Best Black Players Of All Time

ghost ball

justnum survivor
Silver Member
What about Billy Palmer? Maybe not THE best, but the guy was a monster player back in the 90's.
 
I don't understand the difference between a great white player and a great black player. Why a seperate list? Just curious.

BVal
You are right from the viewpoint of a great player simply being great but this thread is necessary. There was a period of time when African Americans weren’t allowed to play in many tournaments and we weren’t allowed in some pool halls. Our history and influence in billiards has been muted.

I challenge you outside of post like this to find me history on 10 influences African Americans have had in billiards.
 

inside_english

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
1. JAMES EVANS !!!!! One of the best pool players that ever lived. PERIOD!

Then "Youngblood" Washington, Cisero Murphy, Marvin Henderson, Bugs Rucker and John "Cannonball" Chapman. These were the great ones.

Honorable Mention - Cliff Joyner, a young Cecil Tugwell, Mark Tadd, Black Nate, Strawberry and Gabby. These were the very good ones.

Sorry, I left off Robert "Rags" Woods. He should be on this list. At the top of the honorable mentions with Cliff.
James Evans was also excellent in Good Times. (Sorry Jay).
 

bbb

AzB Gold Member
Gold Member
Silver Member
Where would new york slim be on a list especially in one pocket?
 

R2PQZ

Active member
I know their was a thread similar to this once before;I just thought I'd add my 2 cents..

Btw,these guys are the best I have seen with my own two eyes..I've heard about Marvin Henderson,Youngblood,Cannonball etc..but I can't include them because I have never seen any of them play..So with that in mind here goes!

1.Bugs Rucker--without a doubt! One of the most feared money-players of all time ..Black or white! ..He played super strong and left many a talented pool player busted and disgusted.I watched him play many times and I found it strange that he'd shoot with his chalk still in his hand (left hand)..Bugs is a leftie..One of the greatest players to ever pick up a cue.

2.Mark Tadd--Maybe the most talented black player I have ever seen..It's too bad (for pool) that he quit in his prime..he was fearless!

3.Cliff Joyner--Cliff may be one of the top 10 best over-all players in the world today..he plays all games at a high level but most notably One-Pocket..He is considered the second best in the world in 1P.

4.Gabby--I never knew his real name..but I knew that he shot straighter than Wyatt Earp! It's a shame, what happened to him..I wish I had his talent..Gabby could REALLY play! R.I.P.

5.Cecil Tugwell--I saw Cecil play in the late 80's early 90's 1P in Cali and man........He was something else! Cecil was a character but could play with anybody in those days..I heard he has fallen on hard times over the past 15 years or so..

6.Strawberry Brooks--I honestly thought strawberry played better 1hole than Cecil but I think Cecil is the better Over-all player..Strawberry is a legend in Baltimore and in Philly..

7.Bus-driver Ronnie from D.C.--Plays really good speed..strong player..capable of putting multiple racks together.

8.Patch Eye Basheer--Moves like a ghost..He can frustrate his opponent like no other..patch-eye will have you talking to yourself!

9.Joey Barnes--Dallas Player..plays pretty sporty but can be very treacherous..can get out from anywhere..

10.Eddie Brown--Call me a homer if you want to but for years this guy was the strongest player in the state of Louisiana;save for maybe Scotty..But Eddie has beaten Reed Pierce when Reed was in his prime(taking the seven) Grady Mathews,Ronnie Wiseman,and the list goes on and on..
He was never a champion;but in his prime,he played the eight under a champion..

Hon.mention:1)Ace Brown from Utah--Super strong player that no one knows anything about outside of Utah 'cause he does'nt like to travel..I could sneak Ace in several rooms and literally clean up! Ace is a monster!
2)Ike Runnels from Chicago--Solid player,plays all games good..He may have a stronger game than a few of the players on my list but because I have'nt seen too much of him I must put him in the H.M.
Melvin West aka California Red when in Seattle. Aka Sputnik when in California. One pocket specialist.
 

Bigkat

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I saw a YouTube video of an older black guy, who was probably 75 years old about 5 years ago, he said " Yall know Cole Dixon? They said"Yes", he said "He NEVER beat me!! They flew him all the way out here to California just to lose" 😂😂💪🏾
 

Bigkat

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
💡💡
Monster John (Florida)
Melvin Strawberry Brooks (DC) "Moves better than just about anyone today in One Pocket"
 

Bigkat

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
💰💰Cliff Joyner of course was the best One Pocket player, even playing Efren Reyes even!! 💪🏾
 

maha

from way back when
Silver Member
rotation slim, before most here were born

and country from new york ,,, was the best black and maybe best all time hustler that ever was especially at 8 ball..
 

