Hard Bat Play in Sponge Era (1977--1997)

by Tim Boggan, USATT Historian

The New York City Open, held Apr. 5-6, 1975 in the Manhattan Tennis Center, offered 17 events, including a Hard Bat event, which was won, perhaps surprisingly, by me, Tim, over Mike Bush, deuce in the 5th. In the semi's, I beat Roger Sverdlik, 20, 14, and Mike got by 60-year-old Doug Cartland, -13, 19, 16. Doug, World Singles quarterfinalist in 1954, and twice World Doubles semifinalist (with Dick Miles in 1949 and Marty Reisman in 1952), is historically considered to be the greatest U.S. hard bat player never to win the U.S. National's. Both Mike and Roger, who'd just won the 1974 U.S. Junior Championship, after several years would also become U.S. Team members to the World Championships. In general, very good players, with a bit of sustained practice, are good with any kind of racket.

Reappearance of 47-Year-Old Reisman Prompts Hard Bat Resurgence

However, all this changed when former U.S. Champion Bobby Gusikoff announced and then ran a Hard Bat event at the Hollywood, CA 1977 U.S. Open, featuring local 1976 U.S. Open U.S. Closed event Champion Ray Guillen and legendary 1949 World Singles semifinalist and former U.S. Champion Marty Reisman. This tournament, and in particular the exciting semi's match between Reisman and Guillen, provided the impetus for a resurgence of Hard Bat play, first in the Northwest and in California, and then in other areas of the country.

By the end of 1977, there were at least 10 tournaments that had offered Hard Bat events. Then, with California and Ohio leading the way, and a National Champion crowned in Vegas each December, by 1983, in just that one peak year alone, there were 33 tournaments, in 13 states, reporting Hard Bat events to Topics. During these years Dean Doyle headed the list of Champions, and other formidable U.S. players included Scott Boggan, Houshang Bozorgzadeh, Lim Ming Chui, and Brandon Olson.

Below, as reported in the t.t. magazines of the time, is, first, a listing of the National Champions, and, then, complementing Scott Gordon's 4/16/98 Underground Hard Bat Rating List, a detailed list of the winners of Hard Bat events from 1977 through 1997. Some players from the '70's and '80's have died, others have dropped out of the sport but might be lured back in, still others are currently active. These names reflect those most interested in Hard Bat play in the last 20 years and ought to be checked against not only the most up-to-date USATT roster but rosters from the past so that names, addresses, and phone numbers might be available to those interested in forming a Hard Bat Association.

U.S.Open Hardbat Champions

YEAR	WINNER	RUNNER-UP
1977	Franz-Josef Huermann (Germany)	Ray Guillen
1981	Lim Ming Chui	Scott Boggan
1982	Scott Boggan	Lars Franklin (Sweden)
1983	Dean Doyle	Lim Ming Chui
1984	Dean Doyle	Olle Rondin
1985	Lim Ming Chui	Tim Boggan
1986	Houshang Bozorgzadeh	Ron Lily
1992	Larry Hodges	Lim Ming Chui

U.S.Closed Hardbat Champions

YEAR	WINNER	RUNNER-UP
1977	Franz-Josef Huermann (Germany)	Marty Reisman
1978	Lim Ming Chui	Franz-Josef Heurmann
1979	Dean Doyle	Houshang Bozorgzadeh
1980	Dean Doyle	Scott Boggan
1981	Dean Doyle	Scott Boggan
1982	Scott Boggan	Dean Doyle
1983	Dean Doyle	Houshang Bozorgzadeh
1984	Roberto Byles	Houshang Bozorgzadeh
1985	Houshang Bozorgzadeh	Tim Boggan
1991	Larry Hodges	Tim Boggan
1997	Marty Reisman	Larry Hodges

NOTE: Reisman at 47, and at 67, was in the U.S. Closed final.

U.S. HARD BAT EVENTS (1977-97)

1977 Pacific Northwest Open (Portland's Paddle Palace, May 14-15)
[Another preparatory tournament for the upcoming U.S. Open.]
Final: Jim Tisler d. Keun Chung, 17, 13.
Semi's: Tisler d. Rick Livermore, -12, 18, 18; Chung d. Joe Romanosky, -17, 11, 16.

*1977 U.S. OPEN (Hollywood, CA, June 2-5, 29 entries)
Final: FRANZ-JOSEF HUERMANN (Germany) d. Ray Guillen [member of U.S. Team to the 1977 World's], 21, 11, 17.
Semi's: Huermann d. Houshang Bozorgzadeh [many-time U.S. Captain/Coach to World's], 16, -14, -15, 18, 14; Guillen d. Marty Reisman, 14, -21, 22, -11, 17.
[Huermann, from Germany, perhaps using the same racket, had beaten Dick Miles in the 16th's of the Men's in the 1973 Detroit U.S. Open. He resurfaced here. Afterwards was the best player in the Southwest before going back to Germany in 1979 (where incidentally he once played for the same Bundelsiga Club as Eric Boggan). Former U.S. National Singles Champion in both sponge and hard rubber events Scott Boggan notes that in 1980's league play in Germany there were a number of hard bat players, some better than Heurmann (whose hard bat rubber then was not always the same each season he played). Scott changed his forehand stroke depending on which racket, sponge or hard bat, he was using. He says he played hard bat only about three times a year, but that it was much easier to stay good with the hard bat rather than with sponge because in the modern game new technology was always causing problems with serve and serve return, problems that one didn't face if players used the standard hard bat. Scott also says his early 80's hard-bat matches with Dean Doyle thrilled the galleries, and that even now -- almost 37 and long out of the sport--he thinks he could play hard bat pretty well.]

1977 Rose Festival Open (Paddle Palace, June 11-12)
Final: Rich Remington d. Art Schuff, 20, 21.
Semi's: Remington d. Marc Walsh, 17, -18, 20; Schuff d. Rick Livermore, 12, 21.

1977 Unlimited Open (McLean, VA, June 18-19)
Final: Tim Boggan [Captain of U.S. Team to the 1975 World's] d. Dave Sakai [member of U.S Team to the 1979 Pan-Am Games], 16, 14.
Semi's: Boggan d. E. Linn, 16, 15; Sakai d. Phillip Shaw, 13, 12.

