The Washington times., 1934-02-19
BY GINO SINH


Eight years ago they laughed
when Little Joe" Harrison, HIM
self unknown, entered a team Of
unknown youngsters in the Ma
tional Capital League, but Joe's
kids, Owens and Bauer, finished
second.
They shook their heads du-
biously as Joe headed his Occi-
dental Restaurant team toward
New England early this month,
recalling other disastrous North
ern trips of local teams, but
'Little Joe's" stars swept all be-
fore them in the most spectacular
series Of matches in duckpin
history.
Both of these are examples of
Joe'S leading characteristic grit"
He isn't afraid to tackle any,
thing and once he is in something
he is harder to shake than a
bulldog. He never stops trying.
For this reason he is consid-
cred one of the most potent
money bowlers in the game and
his record speaks volumes.
Missed Few Pay-Offs
He has missed getting in the
pay-off line of few sweepstakes
and in the recent tour it was not
only Joe's leadership, but also
b; stellar bowling which helped
the Occidentals triumph.
Joseph William Harrison was
born on the outskirts of Swan
poodle on September "a, 1906. He
attended st. Johns College for
two years, laying the foundations
for a career as a civil engineer.
However, his family needed his
help and he had to quit school
to 60 to work as plumber. He
continued in that trade for seven
years, then worked for two years
In the chemistry department Of
an ice cream concern and also
held down a Job in a department
store. He is married and has
two children.
At st. Johns he played for
ward on the basketball team and
also was a member of the school
rifle team which won a Hearst
trophy.
He played considerable sandlot
baseball and football with the
original Corinthian A. G. He was
holding down second base when
the Corinthians won the city
Junior title in 1922, and he was
. halfback on the eleven Of the
same club which won the 150-lb
title a year or so later. Snail"
Delabre, "Tubba" Farrell, later
Holy Cross captain. and George
Menke, who went on to captain
c. u, were his teammates.
Leads Batters
Last year, after a long lay-off,
he returned to the diamond and
according to Joe Blendman, the
manager, led the Occidental nine
with a batting average Of .401 The
team won 19 games and lost 8.
The Silver Spring Giants were
their leading victims.
Joe began bowling at 13, but
-preferring baseball to bowling, he
did not take serious interest IN
the sport for 10 years.
His bowling career dates from
Xmas, 1926, when he popped into
the limelight by beating Make
Rosenberg, then at the height Of
his game, in the Convention Hall
Xmas elimination tournament
final, 588 to SIT. In the semi
finals he had already served notice
of his prowess with a 626 set, high
over his three rivals, Brad Mand-
ley and Joe Mulroe. Dave Cox
lost no time signing the "nerVy
little guy on his Arlingtons, in
the Athletic League. Joe set a
league strike record with go in 81
games that year.
The same year he organized
the Owen and Bauer team OF
kids, himself, Paul Harrison,
Jack Wolstenholme, Joe Mulroe
8nu CnaTLe Lyons.
Four years ago he flashed into
the spotlight with a 433 set in
the District League rolling with
Temple. He set the pace for the
Hecht team which finished
second in the District League in
1882. and has been one of the
mainstays of the Occidental
which won the pennant last year
q and is leading the league so far
this season. Joe is captalning
that team during the present
campaign.
Joe was also on the Grand
Central Palace and King Pin
teams which won the National
Capital flags.
. On Three Winners
Last year, he cut in on three
pennant winners, Occidental,
District League; King Pin, Ma
tional Capital, and Sol Herzog,
Recreation.
But the only time he finished
on top in a special event he had
to share honorS. 1t was when he
and 'tDutch" Newman won The
washington Times Atlantic Coast
Doubles with a 2,601 total. a
record for 10 games at the time.
Joe has collected coins in three
United States sweepstakes, he
finished second in the Potomac
sweepstakes two years ago, second
in the w. C. D. A. all-events in
1881, and he has pocketed cur
rency in various national and city
tournaments several times. He
est a Campbell stake record With