


Michael Phelan, the Father of American Pool — A Timeline
Michael Phelan is considered the father of American pool. He was inducted into the Billiard Congress of America Hall of Fame in 1993. Just below is a timeline that outlines major events in his life. 1819 (April 18th) — Born in Castle Comer, County Kilkenny, Ireland. 1823 — His father John Phelan immigrates to the United States. Here, he begins to operate a number of pool rooms. 1824 —...From 2015: Pool Historian William Hendricks Dies
Here’s a bit of sad news for pool history fans: William Hendricks, author of the very good but somewhat obscure Official Standard History of Pool, Billiards and Snooker, has died. The World War II veteran was 90 years old. He passed away on May 15, 2015 in an Illinois nursing home. The Official Standard History of Pool, Billiards & Snooker is a hard-to-find gem, one that includes fascinating...
One-Pocket Mystery: Who Invented the Hustlers’ Game?
Here’s a one-pocket mystery. Jack Hill, apparently from Oklahoma, is referenced in Hustler Days as the inventor of one-pocket. But the original source for that information was The Bank Shot and Other Great Robberies, the book by Minnesota Fats. Fats offers only a few details about Hill, and we have never seen Hill’s name referenced elsewhere. According to Fats, a man by the name of...
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