1977 Portland Summer Open (July 23-24)
Final: Jay Crystal d. Phillip Cheng, 16, 11.
Semi's: Crystal d. Mark Walsh, 17, 11; Cheng d. Ed Ng, -16, 17, 20.

1977 Holiday Inn Classic (McLean, VA, Oct. 8-9)
Final: Tim Boggan d. Lim Ming Chui [1975 member of U.S. Team to the World's], 15, -17, 13.
Semi's: Boggan d. Bill Sharpe, 17, 16; Chui d. Roger Sverdlik [1979 member of U.S. Team to the World's], -12, 40 [sic], 13.

1977 Benihana Open (Paddle Palace, Nov. 19-20)
Final: Carl Cole d. Jay Crystal, 20, 14.

1977 Skublicki-Hall Memorial (Wisner, Nebraska, Nov. 19-20)
1. Mark Kennedy. 2. Tom Walsh.

*1977 CAESARS PALACE U.S. CLOSED (Dec. 16-18)
Final: FRANZ-JOSEF HUERMANN (Germany, but had current residence in the U.S.) d. Marty Reisman, 3-1.
Semi's: Huermann d. Houshang Bozorgzadeh, 3-2; Reisman d. Ray Guillen, 3-1.

1978 Winter Open (Paddle Palace, Jan. 21-22)
Final: Bruce Carlson d. Chan Poovaviranon, 9, 14.

1978 Oregon Closed (Paddle Palace, Feb. 18, 25-26)
Final: Carl Cole d. Jay Crystal, 14, 8.
Semi's: Cole d. Rick Livermore, 16, 19; Crystal d. Vo Qui Han, 18, 19.

1978 Rubber City Open (Akron, Ohio, Feb. 25-26)
Final: Art Holloway d. Don Story, -19, -16, 19, 17, 20.

1978 $750 Capitol Open (Largo, MD, Mar. 4-5)
Final: Pat O'Neill [Sean O'Neill's father] d. Roger Sverdlik, 17, 17.
Semi's: O'Neill d. Charles Butler [when playing for a league in Germany played occasionally for U.S. in tournaments], 15, -14, 21; Sverdlik d. Warren Wetzler, 10, 15.

1978 Wisner Open (Mar. 31-Apr. 1-2)
1. Leslie Harris. 2. Ken Bull. 3. Walt Gomes.

1978 Great Plains Open (St. Charles, MO, Apr. 8-9)
Final: Kris Pangburn d. Jim Schnorf, 17, 19, 11.

1978 Manzano Open (Albuquerque, N.M., Apr. 22-23)
Final: Huermann d. Dennis Gresham, 9, 14, 14.
Semi's: Huermann d. Rick Jones, 11, 5; Gresham d. George Weissberg, 21, 10.

1978 Pacific Northwest Open (Paddle Palace, May 13-14)
Final: Bryan Wright d. Jim Tisler, 12, 19.
Semi's: Wright d. Mark Walsh, 13, 15; Tisler d. Bruce Carlson, -15, 15, 19.

*1978 U.S. OPEN (Oklahoma City, July 1-4)
NOTE. The organisers did not continue the Hard Bat event started at the 1977 Open. Thus the event didn't get permanently established as in the Closed and wasn't resurrected until 1981.

1978 Irving Summer Open (Irving, Texas, July 29-30)
Final: Ali Akbari d. Dennis Gresham, -10, 16, -10, 18, 15.
Semi's: Akbari d. Gary Garner, 18, 12, 13; Gresham d. Randy Womack, -10, 16, -10, 18, 15.

1978 $1000 Louisville Open (Oct. 28-29)
Final: Harry Deschamps d. Kris Pangburn, 16, 14.
Semi's: Deschamps d. Eric Seiler, 10, 10; Pangburn d. Dwight Mitchell, 16, 18.

1978 Benihana Open (Paddle Palace, Nov. 11-12)
Final: Dean Doyle [member of 1979 U.S. Team to the Pan-Am Games] d. Jay Crystal, 11, 12.
Semi's: Doyle d. Charles McLarty, 8, 11; Crystal d. Carl Cole, 15, 17.

1978 Omaha 'Occult' Open (Wisner, Nebraska)
Final: Todd Petersen [member of U.S. Team to 1979 Pan-Am Games] d. Tom Walsh, 19, -17, 26.
Semi's: Petersen d. Jerry Malec, 18, 19; Walsh d. Ken Bull, 15, 16.

*1978 CAESARS PALACE U.S. CLOSED (Dec. 16-19)
Final: LIM MING CHUI d. Huermann, 20, 14, 16.
Semi's: Chui d. Bozorgzadeh, 17, 12; Huermann d. Tim Boggan, 13, 19.
Quarter's: Chui d. Reisman, -17, 11, 18; Bozorgzadeh d. Charlie Disney, 14, 18; Huermann d. Dana Jeffries, 7, 10; Boggan d. Jerry Thrasher, 14, 16.

1979 Eastern Open (Rutgers, N.J., Mar. 16-18)
Final: Sam Steiner d. Carl Weinbaum, def.
Semi's: Steiner d. Manny Moskowitz, 15, 16; Weinbaum d. John Kilpatrick, 12, 17.

1979 Wisner Open (Mar. 23-24)
Final: Ed Ells d. Mark Kennedy, 6, -15, 6.
Semi's: Ells d. Tom Walsh, 15, 15; Kennedy d. Carl Miller, 11, 15.

1979 Pennsylvania Closed (Bethlehem, Apr. 28-29)
Final: Perry Schwartzberg d. Sam Steiner, 10, 10, 18.
Semi's: Schwartzberg d. Marty Theil, 16, 24; Steiner d. Marv Plevinsky, -17, 12, 16.

1979 Pacific Coast Open (San Diego, May 26-27)
Final: Bart Lawson d. Dave Rogers, 17, 7, 16.

1979 Capital City Open (Columbus, Ohio, Sept. 15)
1. Joe Blatt, 2-1/4-2. 2. Victor Lorand, 2-1/5-3. 3. Randy Eller, 2-1/4-3.

