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Author Topic: Marion Ladewig....1914-2010  (Read 2221 times)

DON DRAPER

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Marion Ladewig....1914-2010
« on: April 17, 2010, 07:42:10 AM »
Yesterday was a sad day as USBC Hall of Famer Marion Ladewig passed away at the age of 95. She was voted as the greatest woman bowler by many sources and was the dominant player from the late 1940's to the mid 1960's. She won the BPAA ALL-STAR( todays US OPEN ) a record 8 times and finished second twice. She also won the World Invitational a record 5 times. She was also a multiple time WIBC champion. It was only fitting and proper that Marion Ladewig was the first woman inducted into the WIBC Hall of Fame in 1964. May she rest in peace.
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DON DRAPER

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Re: Marion Ladewig....1914-2010
« Reply #1 on: April 17, 2010, 04:39:47 PM »
I would have loved to see Marion Ladewig compete in her prime as she was the dominant player of that era. It would be interesting to speculate if her game would have translated well to the modern era. Marion threw a straight ball with a full roller release using hard rubber balls on shellac or lacquer coated wood lanes against solid wood pins with no voids. I believe her speed control and accuracy combined with her great talent would have made her just as competitive today.
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BrunsMike

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Re: Marion Ladewig....1914-2010
« Reply #2 on: April 17, 2010, 05:04:02 PM »
What a shame!! Marion Ladewig is my fiances great great grandmother, her grandmothers mother if that makes sense. I have had the oppertunity to talk with her 3 years ago. She was full of life, full of bowling knowledge, and just a joy to be around. My fiances grandmother did not know of this when I told her, she made a few phone calls and found out it was true.
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Mike Zadler

applegam

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Re: Marion Ladewig....1914-2010
« Reply #3 on: April 17, 2010, 05:04:09 PM »
I know there are a lot of younger folks on this board that may not have heard of her.  As someone in their mid-30's and grew up in Grand Rapids let me say this - she won the all-events title for City Tournament, State Tournament and National Tournament in the SAME year.  Imagine if that were to happen today.  She was truly a class act.  I still remember watching her on the WOTV bowling classic on Sundays in the fall in the late 80's.  She will be missed.
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nocarey

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Re: Marion Ladewig....1914-2010
« Reply #4 on: April 17, 2010, 06:53:35 PM »
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hq0Nr8AGfyE

The great Marion Ladewig at the height of her bowling career as she wins her 4th straight All Star title back when the All Star was the biggest tournament in bowling, for both men and women. Legendary bowling announcer Fred Wolf on the call, years before he would become known as the voice on Championship Bowling.

RIP with the other greats already gone. . .
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charlest

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Re: Marion Ladewig....1914-2010
« Reply #5 on: April 17, 2010, 07:01:10 PM »
quote:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hq0Nr8AGfyE

The great Marion Ladewig at the height of her bowling career as she wins her 4th straight All Star title back when the All Star was the biggest tournament in bowling, for both men and women. Legendary bowling announcer Fred Wolf on the call, years before he would become known as the voice on Championship Bowling.

RIP with the other greats already gone. . .


And she was bowling with a calf-length dress!!!!
Incredible! (What a handicap!)
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mumzie

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Re: Marion Ladewig....1914-2010
« Reply #6 on: April 19, 2010, 12:42:39 AM »
Back in "the day", my mother used to compete against her. Ladewig was about the only opponent that my mother truly feared. Everyone else, not so much...
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DON DRAPER

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Re: Marion Ladewig....1914-2010
« Reply #7 on: April 19, 2010, 06:00:20 AM »
While I admire the abilities of many of the current top female players none of them is as dominant as Marion Ladewig was. I believe Aleta Sill and Lisa Wagner both have 30 PWBA titles. And they were both great players. However, both come up short when you compare them to Marion Ladewig.
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charlest

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Re: Marion Ladewig....1914-2010
« Reply #8 on: April 19, 2010, 08:54:23 AM »
quote:
While I admire the abilities of many of the current top female players none of them is as dominant as Marion Ladewig was. I believe Aleta Sill and Lisa Wagner both have 30 PWBA titles. And they were both great players. However, both come up short when you compare them to Marion Ladewig.


Please also realize that while we all praise Marion Ladewig (she was the Babe Diedrickson and Babe Ruth of her day and her sport), that era did not encourage female athletes like we do today nor were many of them trained at all. Ms. Ladewig was probably extraordinarily athletic. Also keep in mind how well trained in bowling and in general physical shape athletes are today. If that situation existed back then, she woudl still have been extraordinary but she might not have stood out from the rest of the femal bowlers, as much as she does to our eyes now.
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