Rare Photo of Ralph Greenleaf’s widow, the Princess Nai Tai Tai

Rare Photo of Ralph Greenleaf’s widow, the Princess Nai Tai Tai

by | Dec 5, 2019 | Jansco Brothers, Ralph Greenleaf, Tom Fox

The Bank Shot and Other Great Robberies, by Tom Fox. My long-time friend Karen Fox recently sent me this lovely photo, above, of Amelia Greenleaf, the then-widow of billiard champion Ralph Greenleaf, chatting with Karen’s late husband, Tom Fox. Greenleaf is remembered now as one of the very best pool players in American history. Tom was a successful newspaper columnist and the co-author of...
Alfredo de Oro: Pool Great Overshadowed by Greenleaf

Alfredo de Oro: Pool Great Overshadowed by Greenleaf

by | Feb 26, 2019 | Alfredo De Oro, Ralph Greenleaf

If you’ve been following along lately, you know we’ve had on-gain off-again discussions here about the greatest pool players in American history. Several months ago we conducted a poll on the issue.  Willie Mosconi and Ralph Greenleaf received the most votes, which prompted a run-off. The voting is still open on the question. You can find the ballot on the panel at right. But...
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, Erwin Rudolf met Ralph Greenleaf in New York City to determine the nation’s next pocket billiards champion. Greenleaf had held the title nearly uninterrupted for the previous eight years, having relinquished it only once (in 1925) to Frank Taberski. But 1927 was not to be Greenleaf’s year. Erwin Rudolph came from behind to take the last block of the three-block match by 170 to...