Courtesy of Tim Boggan Dolores (originally Delores?) Probert’s first National’s was the Parker Brothers-sponsored American Ping-Pong Association’s last one–at the Hotel Carter in Cleveland, Apr. 6-8, 1934. She lost in the 2nd round, badly, to Chicago veteran Helen Ovenden, and was ranked APPA #12 for the ’33-34 season. At the Apr. 5-7, 1935 unifying USTTA…

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Courtesy of Tim Boggan Unexpectedly Bobby Gusikoff called me and, in the throes of uncontrollable tears and spasmed speech, gasped out that his long-time friend Erwin Klein had just been shot to death in Los Angeles–killed in an argument on Sept. 30, 1992 by a business partner who then fatally turned the gun on himself.…

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Courtesy of Tim Boggan Aug. 28, 1951–that’s Alice’s birth date. Which means that in the spring of 1963 Alice is 11 years old when she and father/coach Hal (U.S. #8 for the ’51-’52 season) are runner-ups in Mixed Doubles in the Long Island Closed. Two years later, 13-year-old Alice won the Women’s Singles in that…

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