History: 1975 US Open

Bob Jewett · Apr 2, 2007

The younger participants here might be interested in how 14.1 tournaments used to be organized and the general level of play. I just scanned the 1977 rule book and it has some detailed stats and other info. Here are the 28(?) qualifying tournaments that were held to determine the 32-man field for the men's division in 1975. -- Bob

1975 U.S. OPEN QUALIFYING TOURNAMENTS Men's Division
Aug. 31-Sept. 2, 1974 Labor Day Open, Velvet Rail Billiards, Lansing, Michigan. Winner: Dan Louie.
Oct. 25-27, 1974 Trenton's 1st Regional Pocket Billiard Tournament, Civic Center, Trenton, New Jersey. Winner: Paul Schofield.
Nov. 14-24, 1974 Hi-Cue Qualifier 1, Hi-Cue Billiard Lounge, Elizabeth, New Jersey. Winner: Pete Margo.
December, 1974 Japanese National Championships, Tokyo, Japan. Winner: Masaru Hatani.
Dec. 13-15, 1974 New Jersey State Championship, Hi-Cue Billiard Lounge, Elizabeth, New Jersey. Winner: Allen Hopkins.
Jan. 20-Mar. 15, 1975 Eastern United States Championship, Rack 'em Up Billiards, Richmond Hill, New York. Winner: Ernie Costa.
March 7-9, 1975 Alaska State Championship, Crown Cue, Anchorage, Alaska. Winner: John Duclos.
March 11-14, 1975 American College Unions—International, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland. Winner: Robert Jewett.
March 29-31, 1975 Missouri State Tournament, Columbia Billiard Center, Columbia, Missouri. Winner: Steve Cook.
April 4-6, 1975 Chicago Open, Corner Pocket Billiards, Chicago, Illinois. Winner: Dallas West.
April 5-6, 1975 BCA's New England Championship, Cue & Billiard Lounge, Salem, Massachusetts. Winner: Roger Boucher.
April 11-13, 1975 1975 BCA Empire State Open, Rack 'em Up, Inc., Richmond Hill, New York. Winner: Steve Mizerak.
April 18-26, 1975 Hi-Q 1975 U.S. Masters Classic, Hi-Q Billiard Lounge, Toledo, Ohio. Winner: Larry Lisciotti.
May 2-4, 1975 — 10th Annual Midwest Open, State & Madison Recreation, Rockford, Illinois. Winner: Lou Butera.
May 2-4, 1975 — Hi-Cue Qualifier 2, Hi-Cue Billiard Lounge, Elizabeth, New Jersey. Winner: Jack Colavita.
May 9-11, 1975 — BCA New England Men's Open, Gold Crown Billiards, New London, Connecticut. Winner: Max Klindtwort.
May 16-18, 1975 — Hall of Fame Billiard Lounge Open, Hall of Fame Billiard Lounge, Lansing, Michigan. Winner: Ray Martin.
May 23-26, 1975 — Billiard News National Open, Cushion ln' Cue, Livonia, Michigan. Winner: Richie Florence.
May 30-June 1, 1975 — Hi-Cue Masters, Hi-Cue Billiard Lounge, Elizabeth, New Jersey. Winner: Ernie Lager.
June 6-8, 1975 — Family Billiards BCA June Open Qualifier, Family Billiards, Scarborough, Maine. Winner: Tom Jennings.
June 7-8, 1975 — German National Championships, Verband Deutschen Billiard, Cologne, Germany. Winner: Udo Moers.
June 14-15, 1975 — Cue & Billiard BCA Open, Cue & Billiard Lounge, Salem, Massachusetts. Winner: Herb Lehmann.
June 18-22, 1975 — California Straight Pool Open, Jointed Cue Billiards, Sacramento, California. Winner: Cisero Murphy.
June 21-22, 1975 — National Junior Championships. Velvet Rail Billiards, Lansing, Michigan. Winner: Mark Beilfuss. Hi-Cue Billiard Lounge, Elizabeth, New Jersey. Winner: Brian Asch. Qualifier: Mark Beilfuss.
June 23-25, 1975 — 4th Annual Mississippi State Championship, Ken's Ball & Cue, Gulfport, Mississippi. Winner: Robert Vanover.
June 27-29, 1975 — BCA's Family Billiards Maine Open, Family Billiards, Scarborough, Maine. Winner: Pat Fleming.
June 27-29, 1975 — Southwest Regional BCA Qualifier, Albert Pick Motor Inn, Houston, Texas. Winner: Richard Lane.
July 4-6, 1976 — Capital City Men's Open, Velvet Rail Billiards, Lansing, Michigan. Winner: Tom Spencer.

