LASSITER & FATS: BIG BETS IN TODAY’S DOLLARS

LASSITER & FATS: BIG BETS IN TODAY’S DOLLARS

by | Apr 17, 2020 | Hustler Stories, Minnesota Fats, Wimpy Lassiter

How much were historic wagers by Lassiter, Fats, and De Oro in today’s dollars? This is what Luther Lassiter said about Norfolk, Virginia, back in the 1940s: “Greatest pool town that’s ever been. You had five or six people there who were really gambling. People had lots of cash, and players from all over the country — anybody that played for money at all —...
Marshall “Tuscaloosa Squirrel” Carpenter dead at 92

Marshall “Tuscaloosa Squirrel” Carpenter dead at 92

by | Apr 9, 2020 | Historic Players, Hustler Stories, Jansco Brothers

Legendary OnePocket player Helped Organize First Johnston City Tournament. Legendary one-pocket player Marshall Carpenter, better known to the pool world as The Tuscaloosa Squirrel, passed away April 5 in his namesake hometown. He was 92. Marshall “The Tuscaloosa Squirrel” Carpenter, right, with Wimpy Lassiter in Johnston City, Illinois, 1963. Born Feb. 9, 1928, Carpenter was the...
Cornbread Red, Minnesota Fats and a Johnston City Burn

Cornbread Red, Minnesota Fats and a Johnston City Burn

by | Feb 22, 2020 | Hustler Stories, Jansco Brothers, Minnesota Fats

Old-time hustler was part of pool’s most colorful generation. The autobiography of Minnesota Fats, written with Tom Fox, references Cornbread Red. Billy Burge, better known as “Cornbread Red,” was a famed road player, an expert one-pocket player and a colorful wild man. He was a fixture of “The Rack,” a famed pool hall in Detroit, and a backroom denizen of the...
Almost Forgotten: Rags, Youngblood & Rotation Slim

Almost Forgotten: Rags, Youngblood & Rotation Slim

by | Feb 17, 2020 | Cisero Murphy, Hustler Stories, Jansco Brothers, Jim Crow Pool

Along with Cisero Murphy, “Youngblood” Washington, “Rotation Slim” Hairston and “Rags” Woods were among African American players at the early Johnston City events. In case you missed it, George and Paulie Jansco finally received their much-deserved induction into the BCA Hall of Fame back in November 2019. The principle contribution of these two legendary pool promoters was their creation...
The Legendary Cisero Murphy: Trailblazer and Champion

The Legendary Cisero Murphy: Trailblazer and Champion

by | Feb 16, 2020 | Billiards Video, Cisero Murphy, Historic Players, Jersey Red, Jim Crow Pool, Willie Mosconi

Brooklyn’s Cisero Murphy smashed through professional pool’s color line. Cisero Murphy, shown in the video that you can find here, was the first African-American pool player to ever win a World or U.S. National billiard title. Murphy also was a trailblazer for equal access, having to overcome race prejudice to gain the right to compete at the very top echelon of pool. A native...