50 greatest of all time

50 greatest players? Greatest at what games? I certainly don't disagree that all the players on Billiards Digest list are deserving to be on a list and even The Hall Of Fame.
I asked my good friend Nick Varner about this list one time.
Nicks answer was I was ranked where? He said well Bobby obviously it wasn't professional players that voted.Nick said the top pros in the world would be the best people to vote on such a list and it should be broken into groups by specific games or an all around.
 
It will never be agreed on who is the greatest of all time.
But if my life were on the line for a game of pool would pick Luther Lasitter to play for me.The man was rock solid under pressure. And could be put in the argument of the greatest of all time.
 
Greenleaf is first overall on any list imo, with Harold Worst second. Where is Parica? He is one of the all time greats for sure! Mosconi second in 14.1 with Lassister, Mizerak and Sigel just behind. Efren and Ronnie are first in One Pocket. Lassiter tops the list in 9-Ball, with Buddy and Shane second. Shane first in Ten Ball of course (only Parica could have beaten him). Playing alternate break I like Alex and Francisco against Shane.

Taylor is far and away best in Banks and Sang Lee ruled Three Cushions in the USA. But Ceuelmans was the best ever, with Hoppe and Blomdahl second. The five greatest cue artists of all time imo are Greenleaf, Worst, Parica, Efren and Ceuelmans. Strickland was the best tournament 9-Ball player with Sigel a close second. Buddy Hall was the best ever on a bar box.
 
Last edited:
Here are some names not on OP's list that I feel warrant consideration:

Billy Burge "Cornbread Red"
Melvin "Strawberry" Brooks
Cecil Tugwell
Vernon Elliott
Ronnie Allen
Jose Parica
Grady Mathews
Ed Kelly
Nick Varner
Cliff Joyner
Scott Frost
Earl Strickland
Shane Van Boening
Corey Deuel

Regards,

Lesh
 
jay helfert said:
Greenleaf is first overall on any list imo, with Harold Worst second. Where is Parica? He is one of the all time greats for sure! Mosconi second in 14.1 with Lassister, Mizerak and Sigel just behind. Efren and Ronnie are first in One Pocket. Lassiter tops the list in 9-Ball, with Buddy and Shane second. Shane first in Ten Ball of course (only Parica could have beaten him). Playing alternate break I like Alex and Francisco against Shane.

Taylor is far and away best in Banks and Sang Lee ruled Three Cushions in the USA. But Ceuelmans was the best ever, with Hoppe and Blomdahl second. The five greatest cue artists of all time imo are Greenleaf, Worst, Parica, Efren and Ceuelmans. Strickland was the best tournament 9-Ball player with Sigel a close second. Buddy Hall was the best ever on a bar box.
Click to expand...

I suppose you saw all the above play except possibly Greenleaf.If you never saw him play how do you put him first?
 
measureman said:
I suppose you saw all the above play except possibly Greenleaf.If you never saw him play how do you put him first?
Click to expand...

By reputation. When I was a kid, all the old timers were still talking about how great Greenleaf was. They didn't mention Mosconi in the same breath.
Greenleaf won multiple world titles when you had to play a long round robin event, not just a single challenge match, as many of Mosconi's "world titles" were won at.
 
jay helfert said:
Thank you, I had it right but changed it. :smile:
Click to expand...

I'm thinking the original list was limited to Americans maybe? Which would explain how Sang Lee (did he have citizenship here?) appears at 11 and Ceulemans nowhere to be seen?

Either that or its just a bogus list.

Also wondering where Cornbread fits in with Dot Wise at 46.
 
Last edited:
jay helfert said:
By reputation. When I was a kid, all the old timers were still talking about how great Greenleaf was. They didn't mention Mosconi in the same breath.
Greenleaf won multiple world titles when you had to play a long round robin event, not just a single challenge match, as many of Mosconi's "world titles" were won at.
Click to expand...

Fair enough.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top