Very recently, I was visiting charlesursitti.com. In case you have not visited the site yet, the history of all or most of the major pool tournaments from the 1870’s through the 1980’s are listed. They are listed in chronological order by the dates and show the list of players, scores, innings, hi-runs. Very interesting to say the least.
Since I am a fan of 14.1 and am intrigued with the legends, I began to ponder the aged old question, “Who was the greatest? Greenleaf or Mosconi?” or better yet, “Who was the most dominating?” Even though I am in my late 50’s, I only saw Mosconi compete in exhibitions. Greenleaf was dead several years before I was born. So, at this point, while looking through the records, there were several points which came to my attention.
First, the modern game of 14.1 Continuous wasn’t even played until 1912 and all play was on 5X10 tables. In April of 1915, a 15 year old Ralph Greenleaf competed in the World Championship Qualifier, in Kansas City, finishing fourth with a 3-3 record. He appeared in the World Championship, held in Chicago, in 1916. There, he finished tied for fourth with a 7-5 record, in a field of 13, where they played Round Robin. The winner was Emmitt Blankenship.
Blankenship then lost a Challenge Match to Johnny Layton, 341-450, in May 1916, in Detroit. Hence, Layton then lost a Challenge match to Frank Taberski, 437-450, in September 1916, in Sedalia, MD. Then in October, 1916, still 16 years old, Greenleaf played Taberski a Challenge Match for the title and lost, 450-407, in New York City. They met again in a Challenge Match, January of 1918, in Milwaukee, where Taberski beat the 18 year old Greenleaf, 450-355.
In Philadelphia, 1919, at the age of 20, Greenleaf went 9-0 in a 10 player round robin, to win the World Championship. From there, he defended his title in a 4 man round robin, in Chicago, November, 1920. Back to Philadelphia, in October, 1921, and Ralph went 9-0 in a 10 player round robin for the World Championship, again. He later defended the title in a Challenge Match with Arthur Woods, December, 1921, New York City. Later, in February, 1922, he defeated former Champion Thomas Hueston, 450-133, establishing a new high run record of 100 balls. Again he defended against Walter Franklin, in New York City, May, 1922, winning 450-205. Another Challenge match in October, 1922, with Bennie Allen in Philadelphia resulted in a 450-257 Greenleaf win. Then a scheduled match with Arthur Church, in NYC, November,1922 resulted in Greenleaf winning by forfeit. In January of 1923, Greenleaf played Thomas Hueston again in Chicago, winning 600-333.
Then in October, 1923, 16 players played each other 16 times in 16 different cities, through April 1924. This was called the National Pocket Billiard League. Games were 100 pointers. Greenleaf went 92-20 and had the hi-run of 101. Later in April, the top four players from the League would play round robin 4 times in four different cities, Philly, KC, Minneapolis, Detroit. Bennie Allen tied Greenleaf with an 8-4 record, but lost the playoff to Ralph, 125-38.
The League ran again from October, 1924 till April 1925. Appears Greenleaf may not have finished the schedule because of a nervous breakdown. Taberski won with a record of 81-27 to Ralph’s 74-34. Frank Taberski would be stripped of the title in April 1926, for failure to defend.
In Philadelphia, November 1926, Greenleaf went 9-1 in a 10 player round robin to win the Championship again.
Then in a Match with Thomas Hueston, January, 1927, New York City, Greenleaf would lose 450-384. Hueston would then lose to Erwin Rudolph in May 1927, 450-361.
March, 1928 in Chicago, Ralph goes 9-1 in a 10 player round robin to win the Championship again. He defends against Andrew St. Jean, the Masked Marvel, May 1928, in NYC, 1500-1058. In December, 1928. a four man round robin was held for the Championship, in Chicago. Frank Taberski won a controversial playoff with Ralph, 125-41.
The World Championship in Detroit was December of 1929. Greenleaf went 6-1 with a high run of 126, to tie Erwin Rudolph. He then won the playoff 125-69. After unsuccessfully defending the Championship in 1930, Ralph went 11-0 in a 12 man round robin, November, 1931 in Philly. He went 9-0 in December, 1932, NYC, in a 10 player round robin. Greenleaf then defeated Andrew Ponzi, 1250-890, NYC, May 1933.
