For Immediate Release
ALLENTOWN, PA – In a display of chaos, camaraderie, and cholesterol, the Ball Goblins descended on Allentown Pinfest 2025 to accomplish two major objectives: represent the BGPO and consume a truly inadvisable number of pretzel dogs. Both goals were met with signature Goblin flair.
Operating out of their vendor space—provided generously by and shared with the Glenside Machine Shop—the Goblins spent the weekend promoting the Goblin Premier League, repping the crew, and shattering personal bests in meat-in-dough consumption.
Tournament-wise, the Goblins posted solid results. Cliff Albert landed 5th in the A Division, just outside the finals. Austin Snyder joined him in A, finishing 15th overall. Tom Garrett held it down in the B Division, finishing 8th. But while flipper finesse was on display, the real story unfolded in the lot.
This year, the crew consumed 44 pretzel dogs—doubling their previous record of 22. “I only had three, but they were bangers—cheesesteak, hot sausage, mozz/pep,” said Bob Choate, who served as coach and motivator for the pretzel mission. “My mentality this year was very much, ‘there’s pinball in there?’ The vibe outside was unbeatable. 90s jams, perfect weather, and the Delco Duecer to yell about—it just all came together.”
While individual counts are still under audit, notable members of the crew have confirmed counts of up to 6 pretzeled products. However the event did not escape without some controversy, with a cinnamon pretzel and mini pretzel dogs on offer that sparked debates over eligibility. Pretzel selections ranged from the classic and cheesy to the deeply questionable (see: soggy pastrami Reuben as memorialized in a commemorative sticker). Still, commitment remained high, and the Goblins now hold what may very well be the unofficial Pinfest consumption crown.
As always, the Ball Goblins extend their thanks to the Eastern Bloc Pinball community and the Glenside Machine Shop crew. Whether through flippers or frankfurters, they remain committed to pushing the boundaries of good taste.
Follow the Ball Goblins for more updates on league action, tailgate tactics, and evolving pretzel metrics.