KANSAS
HORSESHOE PITCHERS ASSOCIATION
HALL OF FAME
MARINES TAMBOER
Wichita, KS
1975
PLAYER INDUCTEE
Wichita, KS
1975 PLAYER INDUCTEE
Most horseshoe pitching enthusiasts rank Marines “Pop” Tamboer as one of the two greatest horseshoe players in Kansas history. His records rank among the best that Kansas has to offer, including being an 11-time Kansas State Men’s Champion and representing Kansas in the World Tournament Championship Class 15 times, including a third- place finish in 1951 and fourth-place in 1952. Marines was amazing in his ability to pitch at a high level, using either a 1¼ turn or a 1¾ turn depending on how he felt on that particular day. If he was struggling throwing one way, he would just switch his turn--very unusual and difficult to do. A farmer from the Wichita area, Marines won his first State Title in 1944 and his last in 1980 at the age of 76 years old, an amazing span of 36 years from his first to last State Title. Although some individual year records are not available, Marines’ name first appeared at the State Tournament Championship class in 1935, and he participated in his last State Championship in 1982, a span of 47 years. He became the second Kansas horseshoe pitcher selected into the National Horseshoe Pitchers Hall of Fame in 1992. Marines is also the father of Kansas State Hall of Fame member and many times Kansas State Women’s Champion, Mary Ann Peninger. Marines played in many local tournaments over the years and participated in the Wichita league play as long as he was able. Marines passed away on August 23, 1999, at the age of 95. For his long record of outstanding play, including Kansas State Championships in 1944, 1945, 1946, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1962, 1965, and 1980, as well as his 15 years in the World Championship Class including two top five finishes, Marines Tamboer took his place as one of the all time Kansas great horseshoe pitchers by being elected as a Charter member of the Kansas State Horseshoe Pitchers Hall of Fame in 1975. Following is a summary of Marines “Pop” Tamboer’s record in the Kansas State Tournament. Note: Some individual year records are not available.
