Tom Baker	Back to list »

2005-06 Rank: 39
Exempt Thru: 2008-09
Earned Exemption: Won the 2004 PBA World Championship

Personal: Tom Baker… Enjoys watching horse racing and working out… Was inducted into the PBA Hall of Fame in 1999 in the Veterans/Senior Category… His win in the 1997 Harrisburg Open in Harrisburg, Pa., made him the PBA's 18th millionaire… He was involved in a 300-300 match play tie with Pete Weber in the 1981 Denver Open, one of four 300-300 games in Denny’s PBA Tour history.

2005-06: Had an up-and-down season, but made one title match appearance, finishing second in the 2005 Keystone State Championship… The championship round appearance was his first since winning the 2004 PBA World Championship… Had a tough road to the finals that week, knocking off Norm Duke, Parker Bohn III and Brian Voss (combined 77 titles) in match play; defeated Mike Scroggins in the semifinals, 225-188, before falling to Patrick Allen, 247-218, in the title match… Did not make match play until the fifth event of the season, then advanced to match play in four of the next five events… Struggled in the second half of the season, going 1-5 in match play… Finished strong the last two weeks of the season, finishing 12th in the 2006 Great Lakes Classic and 18th in the 2006 Dexter Tournament of Champions… Lost his round of 32 match in the Tournament of Champions, 3-2, to Parker Bohn III, despite averaging 248.40 in the match; Bohn averaged 251.60… His two best finishes (second and 12th) came on the Chameleon pattern… Went 6-10 in match play… Converted 98.67 percent of his single-pin attempts (222-225), which ranked sixth on Tour… Baker’s season earnings of $61,800 marks his second highest total in his last eight seasons, second only to his 2003-04 campaign when he raked in $134,633 - $120,000 of which came from winning the 2004 PBA World Championship.

Career: Owns 10 career Denny’s PBA Tour titles including one Major title… Prior to his win in the 2004 PBA World Championship, his last victory came in the 1997 PBA Harrisburg Open… Has cashed in 458 of 769 events… Is 50 events shy of tying Ernie Schlegel for most career Denny’s PBA Tour tournaments bowled (819)… Is 42-44 in 53 career TV singles appearances, with a 214.56 average… Has made 257 match play appearances ... Became eligible for the PBA Senior Tour prior to the summer of 2005, and went on to win both PBA Senior Player and Rookie of the Year honors, becoming the first bowler in history to take home both awards in the same season.

Career Standard Titles (9): 1980 – Fremont, Calif.; 1981 – Torrance, Calif.; Doubles with Joe Hutchison, Las Vegas, Nev.; Denver, Colo.; 1982 – Paris, France; 1985 – Columbus, Ohio; 1986 – Rochester, N.Y.; 1996 – Lakewood, Calif.; 1997 – Harrisburg, Pa.

Career Major Titles (1): 2004 PBA World Championship, Taylor, Mich.

Career Senior Standard Titles (2): 2006 – Chillicothe, Ohio; Tucson, Ariz.

Career Senior Major Titles (3): 2005 Senior U.S. Open, Sterling Heights, Mich.; 2006 Senior U.S. Open, Las Vegas, Nev.; 2006 USBC Senior Masters, Reno, Nev.

Awards: Steve Nagy Sportsmanship Award (1980, '81)… PBA Hall of Fame (1999)… PBA Senior Player of the Year (2005)… PBA Senior Rookie of the Year (2005).