Steve Lipsky · Apr 2, 2007

Bob Jewett said:
The younger participants here might be interested in how 14.1 tournaments used to be organized and the general level of play. I just scanned the 1977 rule book and it has some detailed stats and other info. Here are the 28(?) qualifying tournaments that were held to determine the 32-man field for the men's division in 1975. -- Bob

1975 U.S. OPEN QUALIFYING TOURNAMENTS Men's Division
Aug. 31-Sept. 2, 1974 Labor Day Open, Velvet Rail Billiards, Lansing, Michigan. Winner: Dan Louie.
Oct. 25-27, 1974 Trenton's 1st Regional Pocket Billiard Tournament, Civic Center, Trenton, New Jersey. Winner: Paul Schofield.
Nov. 14-24, 1974 Hi-Cue Qualifier 1, Hi-Cue Billiard Lounge, Elizabeth, New Jersey. Winner: Pete Margo.
December, 1974 Japanese National Championships, Tokyo, Japan. Winner: Masaru Hatani.
Dec. 13-15, 1974 New Jersey State Championship, Hi-Cue Billiard Lounge, Elizabeth, New Jersey. Winner: Allen Hopkins.
Jan. 20-Mar. 15, 1975 Eastern United States Championship, Rack 'em Up Billiards, Richmond Hill, New York. Winner: Ernie Costa.
March 7-9, 1975 Alaska State Championship, Crown Cue, Anchorage, Alaska. Winner: John Duclos.
March 11-14, 1975 American College Unions—International, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland. Winner: Robert Jewett.
March 29-31, 1975 Missouri State Tournament, Columbia Billiard Center, Columbia, Missouri. Winner: Steve Cook.
April 4-6, 1975 Chicago Open, Corner Pocket Billiards, Chicago, Illinois. Winner: Dallas West.
April 5-6, 1975 BCA's New England Championship, Cue & Billiard Lounge, Salem, Massachusetts. Winner: Roger Boucher.
April 11-13, 1975 1975 BCA Empire State Open, Rack 'em Up, Inc., Richmond Hill, New York. Winner: Steve Mizerak.
April 18-26, 1975 Hi-Q 1975 U.S. Masters Classic, Hi-Q Billiard Lounge, Toledo, Ohio. Winner: Larry Lisciotti.
May 2-4, 1975 — 10th Annual Midwest Open, State & Madison Recreation, Rockford, Illinois. Winner: Lou Butera.
May 2-4, 1975 — Hi-Cue Qualifier 2, Hi-Cue Billiard Lounge, Elizabeth, New Jersey. Winner: Jack Colavita.
May 9-11, 1975 — BCA New England Men's Open, Gold Crown Billiards, New London, Connecticut. Winner: Max Klindtwort.
May 16-18, 1975 — Hall of Fame Billiard Lounge Open, Hall of Fame Billiard Lounge, Lansing, Michigan. Winner: Ray Martin.
May 23-26, 1975 — Billiard News National Open, Cushion ln' Cue, Livonia, Michigan. Winner: Richie Florence.
May 30-June 1, 1975 — Hi-Cue Masters, Hi-Cue Billiard Lounge, Elizabeth, New Jersey. Winner: Ernie Lager.
June 6-8, 1975 — Family Billiards BCA June Open Qualifier, Family Billiards, Scarborough, Maine. Winner: Tom Jennings.
June 7-8, 1975 — German National Championships, Verband Deutschen Billiard, Cologne, Germany. Winner: Udo Moers.
June 14-15, 1975 — Cue & Billiard BCA Open, Cue & Billiard Lounge, Salem, Massachusetts. Winner: Herb Lehmann.
June 18-22, 1975 — California Straight Pool Open, Jointed Cue Billiards, Sacramento, California. Winner: Cisero Murphy.
June 21-22, 1975 — National Junior Championships. Velvet Rail Billiards, Lansing, Michigan. Winner: Mark Beilfuss. Hi-Cue Billiard Lounge, Elizabeth, New Jersey. Winner: Brian Asch. Qualifier: Mark Beilfuss.
June 23-25, 1975 — 4th Annual Mississippi State Championship, Ken's Ball & Cue, Gulfport, Mississippi. Winner: Robert Vanover.
June 27-29, 1975 — BCA's Family Billiards Maine Open, Family Billiards, Scarborough, Maine. Winner: Pat Fleming.
June 27-29, 1975 — Southwest Regional BCA Qualifier, Albert Pick Motor Inn, Houston, Texas. Winner: Richard Lane.
July 4-6, 1976 — Capital City Men's Open, Velvet Rail Billiards, Lansing, Michigan. Winner: Tom Spencer.