1979 Oregon Pepsi Championships (Paddle Palace, Oct. 6-7)
Final: Charles McLarty d. Jim Tisler, -18, 13, 14.
Semi's: McLarty d. Bill Preston, 15, 16; Tisler d. Bruce Carlson, -13, 13, 15.

1979 Arkansas Championships (N. Little Rock, Nov. 10...17)
Final: Duke Stogner d. James Light, 14, 16.

1979 California Open (San Diego, Nov. 17-18)
Final: Rich DelCastillo d. Steve Krell, 12, 17, 14.
R.R. #1: 1. DelCastillo, 3-0. 2. Harold Kopper, 2-1. 3. Bart Lawson, 1-2. 4. David Weaver, 0-3.
R.R. #2: 1. Krell, 3-0. 2. Dave Rogers, 2-1. 3. Janis Saknitis, 1-2. 4. Peter Antkowiak, 0-3.

1979 Omaha Early Bird (Nov.)
1. Mark Kennedy, 3-0. 2. Scott Grafton, 2-1.

1979 Pacific Northwest Open (Paddle Palace, Dec. 8-9)
Final: Dean Doyle d. Carl Cole, 7, -18, 12.
Semi's: Doyle d. Earl Adams, 14, 12; Cole d. Jim Tisler, 16, 14.

*1979 CAESARS PALACE U.S. CLOSED (Dec. 13-16)
Final: DEAN DOYLE d. Bozorgzadeh, 19, -19, 17, -17, 17.
Semi's: Doyle d. Charles McLarty, 17, 15, 17; Bozorgzadeh d. Reisman, -18, 15, 2 [sic], 10.

1980 Columbus Winter Open (Jan. 19)
Final: John Spencer d. Joe Blatt, 15, 20.

1980 Montclair Open (Feb. 3)
Final: Rich DelCastillo d. Harold Kopper, 9, 18, 19.

1980 $1700 Wisner Open (Mar. 28-29)
Final: Chuck Turchik d. Mark Kennedy, 18, 17.
Semi's: Turchick d. Rex Harris, 11, 17; Kennedy d. Todd Petersen, 17, 16.

1980 Corona Open (Mar. 29-30)
Final: Rich DelCastillo d. Harold Kopper, 16, 19, 14.
Semi's: DelCastillo d. Dave Rogers, 22, 19; Kopper d. Don Higgins, 17, 18.

1980 Great Plains Open (St. Charles, MO, Apr. 12-13)
Final: Bozorgzadeh d. Jim Schnorf, 14, -18, 14.
Semi's: Bozorgzadeh d. Rich Doza, 18, 18; Schnorf d. Charles Robbins, 8, 6.

1980 St. Charles Closed (Apr. 25-26)
1. Jerry Schuster, 4-0. 2. Dennis Orne, 3-1.

1980 $3000 West Coast Open (Apr. 25-27)
Final: Charles McLarty d. Steve Krell, 18, 14, 16.
Semi's: McLarty d. Del Castillo, 10, 16; Krell d. Lawson, 20, -20, 14.

1980 Ohio Closed (Columbus, Apr. 26-27)
1. Andy Gad, 2-0. 2. Mark Weber, 1-1. 3. Bob Allen, 0-2.

1980 Omaha Open (Apr. 26)
Final: Mark Kennedy d. David Barnes, def.

1980 Columbus Summer Open (July 12-13)
Final: Sam Steiner d. Charlie Buckley, 10, 12, 22.
Semi's: Steiner d. John Allen, n.s.; Buckley d. Andy Gad, 18, 11, 16.

1980 Montclair Summer Open (Aug. 2-3)
Final: Harold Kopper d. Deiter Huber, 14, 16.
Semi's: Kopper d. Peter Antkowiak, 15, 19; Huber d. Dave Rogers, 21, 16.

1980 Paddle Palace Open (Aug. 9-10)
Final: Doyle d. Romvald Ponte, 15, 12, 12.

1980 $2600 Nissen Open (Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Sept. 27-28)
Final: John Soderberg [Sherri Soderberg Pittman's brother] d. Jim Schnorf, 14, 18.
Semi's: Soderberg d. Norm Schless, 19, -12, 22; Schnorf d. Mark Kennedy, 14, 16.

1980 Pepsi Oregon State Championships (Paddle Palace, Oct. 11-12)
Final: Doyle d. McLarty, 14, 9.
Semi's: Doyle d. Danny Rommel, 14, 19; McLarty d. Walsh, 14, 17.

1980 $1875 Harvard Open (Corona, CA, Oct. 24-26)
Final: Dave Rogers d. Harold Kopper, 3-1.

1980 Columbus Open (Dec. 6)
1. John Tannehill [member of 1971 U.S. Team to the World's], 3-0. 2. Charlie Gaylor, 2-1. 3. Mark Weber, 1-2. 4. Mike Lacey, 0-3.

1980 Pacific Northwest Open (Paddle Palace, Dec. 6-7)
Final: Charles McLarty d. Bruce Carlson, 16, 15.

*1980 CAESARS PALACE U.S. CLOSED (Dec. 11-14)
Final: DEAN DOYLE d. Scott Boggan [1979, '81, '83 member of U.S. Teams to the World's], -17, 16, 19, 18.
Semi's: Doyle d. Craig Manoogian, 17, 15; S. Boggan d. Mike Bush [member of 1981 U.S. Team to World's], 16, 15.

1981 Wisconsin Closed (Milwaukee, Jan. 31)
Final: Geoff Graham d. Tony Poulos, 6, 14.
Semi's: Graham d. Larry Hyden, 14, 6; Poulos d. Tom Running, 10, 14.

1981 South Lake Tahoe Invitational (Jan. 31-Feb. 1)
Final: Doyle d. Harold Kopper, 16, 19, 9.
Semi's: Doyle d. Quang Bui [member of 1979 U.S. Pan Am Team] , def.; Kopper d. Mas Hashimoto, -17, 16, 20.

