Because a sport without history is a sport without consequence.

The Early Life of Transformational Pool Promoter George Jansco

The Early Life of Transformational Pool Promoter George Jansco

George Jansco and his brother Paulie helped usher in America's modern era of pool. The brothers were inducted into the BCA Hall of Fame in 2019. ________________________________________________ By R.A. Dyer Back before  the newspaper men arrived, and before the TV...

Welcome to PoolHistory.com

Historic matches. Famous pool players. Dates and stats. Find all that and more at poolhistory.com, the pool and billiards history website curated by R.A. Dyer. Click through for articles about world champions Willie Mosconi and Ralph Greenleaf, or read details about big-time matchups with Minnesota Fats and Jersey Red. Dyer, author of the critically-acclaimed books Hustler Days and The Hustler and the Champ, has spent the last three decades writing about pool and pool history. He’s also the author of the long-running Untold Stories column in Billiards Digest.

News and More

Hustler & the Champ on Kindle

R.A. Dyer's critically acclaimed biography of Willie Mosconi and Minnesota Fats available in hardback or Kindle.

Expanded edition of Hustler Days

Biography of Lassiter, Fats and Jersey Red, released originally in 2003, now updated with expanded content.

Pool History in Billiards Digest

R.A. Dyer writes about a startling new Minnesota Fats discovery in the November edition of Billiards Digest.

Dyer featured in documentary

R.A. Dyer appears in Swimming with Sharks documentary, included in the 50th anniversary edition of The Hustler.

Janscos Inducted into Hall of Fame

Pool promoters George and Paulie Jansco receive posthumous induction. Read R.A. Dyer's story.