1965 World All Around, Johnson City. Wished I was around back in the 1960s to see them play.
Here you go (L-R) Weenie Beenie, Ronnie Allen, Eddie Taylor, Squirrel, Joe Balsis, Danny Gartner, Irving Crane and Jersey Red. ALL of them looked up to the diminutive Squirrel, who probably could beat any of them at One Pocket for the cash. Back then the only guy considered his equal was Cincinnati Clem who was on vacation at that time (early 60's).
Squirrel liked to keep a low profile and may have only played in the first couple of Johnston City events. He was there for the money, not the trophies. Even Fats showed great respect for Squirrel, who I suspect spanked him at One Pocket, like he did everyone else. One year at DCC I played Harry Platis a 2K Bank Pool match that went down to the last game (Race to Five) and Squirrel sat there and watched the whole thing. The next day he was playing Harry 1K a game One Ball One Pocket! Marshall made a nice score and he was in his 70's then.
One other thing I never forgot. I got in a healthy Hold'em game at DCC and we played in a room at the Executive West. It was a wild 10, 20 and 40 (on the River) game and it cost 500 to sit in. I waited for Scott Smith to leave and I bought all his chips, maybe 600 worth. The guy running the game was supposed to be only taking one $5 chip per hand but I caught him taking two several times. No one seemed to care though. I held my own, winning a little and then this handsome young man came in as a relief dealer. On the very first hand he dealt me A,Q suited on the button. There were raises and re-raises coming to me and I almost threw my hand away. I called $40 and six players took the flop. It came K,J,T in my suit! I had flopped a Royal Flush! There was all kinds of action and I never had to raise until the River. Without going into all the details it was easily over a thousand dollar pot. Thank you dealer!
I found out the next day that was Squirrel's grandson who dealt me my only Royal Flush ever in Hold'em. I had tipped him $10 after the hand but I saw him later that day sweating his grandpa and shook his hand and slipped him another twenty. That one hand paid for my entire trip!
