by radyer | May 27, 2023 | 1950s Pool, 2000s Pool, Babe Cranfield, Hall of Fame, Historic Players, Pool Records, Willie Mosconi
Willie Mosconi, John Schmidt, Jayson Shaw each locked down records of 500 or more balls. Babe Cranfield claimed what could have been the highest-ever run — but it was never verified. Back in 2010 I received a note from reader Dave Capone, who told me about an...
by radyer | Feb 16, 2020 | 1960s Pool, 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...
by radyer | Nov 6, 2019 | 1960s Pool, Hustler Stories, Minnesota Fats, Willie Mosconi
The catch, however, is that the match was never really played. By Bryan Johnston Ask any pool player what they consider the greatest pool match ever played and you’ll most likely hear Efren Reyes vs. Earl Strickland, June, 1995. Or perhaps Willie Mosconi vs. Rudolph...
by | Aug 25, 2019 | 2000s Pool, Historic Players, Historical Notes, Pool Records, Willie Mosconi
The Billiard Congress of America has recognized John Schmidt’s new straight pool record of 626. Just below is the sanctioning body’s Aug. 15, 2019 press release that makes the record official. The previous record of 526 was set by Willie Mosconi in 1954....
by radyer | Mar 25, 2019 | 1940s Pool, Historic Players, Onofrio Lauri, 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...
by radyer | Jan 14, 2019 | Pool Records, Willie Mosconi
Consider exhibit A, above. It’s a handwritten note in which someone has enumerated 13 pool shots, each of which has been described with just a few words. The unnamed author uses cursive letters that slant off to the right. It also looks like he took his time...
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