A lost sock obituary The Lucky Bowling Sock

The Lucky Bowling Sock was purple with small white pins, and it came from the novelty rack by the shoe counter. It was bought as a joke in the spring of 2018. The joke lasted until the following Tuesday, when its owner bowled 143, a personal best by eleven pins.

From then on the sock was held responsible for every decent game, while poor results were put down to the lane. On one occasion they were put down to a children's birthday party two lanes over, which the league still discusses.

It rode to league night in the side pocket of the bowling bag, next to the wrist support and a single emergency mint. It was washed on Wednesdays, on its own, like a guest.

In April 2026 someone washed it on a Sunday, with everything else, in the week of the league final. It did not come back. Its owner bowled 167 in a borrowed pair and has asked that this not be the focus of the tribute. We have honored that request everywhere except here.

Career record

• League nights attended: roughly 300
• Personal bests present for: one
• Strikes it took credit for: all of them
• Gutter balls it acknowledged: none

In lieu of flowers

The Tuesday league asks members to stop looking at the owner's feet during the approach. It is not helping.