He would not win the title again until March. 1937, in NYC. In a 12 player round robin, Greenleaf tied with Ponzi, Jimmy Caras and Irving Crane with 8-3 records. He then won the four man playoff. Another 12 man round robin in October of 1937, Philly, saw him go 8-3 and tie Crane. Ralph won the playoff 125- (-1). Later in December, 1937, NYC, he defeated Crane in a Challenge Match 1500-550. This would be Ralph Greenleaf’s Last World Championship.
Between 1916, at 16 years of age and 1937, at 38 years of age, Ralph Greenleaf played for or defended the World’s Championship 26 times, winning 20 times. This took place over a span of 21 years. He did play in some World Championships during subsequent years, though never attained that Championship form again. Sadly, he died at age 50 in early 1950.
Would there ever be such a dominating player again?
Willie Mosconi played in a World Championship for the first time in December of 1933, in Chicago. He was 20 years old and nearly won the title. He would play for the Championship 5 more times during the 1930’s, nearly winning in 1938.
From November 1940 through to May, 1941, 8 players played each other 32 times in the World Championship League. Mosconi went 176-48 and was declared World Champion. He would defend the title in a 6 player double round robin, November, 1942.
Andrew Ponzi then defeated Willie 1250-1050, April, 1943. Willie then got revenge in February, 1944, by defeating Ponzi 1250-924. Then in January and February, 1945, Willie would play Greenleaf 48 blocks of 125 to defend the Title. Willie won 5498-3738. Greenleaf by that time, was not anywhere near the player he had been. In fact, because of his erratic behavior, he had actually been barred from some competitions.
Mosconi would defend against Jimmy Caras in February and March, 1946, by way of an 86 block match in 10 cities. Mosconi wins 8727-7508.
November, 1946, he plays 30 blocks of 125 in 4 cities versus Crane and wins 3750-2919. In May of 1947, another defense against Crane of 16 blocks of 125 in 2 cities, 2000-918. October, 1947, 32 blocks of 125 in 3 cities with Jimmy Caras that Mosconi wins 4000-2334. Then March, 1948, in Chicago, He plays 9 blocks of 150 versus Ponzi and wins 1350-643.
By now, the tournaments are being played on 4 1/2 X 9 foot tables. The tournament in Chicago, February, 1949, was a four man double round robin that Jimmy Caras wins.
Chicago, February, 1950, another 4 man double round robin where Mosconi and Crane tie. Willie wins playoff 150-112. January, 1951, a title defense of 20 blocks of 150 with Crane results in a 3000-2323 win. He goes 6-0 in another 4 man double round robin in Chicago, February, 1951. An 8-1 record in Boston, April, 1952 in a 10 man round robin was good enough to win again. Then another 9 man round robin in San Francisco, March, 1953, Willie goes 8-0.
In a title defense with Joe Procita, held in Philadelphia and Chicago, February 1954, they played 16 blocks of 150. Mosconi won every block and ran 150 twice.
An Unofficial World Tournament was held in Philadelphia with 7 players, March 1954. Luther Lassiter wins. Mosconi did not play.
Then in March, 1955, a 4 man double round robin in Philadelphia resulted in a tie with Irving Crane, where Crane wins the playoff 150-87. Mosconi wins back the title over Crane in November, 1955 with 10 blocks of 150, 1500-676.
A 6 city defense with Jimmy Caras, of 32 blocks of 150 in February 1956, results in Mosconi winning all 32 blocks, 6300-3007. Then, the 8 player double round robin April, 1956, in Kinston, NC, resulted in Mosconi going 14-0 with a high run of 150. After which, Mosconi played Jimmy Moore 12 blocks of 150, winning all of them, 1800 –879, Albuquerque, NM, march, 1956.
This would be his last World Championship, as he retires from competitive pool at the age of 43.
From 1933, at the age of 20, through to 1956 at the age of 43, Willie Mosconi played for the World Championship 28 times and winning or defending 19 times.
The case for the most dominating player ever. Of the 20 World Championship Titles won or defended by Ralph Greenleaf from 1919 to 1937, 10 of 15 attempts were won in round robin tournament play. For Willie Mosconi, 7 of his 19 titles were won or defended in Tournament play out of 13 attempts. In tournament play, the format was round robin for both players. Five times Greenleaf went undefeated to Mosconi’s 3.
