourna­ment. A more splendid site than Keene, N.H., a most scenic location, could not have been chosen. The pitchers would set a number of records this year, giving Keene a legitimate claim to the best tournament ever.

There were 46 games exceeding 90 percent. One hundred and forty-­four other matches were over 85 percent. Both of these categories sur­passed the Greenville records. One hundred and ninety-nine other games were pitched over 80 percent. Twenty-seven veterans were in the field.

The rookie crop had an Eastern flavor. Wes Kuchcinski, Tony Sauro, and Jack Giddes made the scene. Bob Toney represented the great state of Virginia. Francis Winetrout traveled a full continent just to be

here. Leonard Lenigar and Ray Miller from the famed District of Southwestern Ohio broke into the field. Sam Sutton made his initial effort for the crown. Roy Smith, the perennial Michigan champion, was starting his trip to the all time top 100.

Young Dan Kuchcinski was destined for greatness. Dan was another prize product from the Junior Boy's Division, having foregone another year in that division to get a feel of the Men's Division. Dan, before the age of 30, would find himself in the Top 15 of all time in World Tourna­ment victories as well as being enshrined in the N.H.P.A. Hall of Fame! Ten men would average above the 80 percent barrier on these courts of magical clay.

After seven games, six pitchers had warded off defeat. The perfect leaders were Dan Kuchcinski, Reno, Maddox, Steinfeldt, Focht, and Martin. At 6-1 were Solomon, Day, Toole, and Hohl. Solomon dropped his opening game to Vogel, 51-41. Day was eclipsed by Allen, 50-40 in 132 shoes. Toole was handled by Vogel, 51-34. Hohl was edged by Allen, 50-46. Allen was whipped by Maddox, 51-36 and Riffle, 50-36. "Red" Henton (85.1 percent) was stung by May (88.3 percent) in 154 shoes, 52­41. Henton's only win was a 52-33 triumph over Riffle, getting revenge for Riffle's startling upset a year ago. Hohl (91.0 percent) cracked Sauro, 50-3. Martin (91.0 percent) trounced Vogel, 50-9. Day (91.5 percent) thrashed Stinson, 50-18. Solomon (92.4 percent) hammered Miller, 51-5. Reno (93.4 percent) scorched Bennett, 52-4.

After 14 games only Focht and Martin were still undefeated. Packed at 13-1 were Solomon, Dan Kuchcinski, Reno, Toole, and Hohl. Young Dan fell to Hohl, 50-29. Reno, in one of the greatest upsets in history, was slaughtered 50-14 by Toney in only 60 shoes! Winning all seven were Hohl, Toole, and Solomon. Elmer (90.5 percent) clobbered Pinch, 51-8. Toole (93.7 percent) zapped Giddes, 52-9. Floyd (92.3 percent) fro­ licked past Henton, 51-16. Solomon (92.8 percent) blistered Bennett, 51-3. Jim's 90.3 percent seared Johnson, 52-15 and his 91.2 percent warmed up Toney, 50-15. At 12-2 were Maddox and Day. Ralph was topped by Kuchcinski, 52-31 and upset by Stinson, 52-49. Day was trimmed by young Danny, 51-49 in 114 shoes. Other than that, Curt took no prisoners. Curt's 92.7 percent wiped out Smith, 52-8 and a 91.4 percent erased Giddes, 51-12. Steinfeldt dropped to 11-3 after losing to Hohl, 51-37 in 138 shoes; then to Maddox, 51-42; and then took a thumping from Day, 51-13. Focht (90.0 percent) snuffed Johnson, 53-2 and with a 92.2 percent kicked Pinch, 50-9. Martin was yet to be tested. Ray's 91.4 rocked Bennett, 51-11. Ray's 90.4 pounded Giddes, 51-10 and a 90.6 blitzed Craig, 50-6.

After 21 games the new leaders at 20-1 were Reno, Solomon, Toole, and Hohl. At 19-2 were Maddox, Day, Focht, and Martin. At 18-3 was young Kuchcinski. Twenty-one games gone and still nine contenders. For unbelievable pitching this was surely horseshoe pitching's greatest day. In game 15, Allen tripped Martin, 51-49 in 132 shoes. Martin (90.0 percent) fried Early, 50-17. Hohl (93.9 percent) pounced on Winetrout, 50-6. Bob Toney's 95.4 percent, the greatest game of his life, annihilated Bennett, 51-2. Tamboer (90.0 percent) smothered Lindquist, 52-7. Reno (92.2 percent) rubbed out Craig, 51-4. Harold's 92.5 bounced Carmack, 51-6. Day (90.5 percent) racked up Pinch, 51­14. Steinfeldt (93.4 percent) mesmerized Wes Kuchcinski, 52-6. Next game Carl bombed Lindquist, 50-10 with a 91.2 percent. Floyd Toole, after finishing with a 90 percenter on day two, started day three with three straight 90 percent games, making it a total of four consecutive games above 90 percent! No one else had ever pitched even three in a row! Toole (92.8 percent) bested Rogers, 51-12; then hit 92.0 percent on Craig, 52-7; and then 90.8 percent on Allen, 51-16. Floyd, with a low of 87.1 averaged 88.8 percent for the day. Toole (87.3 percent) took Car­mack, 51-31 in 142 shoes. Next Floyd (87.2 percent) edged Dan Kuch­cinski (85.1 percent) in 148 shoes.

