Luther Lassiter vs Jack Breit

[sjm]

I actually got to watch Lassiter play once.

He came to Oakland, California, probably mid 70’s with Joe Bslsis, Irving Crane and a fourth champion whom I cannot identify with certainty.

I went with a college buddy ftom USF and found the room in a neighborhood across the Bay ftom SF we did not frequent. They warmed up with each other playing 1pocket and it was basically 8 and out, 8 and out, 8 and out…

No clue how high a level of play I was seeing, they made it look like it was nothing.

Lou Figueroa

Actually, Wimpy competed into the early 1980s, although his prime was from about 1941-67. I saw him play several times in the late 1970s and early 1980s, but sadly I never saw him play anything but straight pool. Many say he was the best nine ball player of his era. I once commented to Nick Varner that Lassiter was known as the straightest shooter of his era and Nick replied that Lassiter may have been the straightest shooter ever.

I wonder if the fourth top player was Lou Butera, surely the best player out of California in the mid-1970s, just about when fellow Californian Keith Macready was starting to make a big name for himself.

 

[Los Gatos Taki]

Not sure this has been posted before. Lassiter vs Breit. Not much video out there on Jack Breit. Also, this one shows Luther playing with that strange black ferrule. Enjoy!

All the best,
WW

Jack Breit vs. Luther Lassiter Las Vegas 4th annual US

This match was the finals of the first pro tournament I ever saw. This was the tournament where Dick Baertsch beat Joe Balsis by a record margin of 150 to minus 13. Here are the results from Charlie Ursitti's records.

View attachment 597302

Many years ago, in my earlier days of playing pool, black ferrules were common in my area. I seemed to remember always having a black ferrule on my cue. Also many house cues had black ferrules, if I remember correctly. Every now and then I have thought of going back to a black ferrule to better see the location of the cue tip against the cue ball.
pocket billiard championship - YouTube

 

[fjk]

I got to watch Luther Lassiter play 9-ball in the mid 80s. He looked much older than he was (tough life) but could still compete. I sat next to him and talked to him some too. Good guy, loved to talk pool.

 

[measureman]

1979 Luther comes in 3rd in the U.S. Open 9 ball at the age of 61.

• $800.00 3rd US Open 9-Ball 1979

How strong is that?

 

[gerryf]

This match was the finals of the first pro tournament I ever saw. This was the tournament where Dick Baertsch beat Joe Balsis by a record margin of 150 to minus 13. Here are the results from Charlie Ursitti's records.

View attachment 597302

I notice that the field is 32. Was that typical of 14.1 U.S. Opens?

 

[Bob Jewett]

I notice that the field is 32. Was that typical of 14.1 U.S. Opens?

That was the field size at the start, I believe. Most of those were from qualifier tournaments like state championships. Later it may have been more.

 

[jay helfert]

That was the field size at the start, I believe. Most of those were from qualifier tournaments like state championships. Later it may have been more.

The first U.S. Open only had sixteen players as I recall.

 

[jay helfert]

Actually, Wimpy competed into the early 1980s, although his prime was from about 1941-67. I saw him play several times in the late 1970s and early 1980s, but sadly I never saw him play anything but straight pool. Many say he was the best nine ball player of his era. I once commented to Nick Varner that Lassiter was known as the straightest shooter of his era and Nick replied that Lassiter may have been the straightest shooter ever.

I wonder if the fourth top player was Lou Butera, surely the best player out of California in the mid-1970s, just about when fellow Californian Keith Macready was starting to make a big name for himself.

Lou was definitely the best Straight Pool player, but Richie Florence was the best 9-Baller. Lou wouldn't play him head up but they did play together in several ring Ten Ball games. Guys like Grady, Ronnie, Jimmy Marino, Jimmy Reid and Bob Osborne also played in those games.

 

[jay helfert]

One memory of Lassiter that is not in any record book is his amazing play at JC in the Straight Pool events there. One year that he won in the early 60's (maybe 1963 or 64), he ran a 90 or more in every match he played and they were only going to125. I watched almost every one of his matches. He just dominated!

 

[sjm]

Lou was definitely the best Straight Pool player, but Richie Florence was the best 9-Baller. Lou wouldn't play him head up but they did play together in several ring Ten Ball games. Guys like Grady, Ronnie, Jimmy Marino, Jimmy Reid and Bob Osborne also played in those games.

Yeah, just like Lassiter, I never saw Richie play anything but straight pool. I like this thread --- it's making me feel young.

 

[Bob Jewett]

The 1967 BCA Rule Book lists the entrants for the first US Open 14.1 which was held in Chicago, June 8-11, 1966. It was won by Crane over Balsis with the 150-and-out run. The rule book lists 21 players who qualified in state-level tournaments and 5 invitees. That would make 26 players which is a strange number. An article in the July 1966 National Billiard News (available to AZ members in the Gold Mine) does not mention any other players so I assume the double-elimination chart had 6 byes. Here's the info:

Interesting to see some of those names. Caras did not finish in the money that year, as he finished 0-2. The NBN article criticizes the BCA for not paying out the advertised $25,000.

 

[Bob Jewett]

The following year the US Open (14.1) men's division was in St. Louis and Caras won by coming through the losers' bracket after losing his first match. As close as I can tell, there were 48 in the field, including 20 qualifiers, 4 invitees and 24 paid entrants. In 1975 there were 32 entrants.