1981 Montclair Winter Open (Mar. 7-8)
Final: Jerry Fleischhacker d. Harold Kopper, -12, 22, 15, -13, 19.
Semi's: Fleischhacker d. Tom Anderson, 8, 16; Kopper d. Steve Yen, 16, 14.

1981 Olentangy Open (Columbus, Mar. 21)
1. Gary Martin, 4-0. 2. Dave Demay, 3-1.

1981 Arizona Closed (Phoenix, Mar. 28-29)
Final: Randy Nedrow d. John Merkel, 22, -14, 20.
Semi's: Nedrow d. Scott Preiss, 15, 17; Merkel d. Mark Davee, 16, 21.

1981 Helping Others Open (Corona, Apr. 3-5)
Final: Dave Rogers d. Karl Dreger, 6, 13.

1981 Great Plains Open (St. Charles, MO, Apr. 11-12)
Final: Mark Kennedy d. Eric Seiler, 18, 10.
Semi's: Kennedy d. J.L. Brown, -22, 21, 14; Seiler d. George Conlee, 12, 19.

1981 Arkansas Closed (Apr. 17-18)
Duke Stogner d. William Hall, 16, 19.

1981 St. Charles Closed (Apr. 24-25)
1. Steve Swindle, 5-0. 2. Dennis Orne, 4-1. 3. Ken Hargrove, 3-2. 4. Richard Feuerstein, 2-3.

1981 Ohio Closed (Columbus, Apr. 25)
1. Joe Blatt, 2-0. 2. Bob Allen, 1-1. 3. Bob McClelland, 0-2.

1981 New Jersey Closed (Westfield, Apr. 25-26)
Final: Alan Feldman d. Peter Dunn, 13, 13.
Semi's: Feldman d. A. Nakhimovsky, 16, 15; Dunn d. Don Peters, 11, 7.

1981 $1525 Pacific Coast Open (Corona, May 22-24)
Final: Ray Guillen d. Jimmy Lane, -16, 17, -16, 17, 18.
Semi's: Guillen d. Jeff Mason, 7, 14; Lane d. Mas Hashimoto, 13, -17, 14.

*1981 U.S. OPEN (Princeton, June 17-21)
[Hard Bat event not held in a U.S. Open since '77.]
Final: LIM MING CHUI d. Scott Boggan, -18, 13, 15, -19, 12.
Semi's: Chui d. Tim Boggan, 14, 15; S. Boggan d. Bozorgzadeh, 18, 11.

1981 Richland, Washington Open (Aug. 15-16)
Final: Doyle d. Romuald Ronte, 16, 11, 15.
Semi's: Doyle d. Nadine Prather, 12, 11; Ronte d. Charles McLarty, -18, 18, 14.

1981 Illinois Closed (Chicago, Sept. 12)
Final: Jim Davey d. Kathy Gates, 12, 18.
Semi's Davey d. Hegberg, 19, 16; Gates d. Steve Isaacson, def.

1981 $2700 Nissen Open (Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Sept. 26-27)
Final: Brandon Olson d. Lim Ming Chui, 19, -18, 22.
Semi's: Olson d. Jim Schnorf, 11, 11; Chui d. George Lowi, def.

1981 $1550 Southern Califonia Harvard Open (Oct. 30-Nov. 1)
1. Rick Guillen. 2. Jim Lane.

1981 $7500 Duneland All-American Closed (Michigan City, IN, Oct. 30-Nov. 1)
Final: Bozorgzadeh d. Brandon Olson, -19, 19, 19, -19, 13.
Semi's: Bozorgzadeh d. Rich Doza, 14, 16; Olson d. Lim Ming Chui, 16, -18, 17.

1981 Columbus Fall Open (Nov. 7)
Final: Victor Lorand d. Larry Hensley, 18, 17.

1981 Montclair Open (Nov. 7-8)
Final: Harold Kopper d. Lenny Hauer, 16, 13, 17.

1981 Illinois Open (Chicago, Nov. 14)
1. Bozorgzadeh, 4-0. 2. John Abbott. 3-1. 3. George Lowi, 2-2. 4. Kathy Gates, 1-3. 5. J. Chihara, 0-4.

1981 Richland Open (Nov. 21-22)
Final: Bryan Wright d. Hong Pham, 19, 14.
Semi's: Wright d. Tung Phan, 18, -17, 15; Pham d. Quin Nguyen, 20, 18.

1981 Pacific Northwest Open (Paddle Palace, Dec. 12-13)
Final: Doyle d. Wright, 10, 9.
Semi's: Doyle d. Kevin Young, 8, 4; Wright d. Mark Walsh, 21, 14.

*1981 TROPICANA U.S. CLOSED (Dec. 17-20)
Final: DEAN DOYLE d. Scott Boggan [1981 U.S. Men's Champion, and finalist in five '81 Closed events, including MD, XD, and U-21] -19, 17, 11.
Semi's: Doyle d. Brandon Olson, 10, -15, 12; S. Boggan d. Lim Ming Chui, 16, -19, 10.

1982 Dayton Open (Jan. 2)
Final: Larry Hensley d. Andy Gad, 18, 27.
Semi's: Hensley d. Jim Coombe, 18, -20, 15; Gad d. Brad Hudson, 2-0.

1982 Columbus Winter Open (Jan. 9)
1. John Tannheill, 6-0. 2. Gary Martin, 5-1.

1982 Dayton Winter Open (Jan. 30)
Final: John Tannehill d. Larry Hensley, 2-1.
Semi's: Tannehill d. Bud Henthorn, 2-0; Hensley d. Andy Gad, 2-0.

1982 Wisconsin Closed (Milwaukee, Jan. 30-31)
Final: Geoff Graham d. Tony Poulos, n.s.
Semi's: Graham d. Cheryl Dadian [member of U.S. Team to the 1981 World's], 17, 14; Poulos d. Norbert Falkenstein, n.s.

1982 Arizona Open (Phoenix, Feb. 27-28)
Final: Randy Nedrow d. Mark Davee, 12, 10, 19.
Semi's: Nedrow d. Kopper, 17, 14; Davee d. Bill Burke, 9, 20.