Marvin Craig had the pleasure of looking at 90 percent games his first three matches, making it four games in a row he was so lucky. Marvin had the thrill of pitching in the highest combined percentage game by two men in history. In a 130 shoe match with Paul Focht, Craig tossed 86.9 while Paul had 95.4 percent. Paul had 124 ringers in the 51-18 game in which no single points were scored as there were al­ways at least three ringers on the peg at all times! Together they had 237 ringers in 260 shoes for a record percentage of 91.15! In round 18 on Court No. 10, Ray Martin and Glen Henton pitched the greatest game of all time, setting a number of records which may stand forever.

This match lasted 194 shoes, producing 312 cancelled ringers and 63 four deads! Martin had 77 doubles while Henton had 80! After 100 shoes Martin had 93 ringers and only led 21-16 as Henton had 91 ringers. For the game, Martin had four different strings of over five doubles. They were six, 17, 20, and 10! Henton had seven different strings of over five doubles. They were 13, eight, eight, nine, 10, eight, and seven! Henton missed five shoes in his last 18 and still ended up with 175 ringers for 90.2 percent in the 52-49 greatest victory. Martin with 174 ringers for 89.7 percent only missed three of his last 34 shoes but still went down! There were a total of 15 games above 90 percent pitched this great day!

After 28 games the leaders were Toole and Hohl at 26-2. At 25-3 were Martin and Reno. Solomon, Day, and Focht were 24-4. Maddox and Dan Kuchcinski were 23-5. Martin, in another long heartbreaker, was beaten by Dan Kuchcinski, 51-47 in 160 shoes! Martin later humbled Hohl, 51-18 with 91.5 percent and next Maddox, 50-21 with 90 percent. Toole was downed by Hohl, 50-27 in game 28. Reno fell to Steinfeldt, 51-40 and was shocked by May in a 51-13 breeze in game 28. Solomon was smashed by Steinfeldt, 51-18; whipped by Day, 51-33 in 132 shoes; and was stunned by Riffle, 50-26! Focht was ambushed by Carmack, 52-46 in 122 shoes. Paul was later turned back by Hohl, 51-33 in 122 shoes. Day had the hot hand for the set. 92.0 percent in a 51-12 decision over Wes Kuchcinski. Curt had 90.2 percent against Solomon in the aforementioned struggle. Day had 92.8 in a 51-8 breather against Fulton. In a spectacular match with Reno, Curt had 88.1, only to be edged by Harold, 51-48 in 180 shoes, the second longest match in his­tory. Reno pitched 88.9 percent. In another tough loss, Curt fell to Mar­tin, 50-47 in 120 shoes in game 28. Young Kuchcinski bit the dust with Solomon, 52-32 and later succumbed to Henton, 50-45 in 120 shoes.

It was the final day and still eight men were in contention! In game 29, Hohl held off Reno, 52-45 in 110 shoes. Toole brushed aside Mad­dox, 52-33 in 106 shoes. Day tumbled to Focht, 50-36 in 124 shoes. So­lomon took his match. Dan Kuchcinski had his hopes dashed by Allen, 52-38. Henton (91.1 percent) ripped Smith, 53-13 in an easy match. In game 30, Hohl escaped Solomon, 51-48. Martin (87.2 percent) survived Tamboer (85.5 percent) in 180 shoes, 52-49 in another of history's finest matches. Toole (90.2 percent) slaughtered Day, 50-16! Focht blasted Riffle, 51-12. Maddox (90.1 percent) jarred Reno (85.2 percent), 50-36 in 142 shoes in yet another terrific battle. Dan Kuchcinski was surprised by Toney, 51-39. In game 31, Day drubbed Hohl, 50-20! Mar­tin moved into a three-way tie by tripping Toole, 54-43! Focht took So­lomon, 51-41. Reno got by a game Fulton, 50-44. Maddox chucked Tamboer, 50-31. Dan Kuchcinski defeated Smith, 51-35. In game 32, Hohl eliminated Maddox, 51-24. Martin (90.0 percent) slammed Fulton, 50-7. Toole survived Focht, 51-46 in 126 shoes. Day stomped Riffle, 52-16. Reno eliminated Solomon, 51-22. Kuchcinski was elimi­nated by Steinfeldt, 52-25. In game 33, Hohl pummeled Riffle, 51-18. Jim Solomon, now relegated to a spoiler role, critically injured Martin, 50-29! Toole beat Fulton, 50-36. The now eliminated Day punished Tamboer, 51-16. In a battle for survival, Focht eliminated Reno. 51-22. In game 34, Hohl cruised by Tamboer, 52-25, thereby dropping Focht and Day from the chase. Martin kept his slim chances alive by topping Reno, 50-42. Solomon, providing one of the greatest spoiler acts in his­tory, took on Toole. In 1964 Toole, with a 92.4 percent, thumped Jim, 52-25; Jim avenged this loss by pitching 91.5 percent while pounding Toole, 51-25. This knocked Floyd out of a title tie! Jim had now ruined Martin and Toole with Hohl barely escaping! Maddox (90.0 percent) poured it on Riffle, 50-7. In game 35, Hohl romped over May, 50-19 for his first World Title. The hottest game was Day (90.2 percent) mashing Maddox, 50-19.

Elmer Hohl's victory had given Canada her first horseshoe pitching World Champion. Elmer joined Fernando Isais on the list as a foreign born champion. Each country on the North American continent had now captured the big prize! Keene, the host of the East's first World Tournament, will always be proud of the lasting records set in what could also be considered the greatest World Tournament in history. Elmer Hohl, a carpenter by trade, was well on his way to the honor of being a legend in his own time!