Although, both were absolutely dominating in their era’s, my vote would have to go to Greenleaf as the most Dominating Ever.
Since I am a fan of 14.1 and am intrigued with the legends, I began to ponder the aged old question, “Who was the greatest? Greenleaf or Mosconi?” or better yet, “Who was the most dominating?” Even though I am in my late 50’s, I only saw Mosconi compete in exhibitions. Greenleaf was dead several years before I was born. So, at this point, while looking through the records, there were several points which came to my attention.
First, the modern game of 14.1 Continuous wasn’t even played until 1912 and all play was on 5X10 tables. In April of 1915, a 15 year old Ralph Greenleaf competed in the World Championship Qualifier, in Kansas City, finishing fourth with a 3-3 record. He appeared in the World Championship, held in Chicago, in 1916. There, he finished tied for fourth with a 7-5 record, in a field of 13, where they played Round Robin. The winner was Emmitt Blankenship.
Blankenship then lost a Challenge Match to Johnny Layton, 341-450, in May 1916, in Detroit. Hence, Layton then lost a Challenge match to Frank Taberski, 437-450, in September 1916, in Sedalia, MD. Then in October, 1916, still 16 years old, Greenleaf played Taberski a Challenge Match for the title and lost, 450-407, in New York City. They met again in a Challenge Match, January of 1918, in Milwaukee, where Taberski beat the 18 year old Greenleaf, 450-355.
In Philadelphia, 1919, at the age of 20, Greenleaf went 9-0 in a 10 player round robin, to win the World Championship. From there, he defended his title in a 4 man round robin, in Chicago, November, 1920. Back to Philadelphia, in October, 1921, and Ralph went 9-0 in a 10 player round robin for the World Championship, again. He later defended the title in a Challenge Match with Arthur Woods, December, 1921, New York City. Later, in February, 1922, he defeated former Champion Thomas Hueston, 450-133, establishing a new high run record of 100 balls. Again he defended against Walter Franklin, in New York City, May, 1922, winning 450-205. Another Challenge match in October, 1922, with Bennie Allen in Philadelphia resulted in a 450-257 Greenleaf win. Then a scheduled match with Arthur Church, in NYC, November,1922 resulted in Greenleaf winning by forfeit. In January of 1923, Greenleaf played Thomas Hueston again in Chicago, winning 600-333.
Then in October, 1923, 16 players played each other 16 times in 16 different cities, through April 1924. This was called the National Pocket Billiard League. Games were 100 pointers. Greenleaf went 92-20 and had the hi-run of 101. Later in April, the top four players from the League would play round robin 4 times in four different cities, Philly, KC, Minneapolis, Detroit. Bennie Allen tied Greenleaf with an 8-4 record, but lost the playoff to Ralph, 125-38.
The League ran again from October, 1924 till April 1925. Appears Greenleaf may not have finished the schedule because of a nervous breakdown. Taberski won with a record of 81-27 to Ralph’s 74-34. Frank Taberski would be stripped of the title in April 1926, for failure to defend.
In Philadelphia, November 1926, Greenleaf went 9-1 in a 10 player round robin to win the Championship again.
Then in a Match with Thomas Hueston, January, 1927, New York City, Greenleaf would lose 450-384. Hueston would then lose to Erwin Rudolph in May 1927, 450-361.
March, 1928 in Chicago, Ralph goes 9-1 in a 10 player round robin to win the Championship again. He defends against Andrew St. Jean, the Masked Marvel, May 1928, in NYC, 1500-1058. In December, 1928. a four man round robin was held for the Championship, in Chicago. Frank Taberski won a controversial playoff with Ralph, 125-41.
The World Championship in Detroit was December of 1929. Greenleaf went 6-1 with a high run of 126, to tie Erwin Rudolph. He then won the playoff 125-69. After unsuccessfully defending the Championship in 1930, Ralph went 11-0 in a 12 man round robin, November, 1931 in Philly. He went 9-0 in December, 1932, NYC, in a 10 player round robin. Greenleaf then defeated Andrew Ponzi, 1250-890, NYC, May 1933.
