THOMAS F. “TOMMY” RYAN
(1872 – 1961)

Although Tommy Ryan is primarily thought of as being synonymous with the Canadian game of 5 pins because he invented the game, his history in bowling goes back to a time several years before 5 pins came into being.

The Toronto Bowling Club was in existence in the Ryrie Building at Temperance and Yonge Streets at the turn of the century. It became known as Tommy Ryan’s Toronto Bowling Club when, in 1905, “Regulation American Tenpin Alleys” were installed in the establishment. Ryan was officially, the Secretary-Treasurer of the club in which membership could be purchased for $2.00.

From this point onward, until shortly after the Toronto Bowling Association received its ABC charter in the 1907-08 season, Tommy Ryan was very active in the promotion of the game and the ultimate formation of the Association. It was he, who went to Buffalo in 1906 to arrange membership in the ABC through the Buffalo Association, for the two teams from Toronto which were the first two teams from Toronto ever to participate in an ABC tournament.

It was Tommy Ryan’s seemingly tireless efforts for Toronto bowlers and the tenpin game that led to our Association being granted an ABC charter in the 1907-08 season. It is certain that there were others whose efforts contributed to Toronto being granted a charter by the American Bowling Congress, but Tommy Ryan was a leader in this accomplishment.