2018 PBA60 Dick Weber Championship, pres. by 900 Global

Back Surgery Doesn't Hold Back Tom Baker

Back Surgery Doesn't Hold Back Tom Baker

Earlier this year, Tom Baker did something he's done many times in his 42-year career – he bent over to pick up a bowling ball. But this time was different.

Aug 13, 2018 by Lucas Wiseman
Back Surgery Doesn't Hold Back Tom Baker

Earlier this year, Tom Baker did something he has done thousands and thousands of times over the course of his 42-year professional bowling career – he bent over to pick up a bowling ball.

This time, however, it was different. The PBA Hall of Famer said he immediately felt like he’d pulled a muscle but didn’t give it much thought. Fast forward a few weeks and Baker, 63, found himself at the hospital having back surgery.

“I wasn’t quite sure what happened, but it felt like I pulled a muscle,” Baker said of his self-diagnosis of his injury. “I didn’t think anything of it, but it got worse. I went to the medical center and they gave me some pills that didn’t help at all. I eventually had to go to the hospital because the pain was so bad.”

Turns out, Baker suffered a herniated disk and was forced to undergo surgery to repair it. The recovery meant over three months of doing absolutely nothing.

A successful recovery behind him, Baker has been on the lanes the past four weeks on the PBA50 Tour and heads into the PBA60 Dick Weber Championship presented by 900 Global anxious to get back into the win column. The event will be broadcast live on FloBowling.

With more than half of the season already missed, the 10-time PBA Tour champion and 12-time PBA50 Tour champion was ready to get back on the lanes at the PBA50 South Shore Open presented by Hammer. And, although he finished 12th in that event, he said his body wasn’t ready for it.

“The first week I bowled on tour I happened to make match play,” Baker said. “I bowled 16 games in one day, and I wasn’t ready for that I can tell you that much. I got really tired and it started aching really bad. I’m still bowling a little too much and aching really bad.”

The grueling schedule of the PBA50 Tour has taken its toll on Baker’s still aching back, but he still remains a force in each event in which he competes. In his second tournament back, the PBA50 Security Federal Savings Bank Championship, Baker finished in 21st place and made match play again.

Although he missed the cut to match play at the PBA50 Dave Small’s Championship Lanes Classic presented by Roto Grip, he rebounded to make match play at the PBA50 Cup presented by DV8, the season’s final major.

At age 63, Baker isn’t sure how many more years he will compete professionally, but one thing was clear to him during his recovery – retirement is boring.

“I definitely still can compete and when I don’t enjoy it anymore, I’ll stop,” Baker said. “Sitting at home doing nothing earlier this year, I really missed the guys. I was really looking forward to coming out and bowling, and I’m having a good time again. I’ll be out here a couple more years for sure, but I said my first year on tour I’d be out here a year or two and here I am 42 years later. Who knows, I could end up like Johnny Petraglia and still bowling and being competitive when I’m 71 or 72.”