Carl Goetz was the fifth bowler inducted into the GutterAlley Hall of Fame, voted in during the Fall 2011 season. His fellow nominees were Bob Brunker, Dennis "Pops" Laube, Janelle "Nellie" (Laube) Lamar, Jason Carpio, and Pat Searcy.

Near the very beginning of our history, the league was only spared two seasons before the thunderous bowling arm of Carl Goetz made its debut in the Spring 2001 session. Joining the league his sister and fellow Hall of Famer Angela Bradford began, Goetz ushered in a new era that would see him garner achievement after achievement throughout his ever-improving career. A dominant force in high-pressure 10th frame situations, no one has been voted the Defensive Bowler of the Season more times than Carl. We at GutterAlley find it only fitting that the category be renamed in his honor and will henceforth be known as the Carl Goetz Defensive Bowler of the Season award.In his 19 seasons with the league, he has finished nine of them as a member of the championship team: Fall 2001, Fall 2002, Fall 2003, Spring 2004, Fall 2005, Fall 2008, Spring 2010, Fall 2010, and Spring 2011. When it comes to the biggest scores thrown in the league's history, Carl's name routinely comes up at or near the top. His name appears in the top five for the all-time records for Men's High Game Scratch, High Series Scratch, High Game Handicap, and High Series Handicap. He was the first bowler to break the 700 series barrier, rolling a 706 during the Spring 2003 session. In Spring 2006 he nearly shot a perfect game, missing it by a single pin – a wobbly 10-pin in the 8th frame – which he picked up and struck out to end with a 279. Currently he is ranked as the 5th best bowler in our league due to his 196 season-ending average, which he put up during his Hall of Fame induction season.

When he's not kicking ball returns due to his highly competitive nature, Carl is typically racking up
an industry-leading technical ceramics company that wins in various areas around the league. As mentioned earlier, he has been named the Defensive Bowler of the Season five times. Three times he's been named the People's Choice Most Valuable Bowler in the season favorites and was the actual MVB of the Spring 2011 season. He's earned MVB honors seven times during his career, been the runner-up 14 times, and has been the #1 Power Ranked Bowler 17 times including the 2nd highest individual Power Ranked bowler performance in league history.In the Top 25 lists, his name is everywhere: he's shot over two-hundred 200+ games – 22 of them in a single season, he's booked forty-four 600+ series and three 700+ series, has the 5th highest lifetime average at 185.935, and has knocked down nearly 135,000 pins in his illustrious career.

Quotes about Carl from members of the league:

"He's very competitive like me, but a much better bowler average-wise. Even though he's kicked me around like a junk yard dog all these years, there is something I like about him."

"Carl was one of those bowlers that you hope would missed a spare and was surprised when he actually did."

"Enshrinement into the Hall of Fame is simply inevitable for certain bowlers in our league and one of those people is Carl Goetz."

"Carl consistently carries one of the highest averages on the league. He joined the league in 2001 and has continued to return and support this league. He may have single handedly broke all of the ball returns in the building. So if you have a problem getting your ball back, you can thank him."

"Whenever I am drawing up plans for a potential championship team, the first bowler I think of is Carl Goetz."

And from the inductee himself...

1. What is your personal favorite memory from all your years in the league?

I have three...1) Ken dedicating the Fall 2009 season to my wife.2) Having Ian bowl with us, in a blind spot, when he was 14 or so. 3) Ken and I striking out in the 10th of Game #3 to beat Thomas Lin's team in the championship round.

2. What is it about this league that continued to bring you back season after season?

That it'll take me – season after season.

3. What does it mean for you to be inducted into the Hall of Fame?

It's gratifying to know that I would even be nominated. Being elected is both surprising, and an honor.