The Washington times., 1934-02-12
AVERAGED I29
IN ATLANTA
4YRS. AGO
This is the tWenty-fourth Of the
"Duckpin-mokers" seTies, bio
graphical sketches Of outstanding
duckpin figures. Next in series
viH appear ThursdGy.
Rv GINO SINH

Ine 1lrSt i've years JACK Wnalen
bowled in the District Duckpin
League, Washington's major cir
cult, his team won the pennant.
Jack + ,de his debut with Lon
ME Krauss' Stanford Paper in
1925, when 1S years of age, and
that team won tie gonfalon. Jack
was the fourth high man in the
league.
Next he was the ace of the Con-
vention Hall team which won the
title three times in a row. He
was in Atlanta, Ca, during the
1929-30 season. but he returned
to grace the lineup of Rendezvous,
which captured the crown the
next year. with Jack again setting
the pace in the averages.
During his season in Atlanta,
the slim ace held an average OF
1913 for 81 games, under cham
pionship conditions. in the Atlanta
City League, two points higher
than Howard .Campbell's record
121 in the National Capital
League, but for some unaccounted
reason was never given credit for
it. This was thc highest average
of his life. In fact, he has only
held a 100 pace once since, when
he bowled a half season in the
National Capital League three
years ago.
Born in Washington
John James Whalen, jr., was
born in Northeast Washington on
February l, 1907. He graduated
from a four-year course at Tech
High.
Jack aspired to a place on the
Tech basketball team but some
how everytime he seemed sure OF
a berth he was found deficient
in his studies.
Following his graduation he OBJ
tanned a clerical position with the
Southern Railway and then John
S. Blick hired him to work in the
office at Convention Hall. Later
he became floor man there and
then Blick sent him to his plants
at Norfolk, Va, Greensboro, N. c.,
and Atlanta, Ca, to help the
managers Of those new establish
ments. Jack was in Atlanta over
a year.
Blick having taken over the
King Pin, which he renamed Co
lunlbia, next sent Jack to heIp
Lonnie Krauss here. Jack spent
a few months working in Rich
mond alleys, before he again re-
turned to the Capital.
Never Under 100
The tall youngster has never
average less than 100 since ne
began bowling in the old Holy
Comforter League during 1922-25
season, when he held a pace OF
1O2.
He had 1O8 the second year IN
that loop, finishing second, ana
the next year he averaged Ill
in the Southern Railway League
again placing in the runner-up
position.
In the District League he lin.
ished fourth the first year. tnlrd
the second, led the league IN lS1I.
% with q record 118-41 pace, and
was second the next season. On
his return he finished seventh.
Jack gained his high niche in
duckpinS back in 1927, in the
matches against Barney Spin
elias Brooklyn All-stars when ne
maintained a then unheard OF
pace of 120 for both ends Of the
match. Teamed with the veteran
"Red" Megaw in the doubles he
more than held up his end.
In 1929, he tied with Howard
Campbell for the National Singles
title only to lose out in the roll
off, but two years later he cap
tured that honor without dill
ficulty.
Wins u. S. Stakes
Jack annexed the first q S.
Sweepstakes championship when
he beat out Brad Mandley by
three pins. During the present
year he flashed to the fore by
winning the annual Star Tourna-
ment.
Four years ago when he first
returned from the South he dis
posed of Ollie Pacini and Eddie
Espey in singles matches. Last
week he again proved that he is
still a fine singles shooter when
he took the measure of George
Honey, Temple star, in the cur
rent District match game elimina-
ton first round. after trailing IN
the opening block.
Whalen was a member Of the
Parkway Filling Station team
which won the National Capital
League pennant the same year
his Rendezvous team won the
District League title. He also
Sparkled in the defunct Athletic
League. He was rated No. in
the city during the 1928-29 sea-
son, when 90 years of age.
Jack is one of quartet of stars
who have bowled together for
seven years. The others are Mag
Wood, AL Work and Carroll DAILY.
Whalen is noted for his ac-
curacy. When he was at the
height of his game he was con-
sidered the most accurate bowler
On the drives.
This year he is bowling with
Columbia in the District League.
--'halen also has q trainer and
manager. He is Charles E. Ford,
well-known local attorney.