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Full size image of plaque Born in England, John "Johnny" Worrall came to Niagara Falls at an early age to make his mark in baseball and bowling during his long-term residency. His career started with the Greater Niagrara Baseball Association where he was named the "Most Outstanding Player" in the midget league for the 1936 season. While still of junior age, he was called up to the Niagara Falls Brights senior team to pitch in the 1941 round-robin Ontario Baseball Association (OBA) playoff series, and he responded with a shutout win. Brights went on to win its second Ontario title that year. Following a period in the Royal Canadian Air Force, where he earned his pilot's wings, Johnny returned to senior ball in the city. His repertoire included a sizzling fastball and pinpoint control. In 1946, he won 20 games to lead his Houcks team to an Ontario Senior "A" crown. He tossed four shutouts in playoff action that year and won three games, two by shutout, in the best of seven final against the Stratford Nationals. He was also an outstanding hitter and fielder and helped his Niagara Falls Fords team to the Ontario finals in 1950. Worrall's pitching control translated into great success in city five pin bowling action. Bowling in city and industrial league play out of Bova's Alleys, his average hovered around the lofty 250 plateau. He later moved to the Cataract lanes, where his high triple of 1,141 was the highest ever recorded at that establishment. The highlight of Worrall's bowling career took place in 1974 when he was an important cog of the six-member Niagara District Men's team that captured a Canadian championship. |
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Click to view photograph taken at Induction Ceremony From the library's image database (click the link to view the full record)
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