Former champion bowler and broadcaster Randy Pedersen died at the age of 64, the PBA announced on Wednesday.
Pedersen won 13 PBA Tour titles in his career, and one major in the 1987 PBA National Championship. In 2001, he joined the PBA broadcast booth as an analyst, and established himself as one of the most prominent voices in the sport.
“Randy was supremely talented in everything he did. Bowling, golf, comedy, broadcasting, anything. He was a force, a giant in sports and on TV,” said PBA commissioner Tom Clark. “He was our friend, our partner. Randy was our voice. He was my brother. I spoke with so many people today who loved him. There will never be another Randy Pedersen. Please hug the people you love.”
In a post on social media, play-by-play announcer John Fanta, who worked with Pedersen while calling the sport for Fox, shared a heartfelt remembrance of his partner in the booth, noting how willing the former pro was to bring him into the sport.
“He said ‘We’re here to have fun and here to tell people about the best sport in the world.’ He put me at ease. He taught me SO MUCH about the sport. He would talk to any fan and he treated every bowler on tour with respect and dignity.”
Back in the spring of 2023, my bosses at Fox reached out and asked if I’d ever consider doing play-by-play for bowling. Admittedly, I had never thought about it, but was always told by my parents to “say yes” to an opportunity! Additionally, my Grandpa Frank had done Bowling for… pic.twitter.com/yxODf36eIO
— John Fanta (@John_Fanta) September 17, 2026
Fans across the sport also shared their condolences.
RIP Randy Pedersen. An absolute legend of #bowling. Huge loss for the community. https://t.co/FMe3pOZkyV
— Adam Martin (@MMAdamMartin) September 16, 2026
R.I.P. to Pro-Bowling Hall of Famer Randy Pedersen who I remember well watching the PBA tournament most Saturdays on ABC in the winter and spring, @espn during the summer and @NBCSports in the fall. https://t.co/Niolg8ocsU
— The Talking Archive podcast with Josh Jacobs (@iamjoshbjacobs) September 16, 2026
RIP in an absolute legend in our sport. It was an honor to know him and spend time with him. Randy Pedersen, you will be missed by many. pic.twitter.com/C1Cu9cjgrq
— Lucas Wiseman (@Lucas_Wiseman) September 16, 2026
This is a tough one. Randy Pedersen was one of the best reasons to watch the PBA Tour on TV. His analysis, catchphrases, and overall charm were always great additions to accentuate the broadcasts. He gave a ton of great insight and was a great bowler in his own right. R.I.P. https://t.co/PMcr0Qfrnd
— Juice Springsteen (@JuicySteen) September 16, 2026
In the semifinals en route to his win at the 1987 PBA National Championship, Pedersen nearly bowled a perfect game, opening with 10 strikes in a row before leaving one standing in the final frame.
He is also remembered for his dramatic loss to Ernie Schlegel in 1995. Needing a strike to win, Pedersen left the 8-pin standing, prompting an exuberant reaction from Schlegel as Pedersen fell in shock.
Thirty years ago, Randy Pedersen needed a strike to win the PBA Players Championship.
The rest, as they say, is history.
🎳 12pm ET | FOX | FOX Sports app pic.twitter.com/s9onOQoDgk
— PBA Tour (@PBATour) April 13, 2025
Pedersen was inducted into the PBA Hall of Fame as a player in 2011. He remained in the broadcast booth through 2025, working on Fox, ESPN, CBS Sports, and wherever else bowling could be found on television.
About Tyler Lauletta
Tyler is a editorial contributor at Awful Announcing, with previous stops at Sports Illustrated and Business Insider during his career covering sports in digital media. He is, begrudgingly, a Truster of the Process and general Philly sports sicko.