jay helfert

Shoot Pool, not people
Gold Member
Silver Member
I saw a YouTube video of an older black guy, who was probably 75 years old about 5 years ago, he said " Yall know Cole Dixon? They said"Yes", he said "He NEVER beat me!! They flew him all the way out here to California just to lose" 😂😂💪🏾
Interesting quote since Cole lived in California. He didn't have to fly very far! There were a couple of great black players in L.A. who would have been a tough match for a young Cole in One Pocket, and possibly even a little better than him back then. One was California Shorty and the other was called Texas Shorty or Crippled Shorty (he had a limp). They were top speed One Pocket players in the 1960's and 70's. I never saw a white player beat either one at One Pocket and Cal Shorty was considered the best black One Pocket player on the West Coast back then, better even then Rags at that game. Black Nate was a great player as well, maybe the second best of the bunch. The California Red referred to above may have also been the notorious Rush Out Red, a very strong hustler, who I played twice. He beat me playing 9-Ball and I beat him at Banks and we never played again, but stayed on good terms for decades after that.
 

jay helfert

Shoot Pool, not people
Gold Member
Silver Member
rotation slim, before most here were born

and country from new york ,,, was the best black and maybe best all time hustler that ever was especially at 8 ball..
Country was right up there with Frisco Jack as the best pure pool hustlers in the entire country.
 

Brookeland Bill

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I know their was a thread similar to this once before;I just thought I'd add my 2 cents..

Btw,these guys are the best I have seen with my own two eyes..I've heard about Marvin Henderson,Youngblood,Cannonball etc..but I can't include them because I have never seen any of them play..So with that in mind here goes!

1.Bugs Rucker--without a doubt! One of the most feared money-players of all time ..Black or white! ..He played super strong and left many a talented pool player busted and disgusted.I watched him play many times and I found it strange that he'd shoot with his chalk still in his hand (left hand)..Bugs is a leftie..One of the greatest players to ever pick up a cue.

2.Mark Tadd--Maybe the most talented black player I have ever seen..It's too bad (for pool) that he quit in his prime..he was fearless!

3.Cliff Joyner--Cliff may be one of the top 10 best over-all players in the world today..he plays all games at a high level but most notably One-Pocket..He is considered the second best in the world in 1P.

4.Gabby--I never knew his real name..but I knew that he shot straighter than Wyatt Earp! It's a shame, what happened to him..I wish I had his talent..Gabby could REALLY play! R.I.P.

5.Cecil Tugwell--I saw Cecil play in the late 80's early 90's 1P in Cali and man........He was something else! Cecil was a character but could play with anybody in those days..I heard he has fallen on hard times over the past 15 years or so..

6.Strawberry Brooks--I honestly thought strawberry played better 1hole than Cecil but I think Cecil is the better Over-all player..Strawberry is a legend in Baltimore and in Philly..

7.Bus-driver Ronnie from D.C.--Plays really good speed..strong player..capable of putting multiple racks together.

8.Patch Eye Basheer--Moves like a ghost..He can frustrate his opponent like no other..patch-eye will have you talking to yourself!

9.Joey Barnes--Dallas Player..plays pretty sporty but can be very treacherous..can get out from anywhere..

10.Eddie Brown--Call me a homer if you want to but for years this guy was the strongest player in the state of Louisiana;save for maybe Scotty..But Eddie has beaten Reed Pierce when Reed was in his prime(taking the seven) Grady Mathews,Ronnie Wiseman,and the list goes on and on..
He was never a champion;but in his prime,he played the eight under a champion..

Hon.mention:1)Ace Brown from Utah--Super strong player that no one knows anything about outside of Utah 'cause he does'nt like to travel..I could sneak Ace in several rooms and literally clean up! Ace is a monster!
2)Ike Runnels from Chicago--Solid player,plays all games good..He may have a stronger game than a few of the players on my list but because I have'nt seen too much of him I must put him in the H.M.
Gabby…in the early afternoon I’m watching him play at a room on Westheimer in Houston. That evening on the six o’clock news there’s a mug shot of him where he was arrested for mugging women for their money and jewellery. I couldn’t believe it.
 

jay helfert

Shoot Pool, not people
Gold Member
Silver Member
Gabby…in the early afternoon I’m watching him play at a room on Westheimer in Houston. That evening on the six o’clock news there’s a mug shot of him where he was arrested for mugging women for their money and jewellery. I couldn’t believe it.
He did serious time over that, something like 20+ years!
 

Baby Huey

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
OK a few black players not mentioned that deserve some credit are:
Peter Gunn - you don't have to like playing him any game
Doc White - bar table specialist
Philadelphia Nate - played great, quit to hustle golf and did very well
Go Away Kid - Johnny ?? San Francisco player who played all games well. He and Ronnie Allen tangled a lot up there in the 60's.
Kansas City Shorty - in his prime late 50's could bring it playing all comers one pocket. never learned his name.
 

bbb

AzB Gold Member
Gold Member
Silver Member
Gabby…in the early afternoon I’m watching him play at a room on Westheimer in Houston. That evening on the six o’clock news there’s a mug shot of him where he was arrested for mugging women for their money and jewellery. I couldn’t believe it.
He did serious time over that, something like 20+ years!
he played last year in the bogies senior onepocket tournament
played real well dont recall where he finished
he is playing this year too
 
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