1982 Buckeye Open (Columbus, Mar. 20)
1. Charlie Gaylor, 4-0. 2. Joe Blatt, 3-1. 3. Brad Hudson, 2-2. 4. Jim Spetsios, 1-3. 5. Bob Hudson, 0-4.

1982 $2000 Wisner Open (Mar. 26-28)
Final: Bozorgzadeh d. Kennedy, 13, 6, -20, 11.

1982 Riverside Youth Scholarship Open (Apr. 2-3)
Final: Craig Manoogian d. Mas Hashimoto, 3-2.
Semi's: Manoogian d. Kopper, 7, 10; Hashimoto d. Lenny Hauer, 19, 16.

1982 Corona Open (Apr. 10-11)
Final: Jim Land d. Dave Rogers, def.

1982 Two Rivers Open (St. Charles, MO, Apr. 17-18)
Final: Rich Doza d. Jim Schnorf, 16, 18.
Semi's: Doza d. James Brown, 18, 18; Schnorf d. Richard Feuerstein, 8, 12.

1982 Montclair Open (Apr. 24-25)
Final: Kopper d. Hauer, 17, 16.

1982 St. Charles Closed (Apr. 30-May 1)
Final: George Conlee d. Richard Feuerstein, 6, 15.

1982 Michigan State Championships (Detroit, May 15-16)
Final: Mike Veillette d. Eddie Brennan, n.s.
Semi's: Veillette d. Paul Burns, 15, 8, 5; Brennan d. Dave Cafone, 16, 18, 12.

1982 California Open (Corona, May 28-30)
Final: Lane d. Manoogian, 19, 11.
Semi's: Lane d. Rick Guillen, 18, 20; Manoogian d. Hauer, 11, 19.

1982 Summer Sweepstakes (Columbus, June 5)
1. Jim Coombe, 3-0. 2. Orville Greve, 2-1.

*1982 U.S. Open (Detroit, June 30-July 4)
Final: SCOTT BOGGAN d. Lars Franklin (Sweden),14, 13, 16.
Semi's: S. Boggan d. Russell Finley, 10, 15; Franklin d. Bozorgzadeh, -16, 18, 14.

1982 High Desert Open (Victorville, CA, July 17-18)
1. Kopper, 4-1 (10-3). 2. Dave Rogers, 4-1 (9-4).

1982 Scioto Open (Columbus, Aug. 21)
1. John Tannehill, 4-0. 2. Perry Schwartzberg [member of 1983 U.S. Pan-Am Team], 3-1.

1982 Sacramento Open (Aug. 28)
1. Jeff Mason, 4-0. 2. Tom Miller, 3-1.

1982 Eastern Open (Woodbridge, N.J., Sept. 10-12)
Final: Brandon Olson d. Scott Boggan, 20, -16, 19, 17.
Semi's: Olson d. Carl Weinbaum, 12, 19; S. Boggan d. Brian Masters [member of 1983 U.S. Pan-Am Team and U.S. Team member to 1985 World's], 19, -19, 16.

1982 Olentangy Open (Columbus, Sept. 18)
1. Perry Schwartzberg, 5-0. 2. Jim Schnorf, 4-1.

1982 Sacramento Open (Oct. 9-10)
1. Jeff Mason, 2-0. 2. James Therriault, 1-1. 3. Tom Miller, 0-2,

1982 $2850 Nissen Open (Cedar Rapids, Oct. 9-10)
Final: Brandon Olson and Scott Boggan didn't play final, split prize money [Boggan in R.R. Men's final and final of MD and XD; Olson in final of Class A and U-21].
Semi's: Olson d. Tim Boggan, 14, 12; Boggan d. Mark Kennedy, 18, 18.

1982 $2170 Harvard Open (Corona, Oct. 22-24)
Final: Scott Boggan d. Rick Guillen, 10, -16, 10

1982 $7575 Duneland All-American Closed (Michigan City, IN, Oct. 30-31)
Final: Bozorgzadeh, S. Boggan, and Olson divided up the prize money.
Semi's: Bozorgzadeh d. Schwartzberg, 18, 18; Boggan and Olson didn't play. [Boggan in final MS R.R. and final of MD and XD; Olson in final of U-21 and semi's of MD and XD.]

1982 Sun TV Classic (Columbus, Nov. 6)
1. Schwartzberg, 6-0. 2. Steve Zimmerman, 5-1.

1982 $1500 Nittaku Open (Sacramento, Nov. 6-7)
1. Jeff Mason, 2-0. 2. Tom Miller, 1-1. 3. Ralph Bicksler, 0-2.

1982 Montclair Fall Open (Nov. 13-14)
1. Mark Kennedy, 6-0. 2. Harold Kopper, 5-1.

1982 Pacific Coast Championships (Berkeley, Nov. 20-21)
Final: Doyle d. S. Boggan, 18, 17-6 def.

1982 Yasaka Open (Sacramento, Dec. 4)
Doyle d. George Sanguinetti, 19, 13, 16.

*1982 TROPICANA U.S. CLOSED (Dec. 16-19)
Final: SCOTT BOGGAN d. Dean Doyle, 24, -18, -18, 16, 14.
Semi's: S. Boggan d. Bozorgzadeh, n.s.; Doyle d. Schwartzberg, 15, 15, -15, 16.
Quarters: S. Boggan d. Brian Eisner, n.s.; Bozorgzadeh d. Brandon Olson, n.s.; Schwartzberg d. Lim Ming Chui, 19, -19, 19; Doyle d. Charlie Disney, 10, 15.

1982 10th Arkansas State Championships (Little Rock, Dec. 28)
Final: Duke Stogner d. William Hall, n.s.

