Patty Costello (May 8, 1947, Washington, D.C. – April 16, 2009, Scranton, Pennsylvania) was an American professional ten-pin bowler and former member of the Professional Women's Bowling Association (PWBA). She was one of the best female bowlers of the 1970s and 1980s. Costello is a member of the USBC and PWBA Halls of Fame.
Born to William Joseph and Marjorie Moran Costello in Washington, D.C., Costello did not begin bowling until the age of 16, but she quickly made a name for herself in the sport, winning four titles in 1970.
Professional career
Over her bowling career, Costello earned 39 professional titles (25 in PWBA-WPBA events and another 14 in LPBA-LPBT events), including eight major championships. Her majors include four titles in the PWBA Players Championship (1971, 1972, 1974, 1976) and three victories at the U.S. Women's Open (1974, 1976 and 1980).
In 1976, she won six PWBA events, setting a record for most titles earned in a year, plus another two titles in LPBA events. (The record for PWBA-only titles was later set by Carolyn Dorin-Ballard with seven in 2001, although Dorin-Ballard competed in eight more events.) Costello was named Female Bowler of the Year by the Bowling Writer's Association of America in 1972 and 1976.
Costello's career suffered a setback in late 1977, when her father suddenly died of a heart attack while watching her provide commentary for a bowling telecast. Afterwards, she experienced depression and anxiety attacks for several years. She told Bowling Digest in 2002, "I was so ultrasensitive to everything around me that I could feel the hair on my arms standing straight up, and no one could comprehend that. I would go to doctors and tell them my symptoms, and they'd look at me like I was ready for the psych ward. It was an awful, lonely place to be." However, Costello recovered and won seven titles between 1978 and 1981, including capturing her third U.S. Women's Open crown in 1980. At the time, she was one of only two bowlers (Marion Ladewig being the other) to win the U.S. Open at least three times. Kelly Kulick and Liz Johnson have since joined that exclusive group. Patty won three more championships in 1985, and was named Player of the Year by her fellow bowlers. Her final title was earned at the 1986 Ebonite Firebolt Classic.
In addition to her professional accomplishments, Patty won a pair of WIBC (now USBC) Open Championship titles in the Classic Team category (1970 and 1972). Costello is a member of the United States Bowling Congress Hall of Fame (inducted 1989) and the PWBA Hall of Fame (inducted 1995).
Costello's professional titles
Major championships in bold text. (Source: 11thframe.com)
- 1968 St. Paul Open
- 1970 Columbia 300 Open
- 1970 Showboat Open
- 1970 Canton Open
- 1970 Phoenix Open
- 1971 Ebonite Open
- 1971 PWBA Championship
- 1972 Japan Starlanes Classic
- 1972 Sacramento Classic
- 1972 El Cajon Classic
- 1972 PWBA Championship
- 1972 Ebonite Cavalcade of Stars
- 1974 U.S. Women’s Open
- 1974 Columbia 300 PWBA Championship
- 1974 Charlie Parker Pro Shop Open
- 1974 Canton Classic
- 1975 Ocean State Classic
- 1976 Greater Akron Classic
- 1976 LPBA Classic (L)
- 1976 U.S. Women’s Open
- 1976 Houston Open
- 1976 Miami Open
- 1976 Jamestown Open (L)
- 1976 Columbia 300 Classic
- 1976 PWBA Championship
- 1977 National Bowling Council Mixed Doubles (w/Paul Colwell)
- 1977 Miami Classic
- 1977 Houston BPAA Open
- 1978 Montgomery Ward Los Angeles Open
- 1979 Robby’s Chicago Classic
- 1980 U.S. Women’s Open
- 1980 Pabst Extra Light Classic I
- 1980 Pabst Extra Light Classic II
- 1981 Dallas Classic
- 1981 Pabst Extra Light Classic
- 1985 Hammer Midwest Open
- 1985 Fairhaven Classic
- 1985 LPBT Tournament of Champions
- 1986 Ebonite Firebolt Classic
L = Tournament conducted by LPBA.
Accomplishments and honors
- 39 professional titles
- 3x Female Bowler of the Year (1972, 1976, 1985)
- USBC Hall of Fame inductee (1989)
- PWBA Hall of Fame inductee (1995)
Personal
After retiring from competitive bowling, Costello began a career as a transport driver with the Community Medical Center in Scranton, Pennsylvania. "Bowling was my job then; this is my job now. In both cases, I've always been happy to meet people, talk to them, and get them feeling good to be around me", she told Bowling Digest.
She also had a torrid love affair with 590 the fan and 1380 the women producer in St. Louis Ken Strode
Costello died of pancreatic cancer, aged 61, at the VNA Hospice, Scranton, Pennsylvania, on April 16, 2009.
References
- ^ "PWBA Hall of Fame". pwba.com. Retrieved August 2, 2023.
- ^ Lydia Rypcinski. "Playing it where it happens to lie: learning to smile and mellow out along the way, Patty Costello has taken on whatever challenges—and insults—life has thrown her", Bowling Digest. April 2002. Retrieved on August 27, 2008.
- ^ Charlene Agne-Traub, Biographical Dictionary of American Sports: 1992-1995 Supplement for Baseball, Football, Basketball, and Other Sports. Edited by David L. Porter. Greenwood Press, 1995. pp. 312-313.
- Dick Evans. "A view from the top: Carolyn Dorin-Ballard put together the best bowling campaign of the past 25 years and one of the greatest seasons in women's bowling history, making her our top bowler without a second thought". Bowling Digest. April 2002. Retrieved on August 27, 2008.
- "USBC HALL OF FAME - PATTY COSTELLO". bowl.com. Retrieved June 15, 2023.
- "Women's Pro History". 11thframe.com. Retrieved May 31, 2023.