He would not win the title again until March. 1937, in NYC. In a 12 player round robin, Greenleaf tied with Ponzi, Jimmy Caras and Irving Crane with 8-3 records. He then won the four man playoff. Another 12 man round robin in October of 1937, Philly, saw him go 8-3 and tie Crane. Ralph won the playoff 125- (-1). Later in December, 1937, NYC, he defeated Crane in a Challenge Match 1500-550. This would be Ralph Greenleaf’s Last World Championship.
Between 1916, at 16 years of age and 1937, at 38 years of age, Ralph Greenleaf played for or defended the World’s Championship 26 times, winning 20 times. This took place over a span of 21 years. He did play in some World Championships during subsequent years, though never attained that Championship form again. Sadly, he died at age 50 in early 1950.
Would there ever be such a dominating player again?
Willie Mosconi played in a World Championship for the first time in December of 1933, in Chicago. He was 20 years old and nearly won the title. He would play for the Championship 5 more times during the 1930’s, nearly winning in 1938.
From November 1940 through to May, 1941, 8 players played each other 32 times in the World Championship League. Mosconi went 176-48 and was declared World Champion. He would defend the title in a 6 player double round robin, November, 1942.
Andrew Ponzi then defeated Willie 1250-1050, April, 1943. Willie then got revenge in February, 1944, by defeating Ponzi 1250-924. Then in January and February, 1945, Willie would play Greenleaf 48 blocks of 125 to defend the Title. Willie won 5498-3738. Greenleaf by that time, was not anywhere near the player he had been. In fact, because of his erratic behavior, he had actually been barred from some competitions.
Mosconi would defend against Jimmy Caras in February and March, 1946, by way of an 86 block match in 10 cities. Mosconi wins 8727-7508.
November, 1946, he plays 30 blocks of 125 in 4 cities versus Crane and wins 3750-2919. In May of 1947, another defense against Crane of 16 blocks of 125 in 2 cities, 2000-918. October, 1947, 32 blocks of 125 in 3 cities with Jimmy Caras that Mosconi wins 4000-2334. Then March, 1948, in Chicago, He plays 9 blocks of 150 versus Ponzi and wins 1350-643.
By now, the tournaments are being played on 4 1/2 X 9 foot tables. The tournament in Chicago, February, 1949, was a four man double round robin that Jimmy Caras wins.
Chicago, February, 1950, another 4 man double round robin where Mosconi and Crane tie. Willie wins playoff 150-112. January, 1951, a title defense of 20 blocks of 150 with Crane results in a 3000-2323 win. He goes 6-0 in another 4 man double round robin in Chicago, February, 1951. An 8-1 record in Boston, April, 1952 in a 10 man round robin was good enough to win again. Then another 9 man round robin in San Francisco, March, 1953, Willie goes 8-0.
In a title defense with Joe Procita, held in Philadelphia and Chicago, February 1954, they played 16 blocks of 150. Mosconi won every block and ran 150 twice.
An Unofficial World Tournament was held in Philadelphia with 7 players, March 1954. Luther Lassiter wins. Mosconi did not play.
Then in March, 1955, a 4 man double round robin in Philadelphia resulted in a tie with Irving Crane, where Crane wins the playoff 150-87. Mosconi wins back the title over Crane in November, 1955 with 10 blocks of 150, 1500-676.
A 6 city defense with Jimmy Caras, of 32 blocks of 150 in February 1956, results in Mosconi winning all 32 blocks, 6300-3007. Then, the 8 player double round robin April, 1956, in Kinston, NC, resulted in Mosconi going 14-0 with a high run of 150. After which, Mosconi played Jimmy Moore 12 blocks of 150, winning all of them, 1800 –879, Albuquerque, NM, march, 1956.
This would be his last World Championship, as he retires from competitive pool at the age of 43.
From 1933, at the age of 20, through to 1956 at the age of 43, Willie Mosconi played for the World Championship 28 times and winning or defending 19 times.
The case for the most dominating player ever. Of the 20 World Championship Titles won or defended by Ralph Greenleaf from 1919 to 1937, 10 of 15 attempts were won in round robin tournament play. For Willie Mosconi, 7 of his 19 titles were won or defended in Tournament play out of 13 attempts. In tournament play, the format was round robin for both players. Five times Greenleaf went undefeated to Mosconi’s 3.
Although, both were absolutely dominating in their era’s, my vote would have to go to Greenleaf as the most Dominating Ever.