1983 Columbus Winter Open (Jan. 15)
Final: Victor Lorand d. Bob Cordell, -15, 15, 12, 13.

1983 San Francisco Open (Jan. 29-30)
1. Jeff Mason, 3-0. 2. George Sanguinetti, 2-1.

1983 Buckeye Open (Columbus, Feb. 12)
Final: Orville Greve d. Brad Hudson, 14, 18, 12.

1983 You Gotta Have Heart Open (Victorville, CA, Feb. 11-13)
Final: Kennedy d. Kopper, 13, 12, 5.

1983 Ohio Open (Columbus, Mar. 12)
1. Chris Williams, 2-1 (5-3). 2. Orville Greve, 2-1 (4-4).

1983 Montclair Spring Open (Mar. 12-13)
Final: Kennedy d. Kopper, 12, 10.

1983 Michigan Closed (Mar. 19-20)
Final: Torsten Pawlowski d. Ed Brennan, -10, 18, 18, -16, 22.

1983 Thousand Oaks Open (Mar. 19-20)
Final: Kopper d. Richard McMillan, 13, 4.

1983 Salina-Crossroads USA Open (Salina, KS, Apr.9)
1. Howard Grossman, 2-0. 2. Thavaj Ananthothai, 1-1. 3. Jessie Bernal, 0-2.

1983 Riverside Open (Apr. 8-9)
1. Kennedy d. Hauer, 13, -20, 5, 13.

1983 Howard Thomas Memorial Open (Dayton, Ohio, Apr. 16)
Final: Andy Gad d. Bob Powell, 18, -10, 18.
Semi's: Gad d. Lyle Thiem, 15, -12, 15; Powell d. Bob Petty, 9, 19.

1983 Arizona Closed (Tempe, Apr. 16-17)
Final: Randy Nedrow d. Bill Burke, 17, 10, 16.

1983 New Jersey Closed (Westfield, Apr. 23-24)
Final: Brian Eisner d. Barry Dattel, 14, -14, 18.
Semi's: Eisner d. John Andrade, 14, 19, Dattel d. John Kilpatrick, 16, 17.

1983 Sun TV Open (Columbus, Apr. 30)
Final: John Tannehill d. Torsten Pawlowski, 15, -19, 5 ret.
Semi's: Tannehill d. Chris Wibbleman, 15, -19, 5; Pawlowski d. Dave Alt, 19, 19.

1983 St. Charles Closed (May 6-7)
1. Dennis Orne, 2-0. 2. Ken Hargrove, 1-1. 3. Richard Feuerstein, 0-2.

1983 Scioto Open (Columbus, May 21)
Final: Steve Zimmerman d. Orville Greve, -12, 12, 15.
Semi's: Zimmerman d. Dave Alt, 22, -19, 18; Greve d. Ray Stewart, 19, 19.

1983 Capital City Open (Columbus, June 11)
1. Ray Stewart, 4-0.

*1983 TROPICANA U.S. OPEN (June 8-12)
Final: DEAN DOYLE d. Lim Ming Chui, 19, 16, -16, -18, 17.
Semi's: Doyle d. Bozorgzadeh, 8, 14, 15; Chui d. Doug Burns, -20, 10, 9, 10.

1983 Pacific Coast Open (July 15-17)
Final: Doyle d. Thavaj Ananthothai, 10, 7, 13.
Semi's: Doyle d. Kopper, 16, 18; Ananthothai d. Tom Miller, -20, 11, 14.

1983 High Desert Open (Victorville, July 29-31)
Karl Dreger d. Kopper, 19, 6.

1983 Summer Sweepstakes (Columbus, Aug. 13)
1. John Allen, 3-0. 2. Bob Cordell, 2-1. 3. Dave Russell, 1-2. 4. Joe Blatt, 0-3.

1983 Detroit Fall Open (Sept. 24)
Final: Doug Burns d. Mike Veillette, 11, 14, 15.
Semi's: Burns d. Cody Jones, 12, 18, 17; Veillette d. T. Pawloski, 10, 15, 17.

1983 Montclair Open (Oct. 1-2)
1. Kopper. 2. Richard McMillan.

1983 Sacramento Fall Open (Oct. 1-2)
1. Rolf Goos, 3-0. 2. James Therriault, 2-1. 3. Tom Miller, 1-2. 4. 4. Allen mcDermott, 0-3.

1983 Massachusetts Closed (Oct. 22-23)
Final: Lim Ming Chui d. Chris Kalagher, 6, 15, 12.
Semi's: Chui d. Mike Loebl, 12, 14; Kalagher d. Russ Person, 14, -18, 18.

1983 $8975 Duneland All-American Closed (Michigan City, IN, Oct. 29-30)
Final: Bozorgzadeh d. Brandon Olson, 14, 15.
Semi's: Bozorgzadeh d. Tim Boggan, 9, 19; Olson d. B. K. Arunkumar, 2-1.

1983 Nittaku Open (Sacramento, Nov. 5-6)
1. Rolf Goos, 4-0. 2. Tom Miller, 3-1. 3. Allen mcDermott, 2-2. 4. Peter Wise, 1-3. 5. Ralph Bicksler, 0-4.

1983 Lake Ontario Open (Rochester, N.Y., Nov. 4-6)
Final: Lim Ming Chui d. Ray Mack, 16, 14.

1983 Thousand Oaks Open (Nov. 5-6)
1. Harold Kopper, 4-0. 2. Loc Ngo, 3-1.

1983 Sun TV Fall Open (Columbus, Nov. 19)
1. Mark Allen, 3-0. 2. Rick Hardy, 2-1. 3. Dave Samiec, 1-2. 4. Bob Allen, 0-3.

1983 Yasaka Open (Sacramento, Dec. 3-4)
I. Doyle, 2-0. 2. Rolf Goos, 1-1. 3. Tom Miller, 0-2.

1983 Arkansas Closed (Little Rock, Dec. 10-11)
Final: Duke Stogner d. Andy Bloxom, 2-0.

*1983 TROPICANA U.S. CLOSED (Dec. 15-18)
Final: DEAN DOYLE d. Houshang Bozorgzadeh, -9, 10, 19, -10, 14.
Semi's: Doyle d. Rolf Goos, 10, 11; Bozorgzadeh d. Charlie Disney, 13, 7.

1984 Columbus Winter Open (Jan. 14)
1. Mark Allen, 4-0. 2. Brad Hudson, 3-1. 3. Rick Hardy 2-2. 4. Bob Allen, 1-3. 5. Bob Hudson, 0-4.

1984 Grand Opening Open (Cleveland, Jan. 21)
Final: Dave Cafone d. Bob Slapnik, 15, 13.
Semi's: Cafone d. Sam Steiner, 17, 18; Slapnik d. Rick Hardy, 15, 19.

