In 1975, when the PBA Hall of Fame was founded, there were eight initial inductees. Those eight were Ray Bluth, Don Carter, Carmen Salvino, Harry Smith, Dick Weber, Billy Welu, Frank Esposito and Chuck Pezzano. The PBA Hall of Fame still continues to serve as a permanent tribute to the immortals of the sport.

The Hall is in the International Bowling Museum in Arlington, Texas, and is open year-round for visitors. There are a few categories in which someone may be inducted to in the Hall of Fame. You can be inducted in the categories of Performance, Meritorious Service and Veterans/Senior. When new ownership took over in the year 2000, criteria was change when considered for election to the Performance category. A bowler must now have either won a minimum of 10 PBA Tour titles, or win a minimum of five PBA Tour titles, including two majors, and been a PBA member for at least 20 years. To be eligible for the Performance category a bowler must also have either won a minimum of eight PBA50 titles or five of PBA50 titles including two majors and been a PBA member for 10 years.

The Meritorious Service Category recognizes the tireless efforts of individuals who advanced the PBA as an organization. Those included are persons who over the years have demonstrated service, devotion, and have made contributions above and beyond the ordinary to the sport of professional bowling.

Finally, candidates can also be elected into special categories the Board deems appropriate. These categories, such as the Veterans/Senior, will recognize players who made a great impact on some facet of bowling. The 81 individuals who belong to the PBA Hall of Fame are truly pioneers who enhanced the sport for millions of bowling fans throughout the world.

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