You're in some pretty great company, sir! Way to go Bob.

- Steve

Bob Jewett · Apr 2, 2007

Steve Lipsky said:
You're in some pretty great company, sir! Way to go Bob.

- Steve

Well, wait until I post the results. I did finish in the money. I had the good fortune of drawing Dallas West in the first round. He won the tournament.

rikdee · Apr 2, 2007

Mark Beilfuss, now there was straight pool machine. For such a young guy, it was amazing to watch him at work. Saw him play many a time at the Velvet Rail.

Bob Jewett · Apr 2, 2007

Bob Jewett said:
Well, wait until I post the results. ...

Unfortunately, I haven't figured out a way to deal with tables, so I put in a lot of dots to keep the spacing more or less correct. If a fixed-width font available that actually works?

I suppose I could be proud to finish above all of the Europeans in the tournament. Does anyone know of the history of the German entrant? As I recall from the tournament, he was primarily an 8-ball player and was unfamiliar with safety play. -- Bob

1975 U.S. OPEN QUALIFERS Men's Division

Standing..........Player............Average Balls.... Prize
....................................Per Inning........Money

1................ Dallas West...... 8.19..............$10,000
2................ Pete Margo........8.86..............5,000
3................ Steve Mizerak.... 15.26............ 2,200
4................ Ray Martin........6.66..............2,000
5................ Allan Hopkins.... 7.26..............1,400
6................ Irving Crane......4.88..............1,400
7................ Lou Butera........10.40............ 1,000
8................ Luther Lassiter.. 5.64..............1,000
9................ Mark Beilfuss.... 9.75..............700
10............... Dan Louie........ 7.77..............700
11............... Dick Lane........ 7.06..............700
12............... Steve Cook........7.28..............700
13............... Joe Balsis........9.67..............500
14............... Jim Rempe........ 7.82..............500
15............... Richie Florence.. 7.51..............500
16............... Herb Lehman...... 5.01..............500
17............... Pat Fleming...... 7.73..............300
18............... Paul Schofield....7.41..............300
19............... Ernie Lager...... 6.21..............300
20............... Masaru Hanatani.. 5.73..............300
21............... Roger Boucher.... 5.43..............300
22............... Bob Vanover...... 4.33..............300
23............... Jack Colavita.... 4.29..............300
24............... Larry Lisciotti.. 3.69..............300
25............... Tom Spencer...... 6.86..............200
26............... Max Klindtwort....6.43..............200
27............... Tom Jennings......6.28..............200
28............... Cisero Murphy.... 5.26..............200
29............... Ernie Costa...... 4.69..............200
30............... John Duclos...... 3.80..............200
31............... Robert Jewett.... 2.97..............200
32............... Udo Moers........ 1.26..............200