1984 Detroit Winter Open (Jan. 21)
Final: Mike Veillette d. Doug Burns, -10, 15, -18, 15, 15.
Semi's: Veillette d. Dave Cafone, 15, 13, 16; Burns d. Ed Brennan, n.s.

1984 $600 Banda Open (Sacramento, Feb. 3-4)
1. Tom Miller, 2-0. 2. Jack Mason, 1-1. 3. John Schultz, 0-2.

1984 Ohio Open (Columbus, Feb. 4)
Final: Bob Cordell d. Mark Allen, -21, 14, 15.
Semi's: Cordell d. Rick Hardy, 14, 18; Mark Allen d. Bob Allen, 14, 18.

1984 Northrop-Hawthorne Open (Feb. 25-26)
1. Karl Dreger, 3-0. 2. Kopper, 2-1. 3. G. Schwarz, 1-2. 4. Peter Antkowiak, 0-3.

1984 Montclair Open (Mar. 3-4)
1. Kopper. 2. Dreger. 3. G. Schwarz. 4. Tom Anderson, 0-3.

1984 Michigan Closed (Detroit, Mar. 24-25)
Final: Frank Sexton d. Mike Baber, -20, 5, 13.
Semi's: Sexton d. Mike Veillette, 15, -19, 17; Baber d. Aaron Smith, 8, 8.

1984 No Foolin' Around Open (Mar. 30-Apr. 1)
1. G. Davis, 3-0. 2. Kopper, 2-1. 3. M. Tagavi, 1-2. 4. R. McMillan, 0-3.

1984 Helping Others Open (Apr. 28-29)
1. Dreger, 3-0. 2. Kopper, 2-1. 3. G. Schwartz, 1-2. 4. Peter Antkowiak, 0-3.

1984 New Jersey Closed (Westfield, Apr. 28-29)
1. Barry Dattel, 2-0. 2. Bob Holland, 1-1. 3. Alan Feldman, 0-2.

1984 Scioto Open (Columbus, May 5)
1. Rick Hardy, 2-1 (5-3). 2. Ken Stanfield, 2-1 (5-3). 3. Brad Hudson, 2-1 (5-4). 4. Bob Allen, 0-3.

1984 Pacific Coast Open (May 4-6)
Final: Kopper d. Ananthothai, 6, 7, 15.
Semi's: Kopper d. Hans Nilsson, 19, 12; Ananthothai d. Tom Miller, -11, 16, 21.

1984 Howard Thomas Memorial Open (Dayton, May 19).
Final: Bob Cordell d. Tim Boggan, 20, -14, 17.
Semi's: Cordell d. Andy Gad, 19, 17; Boggan d. Randy Cuzzort, 4, 18.

[NOTE. This marks the end of my years (1970-1984) as Editor of Topics and Timmy's. Although it's more likely now that some tournaments with Hard Bat events will go unreported, there's a dramatic decline in these events beginning in 1985.]

*1984 TROPICANA U.S. OPEN (June 27-July 1)
Final: DEAN DOYLE d. Olle Rondin, 19, 16.
Semi's: Doyle d. Dickie Fleisher, 11, 18; Rondin d. Homer Brown, 17, 10.

1984 Seafair Open (Seattle)
Final: Jay Crystal d. Greg Eng, n.s.

1984 Lake Erie Open (Sept. 8)
1. Rick Hardy. 2. Bob Allen.

1984 Nissen Open (Cedar Rapids, Sept. 22-23)
Final: Brandon Olson d. Bert Flisberg, 14, 17. 3. Mitch Rothfleisch. 4. Mitch Seidenfeld.

1984 Oregon Open (Paddle Palace, Oct. 20-21)
Final: Jay Crystal d. Jim Tisler, n.s.

1984 Duneland All-American Closed (Michigan City, Oct. 27-28)
Final: Lekan Fenuyi d. Brandon Olson, -22, 18, 16.
Semi's: Fenuyi d. Bozorgzadeh, 12, 20; Olson d. Saubano Adio, 18, 20.

1984 Nittaku Open (Sacramento, Nov. 3-4)
1. Allen McDermott, 3-0. 2. Jack Mason, 2-1.

1984 Yasaka North Coast Classic (Cleveland, Nov. 17-18)
1. Rick Hardy. 2. Bob Allen.

*1984 TROPICANA U.S. CLOSED (Dec. 19-23)
Final: ROBERTO BYLES d. Houshang Bozorgzadeh, 19, 19.
Semi's: Byles d. Tim Boggan, -19, 18, 18; Bozorgzadeh d. Barry Dattel, 12, 22.

NOTE. After 23 events in 1985, the decline in Hard Bat play begins...and now just four such events are reported per year, then two, then finally only one. History repeats itself: the Hard Bat event is almost abandoned. And yet, 12 years after the '85 decline, the 'old' game is resurrected... and again by Reisman. And again players are interested. This time will they stay interested in it?

*1985 U.S. OPEN (Miami Beach, June 26-30)
Final: LIM MING CHUI d. Tim Boggan, 16, 16.
Semi's: Chui d. Chuck Turchick, 13, 7; T. Boggan d. Homer Brown, 17, -17, 18.

1985 $3250 Nissen Open (Cedar Rapids, Oct. 5-6)
Final: Brandon Olson d. Mark Kennedy, 19 in the 3rd.

1985 Duneland All-American Closed ($9225 Michigan City, IN, Nov. 2-3)
Final: Lim Ming Chui d. Perry Schwartzberg, 12, -18, 15.

*1985 CAESARS PALACE U.S. CLOSED (Dec. 17-22)
Final: HOUSHANG BOZORGZADEH d. Tim Boggan, 19, 12.
Semi's: Bozorgzadeh d. Lim Ming Chui, -12, 19, 17; Boggan d. Barry Dattel, 15, -15, 15.

*1986 U.S. OPEN (Miami Beach, June 11-15)
Final: HOUSHANG BOZORGZADEH d. Ron Lily, 15, 11.
Semi's: Bozorgzadeh d. Olle Rondin, 17, 9; Lily d. Lim Ming Chui, 18, -18, 18.

