Patcheye

I played him a few times in the past 5 years, when he was in his 70's. He was the best one pocket player by far I ever played. Unbelievable what he did with the cueball. He played A level up until about 2 years ago. Of course he was TOP pro level in his prime. He has diminished since 2 years ago due to a stroke and older age.
 
By the way, I really enjoyed reading his interview. It seemed like he conducted himself like a gentleman at all times, and this rubbed off on some of the douchebags he met in his era.
 
Ken_4fun said:
Is anyone familiar with a old time pool player known as patcheye?

Ken
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Possibly the best player with one eye, ever

And yes he plays or played top notch one pocket

A complete gentleman as well. Didn't like to lose but who does ...
 
I met Mr. Basheer about 10 or 12 years ago. He stayed around the poolroom for about a week. As I remember, he beat everyone he played but 1 young guy, who was capable on a given day of beating anyone.
He knew George Rood from the old days and they talked a while and since I was a friend of George he introduced me to Patch.
I have always taken pictures of top players and I asked Patch if I could take his.
He said he didn't like to have his picture taken and I respected his wishes.
During the week I got to talk to him many times and even play a few games of 1 Pocket.
He made combinations as well or better than anyone I ever watched and his safeties were brutal.
At the end of the week he allowed me to take pictures of him when I took them of other people as long as he didn't see me doing it.
He had told me the Ted Elias story and George told me Ted was one of the best non titled players he ever played. Patch was also a high level straight pool player.
 
Ken_4fun said:
Is anyone familiar with a old time pool player known as patcheye?

Ken
Click to expand...

I met Patcheye about 12 years ago in Charlotte. He would make rounds from Charlotte, North Carolina to Louisville, Kentucky where he had family. He would even make occasional stops in the bowling alley and play a fellow that used to live here but not anymore. I will tell you more about my conversations with him next time I see you.

I have heard he was still living but also heard he had passed. Does anybody know for certain?
 
Pure class act

I just read the interview with Patch on Onepocket.org for the first time. For some reason I didnt even know it was on there. I played Patch many times in Bensingers back in the 70s. A total class act. Lotta heart and little fear. One of the few road players that would jump up and play on the 5 x 10s in Bensingers.

Steve Booth said Patch converted to Islam in the 50s, but when I first met Patch around 1970 he was known as Henry. I remember that well, because when we played again a few years later he told me he had changed his name to Jaffar. Perfect gentleman to play with, unlike me.

We are good friends to this day and I always get a kick out of seeing him again.
Deserves Onepocket Hall of Fame status, but it probably wont happen because he was so low key. Just like Kilroy Kosmanski, he wouldnt let anybody take his picture.

As far as I know he is still kickin'.

Beard
 
rossaroni said:
By the way, I really enjoyed reading his interview. It seemed like he conducted himself like a gentleman at all times, and this rubbed off on some of the douchebags he met in his era.
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I did the interview, and I have to say, I was really more impressed with Patcheye's character, than any other player I have ever interviewed. I think this is my favorite interview for that reason. Someone like him makes me feel good about Pool.

My own son was just starting college when I did this interview, and I remember clearly realizing suddenly how Patcheye's example of bringing his sense of values with him into the poolroom was something that I should try to communicate with my son -- you do not need to check your values at the door when you go in somewhere rich with temptation...
 
A great player and a gentleman.

I played him on his home court in Louisville many years ago.
We broke even playing 9-ball. He would not play me 1-pocket at that time. I think his 1-pocket improved later.

Bill Stroud
 
He moves like a ghost!!...
...ESPECIALLY when he's sneaking a smoke inside a non smoking room cause he doesn't want to leave the table or post cash unattended.

Now THAT is some funny stuff to watch.:D
 
I know that he used to hang out at the Park Moor bowling alley many, many years ago. They had some 5X10s he played allot of one pocket for $100.00 a game. This was in Louisville, Ky. about 50 years ago. I was 16 at the time. The man was so polite an seemed so kind as he keep putting money in his pocket. You knew you were watching some one special. :smile:
 
