Hall of Fame Inductee Charles Ursitti Known for Marksmanship

Hall of Fame Inductee Charles Ursitti Known for Marksmanship

by | Feb 21, 2019 | Historical Notes

Did you know that Charles Ursitti, recent Hall of Fame inductee and a key figure in the book The Hustler & The Champ, was also a highly competitive sharpshooter? He learned about guns from his father, and then went on to shoot both in public exhibitions and in tournaments. Charlie was the driving force behind the Great Shoot-Out, the famous 1978 televised match between Minnesota Fats and...
Michael Phelan, the Father of American Pool — A Timeline


Michael Phelan, the Father of American Pool — A Timeline


by | Feb 21, 2019 | 1800s Pool, Historical Notes, Industry History

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

by | Feb 21, 2019 | Historical Notes

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?

One-Pocket Mystery: Who Invented the Hustlers’ Game?

by | Feb 21, 2019 | Historical Notes, Hustler Stories

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...
1927 World Title: Ralph Greenleaf versus Erwin Rudolph

1927 World Title: Ralph Greenleaf versus Erwin Rudolph

by | Feb 2, 2019 | Ralph Greenleaf, Tournaments

In January, 1927, two of America’s best players — Ohio’s Erwin Rudolph and Chicago’s Ralph Greenleaf—met in New York City to determine who would become pocket billiards next champion. Greenleaf had held the title uninterrupted for seven years running, relinquished it in 1925 to Frank Taberski, and then quickly regained the crown the following year in Philadelphia. It was in that 1926 tournament...