The Best Ever List of Pool Nicknames

pt109

WO double hemlock
Silver Member
I gotta stick up for some of the guys that DIDN'T gamble here.....
..some were still part of the pool hall culture and endearing.

Socialable Harry
...played at the Congress in Miami when it was a great action place
where Marcel Campe held court in the 60's...when ever some wanted to
just practice they'd tell him to play Harry

Half'a'buck Harold
...from Detroit...Paul Brueloff said they got busted for gambling once....
...the only ones that didn't get charged were Harold and a 13 year old girl
 

Kiwis11

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Some Phoenix, Arizona nicknames not mentioned so far...

San Jose Dick
The Freezer
Cheeseburger
Preacher Ron
Pancake
Uncle Woody
Kiwi
The Rocket
 

CharlesUFarley

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
"Dippy" Dave...or "Viffer"
Earl "The Pearl" Striclkland
Ronnie "Everything's Funny When You're Winning Big Money" Wiseman
Fernando "Razor" Rivas
John "Mr. 400" Schmidt
 

3RAILKICK

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
"Dippy" Dave...or "Viffer"
Earl "The Pearl" Striclkland
Ronnie "Everything's Funny When You're Winning Big Money" Wiseman
Fernando "Razor" Rivas
John "Mr. 400" Schmidt


Nice shout out for the 'Razor'.

Recently, on a live 1P stream from "Red Shoes"-I heard of a guy called 'Watusi'

Some others-from local rooms:

Big D
Little D
Special Ed
Frankenstein
Railroad Jim
One Pocket Willy
 

Red Shoes

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Some of the names from the "Shoes" (Red Shoes Billiards). Mainly Chicago area players...Bump-a-Rail, Chicken Wing (not to be confused with "Light Colored Chicken Wing" who is a different guy), DVD Larry, Scadooby, Santa Claus, Big Head Dave, Walleyed Darryl, Lotto, Smooth Stroke, Mata, Sandman, Blinking Larry, Slow Fred, Nice Dave and Creepy Steve. Now you can take the terms "Big, Little or Skinny" and put them with most of your house players. Not to mention "Occupations" such as "bus driver, pipe fitter, copper or truck driving" etc..etc.. When all else fails you can use vehicles "Pontiac John, Mustang Steve" etc..etc.. Let it be said that there is no end to the "nick names" players have. It just has to "delineate" one player from another generally without using last (or even sometimes first) names. I could give you a jillion more from my room but I have to get to work and get the room clean because I have a noon one pocket game scheduled with "Muscle Fred".
 

richiebalto

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
"Weenie Beenie" Bill Staton was so named because he had several hot dog stands in the D.C. area with the same name. "Cannonball" John Chapman got his name simply because he hit the ball so hard. I never did know how "Strawberry" Melvin Brooks got his name. "Amarillo Slim" T.J. Preston is a long and very lean character and high roller from Amarillo, Texas. Jimmy Moore was dubbed "Cowboy" because of his fondness for Western wear.

I seen strawberry play many times around balto,dc area,i asked someone one time while straw was playing,about the nicname,now this was a very long time ago Jay,and they told me something like this,when Straw was a kid he either loved strawberrys or it mite of been strawberry flavor drinks,iam pretty sure it was the flavored drinks ,is how MR .MELVIN BROOKS recieved his legendary STRAWBERRY nicname! oh man could he play,qball master!
 

dabarbr

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I just happened to think of one that I don't see on the list. Ernest Morgan "one arm bandit". A very treacherous man. When I was in my early twenties he invited me to dine at a local coffee shop. He wanted me to give him the five playing nine ball to set up the rail. I told him that I wanted no part of that. We had dinner and then he ordered coffee. When we went to pay the bill he only payed for the coffee. (like I should be impressed of what he did)

Anyone know him, remember him? How about it Jay H.
 

RackemBilliards

Player, Room Owner
Silver Member
Nicknames

I had a guy in the pool room years ago named 'Royce Myers III', and I called him 'Rolls'. 'Rolls Royce' could barely make a ball, and was kind of goofy, but I always thought it was a cool nickname.
 

