I didn't say anything about the pocket size. It was an over-sized 8' table though (46" x 92"). That was the most common size table in Midwestern poolrooms during that era. I knew Russ Maddox and George Rood quite well, growing up in Dayton. Russ was one of the premier hustlers I ever met. He could run 50 or 60 balls at Straight Pool and played equally good 9-Ball and One Pocket, at all times claiming himself to be an "amateur." He was pretty good with a deck of cards too, teaching me the ins and outs of cheating at Gin Rummy. Russ had that gift of gab and could sell ice cream to the Eskimos.
On the other hand George was a straight arrow, working as a dog breeder and judge in dog shows. He never hustled anybody as far as I know. He just took on all comers and played for the stakes they asked for. Once you started he wouldn't raise the bet either. If he got you stuck, he kept you stuck until you quit. I watched him beat more than one road man for over twenty games of 9-Ball at 20 a game. He would have them steaming too. He didn't say much, just kept running out and letting you rack the balls. He turned everyone into a rack boy!
'
P.S. I visited East High Billiards in Springfield twice in the early 60's, long after Mosconi had made his run.
Regarding pocket size, per Jay:
Originally Posted by jay helfert View Post
I grew up in nearby Dayton and played in that room in the early 60's. I may have played on that very table. There weren't any tables with big pockets in that poolroom, I'm guessing all were slightly under 5", maybe 4.75". The old Brunswick Sport Kings "oversized" eight footers (46" x 92" playing surface) that I grew up on were NOT soft tables! They had straight cut pockets with deep shelves. You damn sure would miss if you hit the corners of the pocket. ...
Regarding pocket size, per an interview of George Rood:
1P: When you said Springfield, Ohio, I thought that sounded familiar. So that was where he ran 526?
GR: That's right. That was in the room that I owned, but I didn't own it then; I bought it later. It was the same room where we had played our exhibition, but it was after that, at another exhibition, when he ran all those balls.
1P: Was that same table where he had that run still there when you bought the room?
GR: Yes it was.
1P: I'm told that was a four by eight table?
GR: You're right. Now, we had played on a four and a half by nine, but it was a four by eight that he played on, with another fellow, on the night he had that high run.
1P: George, do you remember how tight the pockets were on that table?
GR: They were large.
1P: That must have helped out a little bit.
GR: But never-the-less, it's more balls than anyone else ever got.
1P: Oh yeah, it’s still amazing, even if it wasn’t the most challenging equipment. Were you there when he did it?
GR: No. I was not there, but I have read the affidavit that everybody signed that night.
Here’s the link to the interview of Rood:
https://www.onepocket.org/GeorgeRoodInterview.htm
