10 Dead Guys Not in Hall of Fame (But Should Be)

10 Dead Guys Not in Hall of Fame (But Should Be)

by | Apr 7, 2019 | Hall of Fame, Historic Players, James Evans, Jansco Brothers, Jim Crow Pool, Rags Fitzpatrick

Hall of Fame induction can mark the culmination of a grand career. Past winners include Johnny Archer, Alison Fisher, Willie Mosconi, Ralph Greenleaf and the great Willie Hoppe.  The most important promoters of the game, such as American Poolplayers Association founders Larry Hubbart and Terry Bell, have also gained entry. But several important personalities have...

The Dean of Pocket Billiards: Memories of Onofrio Lauri

by | Mar 25, 2019 | Historic Players, Willie Mosconi

From left: Willie Mosconi, Onofrio Lauri, Irving Crane. Erling Hammarstrom, the son of Norwegian parents, wrote me a few years back to recount stories of his poolroom hero, the famous Onofrio Lauri. I’ve reproduced his letter,  shortened somewhat for space. My sister and our parents settled in Brooklyn, in a neighborhood called Bay Ridge. The year was 1953 and I had just graduated...

Interview Excerpt: Weenie Beenie talks about Cleo Vaughn

by | Mar 23, 2019 | Historic Players, Hustler Stories, Weenie Beenie

Here’s an excerpt of an interview I conducted around 2007 with Bill “Weenie Beenie” Staton. Some of this, as I recall, ended up in Hustler Days. Staton references in this interview his hot dog stand. That’s a picture of the last of his hot dog stands at the top of this post. “Earl Shriver, Squirrel (Marshall Carpenter), Daddy Warbucks – they were all out in...