pdcue · Apr 2, 2007

Also not a pool room bum

Bob Jewett said:
Well, wait until I post the results. I did finish in the money. I had the good fortune of drawing Dallas West in the first round. He won the tournament.

Bob,
Some of the younger people likely have not heard of
Tom Jennings, Last I heard he had gotten his PhD in Math
and was teaching Calculus.

Any idea what he is up to these days?

Dale

Bob Jewett · Apr 2, 2007

Bob Jewett said:
Well, wait until I post the results....

I forgot to mention that the high run in the men's division was 139 by Steve Mizerak.

And here are the women's results. -- Bob

Women's Division

1....Jean Balukas.........3.54...$ 3,150
2....Mieko Harada.........2.58.....1,500
3....Gerry Titcomb........2.14.......800
4....Becky Brown..........1.81.......800
5....Palmer Byrd..........2.14.......600
6....Sheila Bohm..........1.77.......600
7....Sandy Patarino.......1.81.......400
8....Marcia Girolamo..... 1.75.......400
9....Gail Breedlove.......2.55.......250
10...Madelyn Whitlow..... 2.48.......250
11...Gloria Walker........1.76.......250
12...Pat Thornton.........1.57.......250
13...Bonnie Gums..........1.55.......150
14...Anne Mayes...........1.50.......150
15...Debbie Bloss.........1.32.......150
16...Lee Boyar............1.30.......150

High Run: Jean Balukas 39

Bob Jewett · Apr 2, 2007

pdcue said:
... Any idea what he is up to these days?

Dale

I think SJM reported that he is still teaching.

About the prize fund. The total was $42k in 1975 dollars which would be $160,000 in today's dollars. Dallas West got about $38,000 (2007 dollars) for the win.

Steve Lipsky · Apr 2, 2007

Was Gail Breedlove any relation to George Breedlove that you know of? Surely he's not old enough to have been married in 1975, so I'm wondering maybe older sister?

The women's division was races to 100, correct?

Bob, since you included the balls per inning, I'm interested in your take on a way to improve the meaning of this stat. I see no reason to include safety-only innings as part of the cacluation. It makes the balls per inning much less reflective of overall play. I don't think it makes it any more difficult to score because even as it is now you need a dedicated scorekeeper anyway.

In fact, I'm not even sure what the BPI stat is supposed to be telling us, as it is now. Looking down at the top 20 players you've listed, there seems to be no direct relationship between BPI and the place they finished. My hunch is, you remove the safety-only innings, and you'll see a much more linear relationship.

Interested in your thoughts...

- Steve

Craig Fales · Apr 2, 2007

May 16-18, 1975 — Hall of Fame Billiard Lounge Open, Hall of Fame Billiard Lounge, Lansing, Michigan. Winner: Ray Martin.
I used to love to play there...too bad the place closed...

Bob Jewett · Apr 2, 2007

> Was Gail Breedlove any relation to

As I foggily recall, Gail was black.

> The women's division was races to 100, correct?

I think they were 75. That's what they were five years later in the WC 14.1.

> Bob, since you included the balls per inning, I'm interested in your take on a
> way to improve the meaning of this stat. I see no reason to include safety-only
> innings as part of the cacluation.

Well, some leagues don't include safe innings as part of their handicapping calculations. There are all sorts of problems if you exclude some innings and not others. BPI has always included safes.

> Looking down at the top 20 players you've listed, there seems to be no direct
> relationship between BPI and the place they finished.