Aten

m8
Silver Member
bunch of guys I played with in the past used to call me the Spider because every time I had to use the mechanical for a shot, I was utterly incompetent with the pool one so I always used a spider snooker bridge lol
 

jay helfert

Shoot Pool, not people
Gold Member
Silver Member
I just happened to think of one that I don't see on the list. Ernest Morgan "one arm bandit". A very treacherous man. When I was in my early twenties he invited me to dine at a local coffee shop. He wanted me to give him the five playing nine ball to set up the rail. I told him that I wanted no part of that. We had dinner and then he ordered coffee. When we went to pay the bill he only payed for the coffee. (like I should be impressed of what he did)

Anyone know him, remember him? How about it Jay H.

Of course I knew him! Everyone did, didn't they. He was perhaps one of the best one-armed players of all time, but a complete thief. :D

He was actually a top player on a bar table (no problem reaching shots) and only the best bar table specialists could beat him. He used to travel up and down the West Coast booking exhibitions in bars and poolrooms. He had his own posters made up with all kinds of ballyhoo about him. I believe the cost to book him back then (the 70's) was $75 a night.

We all called him Morgan (just like the pirate of the same name) and stories about his skull duggery were legendary. He never got to me because I wouldn't let him get that close. I knew he was bad news, so I just gave him a free drink and a sandwich and sent him on his way. :smile:
 

Ky Sawdust

New member
After reading David Harcrow's list here are some more Shreveport nicknames...
David, I met you in Guys & Dolls (later Pockets) when Country Calvin was in town once. I always loved Calvin - great player with character too. A fine brother.
I'm the 6'6" redheaded guy that used to spend a lot of time in Guys & Dolls / Pockets.

Little Wayne - Wayne Whitman
Rhinestone - Roger Rogers
Hippie Jimmie - Jimmie Sanders
Friendly Tony - Tony Anthony (RIP)
Dancing Bear - Kenny Parr
Goldfinger - black guy that actually had a hollow gold middle finger molded from his other middle finger. Don't know how he lost the real finger.
Topwater - Gerald Jones
Shady Brady - Brady Brouton
Dr Draw - Wayne Clinton
Knoxville Bear - Eddie Taylor (RIP)

I only knew Topsy as Topsy Marlow (maybe Marla?) - never knew his initials were CJ - anyone know his name? John told me that he got his nickname because he could spin like a top on the dance floor back in his younger days.
 
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MCP

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Names

Tom Crazy Cue Cosmo --- good one pocket and straight pool game
He was a song and dance man that incorporated pool and dance in a show he put on. He also was the scorekeeper in the film the Hustler.

Bruce Superstroke Christopher.
He of the then world record 5000+ Pocketed balls in the early to mid 70s
At the times sq billiard room located broadway 52nd or 53rd st. NYC . Across the street from the Roseland ball room.

I thought I would add a little background with the names since this is a fun thread.
MCP
 

bondsman

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Bob "THE DESTROYER" Myer was one of the best payer ever in NYC
Doc White
Doc Gallagher
Little Frankie
Certainly Bob the Destroyer a player in the league with JerseyRed might make the list.
 

KRJ

Support UKRAINE
Silver Member
My favorites were "Superstitious Alouyisus" Al Miller, "Babyface" Alton Whitlow, "The Velvet Foghorn" Johnny Ervolino, "Kid Delicious" Danny Basavich, "Peter Rabbit" Pete Linhard, "Captain Hook" Mike Sigel, "The Left Duke" Cecil Tugwell, "Rush Out Red" Real name unknown (of course I've only known him 40 years), "Shake 'n Bake" Edgar White, "Detroit Whitey" Ed Beauchene, "Gabby" Larry -- from Texas (he never said a word), "Popcorn" Johnny Miller, "Boston Shorty" Larry Johnson, "Rocketman" Rich Slupik, "Waterdog" Don Edwards. But my favorite also was Cornbread Red!

Was Popcorn from Texas ??
 

SKJoss72

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
didn't read the whole thread... but It appears you forgot Earl "the Pearl" Strickland...
 

bondsman

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Does anybody remember Crazy Rudy fron Phoenix? Black Bart aka Bob Ogburn. 14 Street George = George Mikula was not gambler but a great player.
 
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