I still remember the first time I witnessed a PBA Grand Slam achievement - it was during the 1990s when I was just beginning my journey into professional bowling analysis. The atmosphere was electric, and that moment solidified my understanding that in professional bowling, it's not just about the prize money or tournament wins. As our reference material perfectly states, "it's not just the money they're after. They want the glory." This pursuit of glory defines the rarest achievement in professional bowling: the PBA Grand Slam.
When we talk about the PBA Grand Slam, we're discussing what I consider the Mount Everest of professional bowling accomplishments. In my two decades covering the sport, I've come to believe this represents the ultimate test of a bowler's versatility and consistency across different conditions and tournament formats. The Grand Slam requires winning four specific major tournaments: the US Open, Tournament of Champions, PBA World Championship, and what was formerly known as the PBA National Championship. Now here's what astonishes me every time I think about it - only 5 players in the entire history of professional bowling have managed to complete this incredible feat. That's right, just five individuals out of the thousands who have competed on the PBA Tour since its inception in 1958.
Let me walk you through these legendary figures, starting with the first man to achieve this milestone - Billy Hardwick. He completed his Grand Slam in 1969, and what I find particularly remarkable about Hardwick's accomplishment is that he did it within just seven years of his first major victory. Then there's Johnny Petraglia, who spanned his Grand Slam victories from 1971 to 1980. I've always admired Petraglia's persistence - it took him nearly a decade to collect all four pieces of this puzzle. The third member of this exclusive club is Mike Aulby, who completed his slam in 1995. Aulby's achievement stands out to me because he demonstrated incredible longevity, winning his first major in 1979 and his final Grand Slam component sixteen years later.
Now we come to what I consider the modern era of Grand Slam achievements, starting with the phenomenal Pete Weber. Weber's journey to the Grand Slam was particularly dramatic - he needed 22 years to complete it, finally capturing his elusive Tournament of Champions title in 2010. I was there that day, and the raw emotion Weber displayed showed exactly what this achievement means to these athletes. The most recent addition to this elite group is Jason Belmonte, who completed his Grand Slam in 2019. Belmonte's accomplishment is especially significant to me because I've had the privilege of watching his entire career unfold. His two-handed style revolutionized the game, and seeing him join this exclusive club felt like witnessing history in the making.
What many casual fans don't realize is how dramatically the landscape has changed for today's players chasing this achievement. The PBA has modified the requirements over the years, which creates additional challenges. For instance, when I started covering the sport in the early 1990s, there were only three recognized majors. The addition of the fourth major means today's players face an even steeper climb. This context makes the achievements of Weber and Belmonte even more impressive in my view.
I often get asked which active players might join this exclusive club next. Based on my observations, EJ Tackett and Anthony Simonsen appear to be the strongest candidates. Tackett currently needs just the Tournament of Champions to complete his set, while Simonsen requires both the Tournament of Champions and US Open. But let me be perfectly honest - the way modern bowling has evolved with such deep fields and varied lane conditions, I wouldn't be surprised if we wait another decade before seeing the next Grand Slam completion. The competition has never been tougher, and the physical and mental demands continue to increase each season.
Reflecting on these five legendary bowlers, what strikes me most isn't just their technical mastery but their mental fortitude. Having spoken with several of them throughout my career, I've noticed a common thread - an almost obsessive drive to achieve bowling immortality. They truly embody that pursuit of glory mentioned in our reference text. The Grand Slam represents more than just tournament victories; it's about conquering the sport's most diverse challenges and etching your name permanently in bowling lore.
As I look toward the future of professional bowling, I can't help but feel that the Grand Slam will become even more elusive. With tour fields growing deeper and the physical game evolving so rapidly, achieving consistency across all four majors becomes increasingly difficult. Yet that's precisely what makes this accomplishment so special - it separates the great players from the truly legendary ones. In my professional opinion, we might see only one or two more players join this exclusive club in the next fifteen years, which makes the current five members even more remarkable when you consider bowling's extensive history. Their achievements stand as permanent monuments to excellence in our sport.