Lassiter had a pretty low BPI. In that tournament he also had a 3.5-hour game with Dick Lane in which he took three fouls three times. And he ran 103. So, BPI is not a perfect indicator but I think it is still useful.

In the National Collegiate Championships in 1973, only the top half of Regional winners were invited to the Nationals, based on BPI. I doubt that I played more than ten safes in the Regionals.

sjm · Apr 2, 2007

Bob Jewett said:
I think SJM reported that he is still teaching.

About the prize fund. The total was $42k in 1975 dollars which would be $160,000 in today's dollars. Dallas West got about $38,000 (2007 dollars) for the win.

How many people realize that six of the eight US Open straight pool events contested from 1970-1977 were won by New Jersey educators?

Steve Mizerak, winner in 1970, 1971, 1972, and 1973 was a seventh grade English teacher in Edison New Jersey.

Tom Jennings, whom I have heard nothing of for many years, won in 1976 and 1977, while he was a math professor at Middlesex County College in New Jersey.

The message is clear:

If you want to be a great 14.1 player, you need to become a New Jersey educator.

sjm · Apr 2, 2007

I used to attend many of the qualifiers and the thing that I remember the most is how strong the fields were in the qualifiers. Back then, straight pool was everybody's best game, and it showed.

What I remember very well from the late 1970's is how it became gradually easier to qualify as the process moved forward. Often, incredibly strong players had to wait until "world beaters" like Danny DiLiberto, Allen Hopkins, Ray Martin, Pete Margo, Mike Sigel, Nick Varner,and Jimmy Rempe, won their spots before they could reasonably expect to have a chance to snap off a qualifier. I recall my good friend and straight pool player extraordinaire Jack Colavita had one year in which it took him many, many tries to qualify.

You had to see these qualifiers to believe them. There were 200 ball runners who couldn't win a spot.

Williebetmore · Apr 2, 2007

sjm said:
If you want to be a great 14.1 player, you need to become a New Jersey educator.

sjm,
THANK YOU VERY MUCH!!!!! At least now I realize why all of the practice and lessons have not been effective.....I was just barking up the wrong tree.

Neil · Apr 2, 2007

.................

Gerry · Apr 2, 2007

Hey Bob, you could have finished 2nd in the Womens division!

.....J/K

thanks for the cool info. I too was surprised that the BPI didn't really reflect the winner.

MAN!, I wish I had the chance to be at those events. I guess I got to get my butt playing in the current events so I can talk about them down the road!

Gerry

mjantti · Apr 3, 2007

To put things into perspective in women's division, this years EPC women's division winner Jasmin Ouschan made a break of 75 in the semifinal and a break of 76 in the finals, both were races to 75. If there would be women's 14.1 world championships, I'd put all my money on Jasmin. Don't know her BPI.

My total BPI was 4.8 when I played at the EPC 2 years ago. And boy did I play bad....

But my BPI ranks near Irving Crane's... nice

cmssuits · Apr 4, 2007

^^^^^^

lol, Crane was almost 100 years old by 1975,

....or at least a Senior Citizen

Paul Mon · Apr 4, 2007

Don,
Irving told me himself in about 1996 that he was still a threat to run 60 on the "soft conditions". BTW, he would have been 61 at the time of the 1975 tournament.

Paul Mon

JoeW · Apr 7, 2007

I am a college professor and I teach statistics (among other subjects) so my low average scores must have something to do with being from Ohio. Have to look into moving to NJ.

Now for a stupid question. Is there a particular way in which BPI is calculated? The scores posted seem to be awfully low for professional players. They run ½ a rack and have to play safe? I have never been to a 14.1 tournament so I do not understand what is going on here though I have played 14.1 continuously for over 40 years !

I would assume that BPI is the average number of balls made per inning – seems logical. Even with the break and safes made by the other player it would seem the BPI should be higher – why not?

History: 1975 US Open

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