Ed Blum didn’t take up tournament
horseshoe pitching until 1962 when he was 42 years old. But since
then he won 70 trophies in competitions ranging all the way from
the county to the world level. Ed became interested in horseshoe
pitching nearly 60 years ago when he helped horseshoes onto the
family farm in South Beaver Township. In those days he would toss
used shoes at a convenient peg. After many years of enjoying the
sport, he finally entered his first tournament. He explains that the
long delay stemmed from the fact that he wasn’t sure he was good
enough to compete against topnotch horseshoe players. The 2½ pound competition horseshoes he threw later in life with deadly
accuracy were bigger and heaver than those he used as a boy but
the thrill of success was the same. Ed won the Achievement Award of the Beaver County Horseshoe
Pitchers Association in 1982 and was voted into its Hall of Fame in
1987. Among his many titles are the Class E World Championship
in 1976 and 1977 and the Class C World crown in 1978. During his
peak period of success in the 1970s, he usually hit ringers on more
than 80 percent of his tosses.
Ed Blum didn’t take up tournament
horseshoe pitching until 1962 when he was 42 years old. But since
then he won 70 trophies in competitions ranging all the way from
the county to the world level. Ed became interested in horseshoe
pitching nearly 60 years ago when he helped horseshoes onto the
family farm in South Beaver Township. In those days he would toss
used shoes at a convenient peg. After many years of enjoying the
sport, he finally entered his first tournament. He explains that the
long delay stemmed from the fact that he wasn’t sure he was good
enough to compete against topnotch horseshoe players. The 2½ pound competition horseshoes he threw later in life with deadly
accuracy were bigger and heaver than those he used as a boy but
the thrill of success was the same. Ed won the Achievement Award of the Beaver County Horseshoe
Pitchers Association in 1982 and was voted into its Hall of Fame in
1987. Among his many titles are the Class E World Championship
in 1976 and 1977 and the Class C World crown in 1978. During his
peak period of success in the 1970s, he usually hit ringers on more
than 80 percent of his tosses.