1986 Nissen Open (Cedar Rapids, Oct. 4-5)
Final: Brandon Olson d. Lim Ming Chui, -19, 19, 20.
Semi's: Olson d. John Soderberg, 19, 19; Chui d. Barry Dattel, 18, 9.

1986 Montclair Open (Oct. 18-19)
Final: Kopper d. Malcolm Jones, 10, 7).

*1986 U.S. CLOSED (Pittsburgh, Dec. 10-14)
NOTE: For the first time in 10 years, no Hard Bat event was reported and so apparently it wasn't held. Danny Seemiller was the Tournament Director, and, with only 267 reported entries, this was the first and very nearly the last U.S. Closed to be held outside Las Vegas.

1987 Rose Festival Open (Portland, OR, June 13)
Final: Bill Popp d. Jim MacFarlane, -20, 17, 15.
Semi's: Popp d. Fred Bartsch, 15, 17; MacFarlane d. Le Ai Ly, 16, 14

*1987 U.S. OPEN (Miami Beach, June 17-21)
NOTE: For the first time since 1981 no Hard Bat event was reported and so apparently it wasn't held. The next Hard Bat event in an Open wouldn't be until 1992.

1987 Nissen Open (Oct. 3-4)
Final: Barry Dattel d. Roberto Byles, 23, 19.

*1987 U.S. CLOSED (Las Vegas, Showboat Hotel, Dec. 9-13)
NOTE: After the Hard Bat event was dropped from the Closed last year in Pittsburgh, it apparently wasn't picked up this year -- though one had always been held in Vegas before. The next Hard Bat event in a Closed wouldn't be until 1991.

1988 New Jersey State Championships (Westfield, Apr. 30-May 1)
Final: Boris Rabinovich d. Chris Lehman, 14, 16, 13.
Semi's: B. Rabinovich d. John Andrade, 14, 12; Lehman d. Mike Kuklakis, 10, 18.

1988 Nissen Open (Cedar Falls, Nov. 5-6)
Final: Brandon Olson d. Chuck Turchick, 9, -20, 15.

1989 New Jersey State Championships (Westfield, Apr. 29-30)
Final: Boris Rabinovich d. Barry Dattel, 8, -22, 19.

1990 Montclair Open (Nov. 10-11)
Final: Courtney Roberts d. Harold Kopper, 16, 20.Q

1990 Houston Open (Nov. 17-18)
Final: Roberto Byles d. Robert Mayer, 20, 19, 18.
Semi's: Byles d. Roland Schilhab, 14, 24, 19; Mayer d. Don Jackson, 14, 17.

1991 Donic Michigan State Championships (Apr. 13)
Final: Frank Sexton d. Mike Veillette, n.s.

1991 New Jersey State Championships (Westfield, May 10-11)
Final: Boris Rabinovich d. Bob Holland, 20, -19, 18.
Semi's: Rabinovich d. Andre Anderson, 18, 7; Holland d. Barry Dattel, -21, 19, 20.

*1991 U.S. CLOSED (Las Vegas Convention Center, Dec. 18-22)
Final: LARRY HODGES d. Tim Boggan, 15, 13.
Semi's: Hodges d. Roberto Byles, 12, 9; T. Boggan d. Lim Ming Chui, 18, 19.

1992 New Jersey State Championships (Westfield, Apr. 25-26)
Final: Barry Dattel d. John Andrade, 11, 15.

*1992 U.S. OPEN (Midland, MI, June 10-14)
Final: LARRY HODGES d. Lim Ming Chui, -19, 13, 17.
Semi's: Hodges d. Houshang Bozorgzadeh, 15, 19; Chui d. Barry Dattel, 18, 21.

*1992 U.S. CLOSED (Las Vegas, Dec. 15-20)
NOTE: Last year's Hard Bat event in the Closed was not renewed.

*1993 U.S. OPEN (Indianapolis, June 16-20)
NOTE: Last year's Hard Bat event in the Open was not renewed.

1993 New Jersey State Championships (Westfield, May 1-2)
Final: Barry Dattel d. Alex Rabinovich, -16, 16, 19.

1994 Salina Open (Feb. 26)
1. Charles Rucker. 2. Cliff Metzger.

1994 Arizona Closed (Phoenix, Apr. 23-24)
Final: Jim Tarkowski d. John Harrington, 15, 11.

1995 Salina Open
1. Gordon Beehler. 2. Carl Miller II.

1995 Arizona Summer Classic (Tempe, Aug. 12-13)
1. Marek Zochowski. 2-3. Harry Polk and Jim Tarkowski.

1996 Salina Open (Mar. 2)
1. Carl Miller II. 2. Charles Rucker.

1996 Mountlake Summer Open (Seattle, July 20)
Final: George Kawamoto d. Wes Wolfe, 10, 13.

1997 Arizona Open (Phoenix, Feb. 22)
1. Bob Weich. 2. Robert Compton.

1997 Columbus Fall Open (Oct. 4-5)
1. John Tannehill, 3-0: d. Bob Cordell, 20, 8; d. John Kizer, 16, 10; d. Denzil Flemming, 4, 16.
2. Cordell, 2-1: d. Kizer, 18, -24, 12; d. Fleming, 17, 12.
3. Kizer, 1-2: d. Flemming, 10, 10.
4. Fleming, 0-3.

*1997 U.S. Closed (Las Vegas, Dec. 17-21)
Final: MARTY REISMAN d. Larry Hodges, -19, 8, 13.
Semi's: Reisman d. Ricky Mueller, 10, 1[sic]; Hodges d. Steve Berger, 15, 16.
Quarter's: Reisman d. Barry Dattel, 17, 14; Mueller d. Tim Kelly, -14, 18, 15; Hodges d. Nick Mintsiveris, -17, 9, 6; Berger d. Hawk N. Lee, 15, 16.
NOTE. Again, six years intervened (1991-1997) between Hard Bat events at a National's.

History tells us that if the Hard Bat event is to endure and prosper, a Hard Bat Association has to be organized.

Classic Hard Bat Table Tennis