The night before the world trade center ordeal years back I was staking my lil buddy Gary Abood against old patcheye @ Two sisters billiards in Slidell Louisiana...We had got a bad line from the lil guy Jason that use to own Neon Palace in Mobile that Patch moved good but couldnt shoot straight & we should go play him cuz the owner who was a millionare was staking him against anybody that comes through the door...We get there and right away we get in the box with him for $100 a game..Gary was stalling a lil cuz we was gonna try get the owner to bet more..Frankie would come sweat a few games then leave for hours so we kinda didnt know what the move was..well it was obvious at this point that we got a bad line cuz old patch was firing them in the hole...After about 9 to 10 hours Gary was like 5 games loser & wasn't on his game...1 time Gary came up to me kinda freaked out & says...Man !!!! The old guy was racking the balls and had his glasses & patch off & his eye was oozing !! I said come on ...dont worry bout that just play..Gary goes down another game I tell him..Look Gary...I'm gonna pull up....you just dont have it tonight..Gary said..plz dont quit me..give me 2 more barrels...I say ok...He proceeds to get the 6 games back plus 6 & patch quits...little did we know before hand that Frankie gave him $500 to win or lose with so we were never in a position to win more than what we did & it took 20 hours..We got aired 1 game but we called Frankie & said we would cover the table time with it..And when I say Gary was on the stall...It wasn't like laying a lemon...He wasnt stalling much & it took a a good reality shake for him to get back in stroke...Patch was a true gentleman & never tried no moves & was a pleasure to gamble with...We soon realized that Jason had sent us there to gauge Gary's game & Patch shot way better than Jr Moore who Jason said he played like.:smile:
 
billy said:
Possibly the best player with one eye, ever


QUOTE]


Don't know about that. Tiajuana Joe, or some call him Mexican Joe, traveled and hustled with a one-eyed pool player, whose name I do not know. All I know is that 30 years or so ago he came to Roanoke to the New Wood and huslted everyone in a ring 9 ball game, as did Mexican Joe. Joe ran 13 racks of 9 ball and everyone quit. Two weeks later, one-eyed Jack came in (at least that's what they called him) and he also ran 13 racks of 9 ball in a row, on a bar table.

Thomas Elkins told me (as he was one of the ones who got hustled, along with Red Terry and others) that he couldn't tell which one was better. Joe had perfect postion on every shot and one-eyed Jack made combos, kicks, and banks while never missing.

So there you have it as Paul Harvey used to say.
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Patch Eye

I was at Drexeline Poolroom fooling around with Bob Maidoff playing Onepocket about a year ago.I saw Patch Eye watching us .I remembered him hanging at Bennies poolroom for about a year and never playing anybody in the 70's.I was told how great a onepocket player he was.He was very quiet and just sat around just enjoying watching people play.Never saw him gamble or play.
 
whitewolf said:
billy said:
Possibly the best player with one eye, ever


QUOTE]


Don't know about that. Tiajuana Joe, or some call him Mexican Joe, traveled and hustled with a one-eyed pool player, whose name I do not know. All I know is that 30 years or so ago he came to Roanoke to the New Wood and huslted everyone in a ring 9 ball game, as did Mexican Joe. Joe ran 13 racks of 9 ball and everyone quit. Two weeks later, one-eyed Jack came in (at least that's what they called him) and he also ran 13 racks of 9 ball in a row, on a bar table.

Thomas Elkins told me (as he was one of the ones who got hustled, along with Red Terry and others) that he couldn't tell which one was better. Joe had perfect postion on every shot and one-eyed Jack made combos, kicks, and banks while never missing.

So there you have it as Paul Harvey used to say.
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Certainly stand corrected

Should have said 'possibly the best one pocket player with one eye, ever'
Click to expand...
 
The best one eyed player I ever saw was "One Eyed Tony" Howard, out of Detroit. He was a monster who played all the top players even. I think he died in a car wreck about twenty five years ago. Second best was Tom Brown from Florida who only died a few years ago. He ran around with John Ditoro for years and was the better player of the twosome. Tijuana Joe was another good one, especially on the bar boxes, and so was Vera Cruz, who still plays today (he is mainly a bar hustler). Andy Scott, out of Phoenix, was another strong one eyed player.

I first saw Patcheye play in Dayton in the 60's. He was playing One Pocket with Pete Glenn, a great hustler of that era. Patcheye didn't take on the Jaffar Basheer moniker until the 70's, when the Muslim thing was in vogue with black athletes (Kareem, Ali and the like). Patcheye is one of the rare breed who made his living exclusively from playing pool (gambling) all his life. I never saw him play any game but One Pocket, but he played at a very high level. Probably a ball under the champions like Kelly, Taylor and both Reds. I don't think Patcheye would mess with guys like that even. In fact, I'm sure of it. He picked his spots pretty good. He had too, or he would go broke.
 
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