I have heard that he signed many boxes of balls in his later years.
When I approached him at BCA convention in 91 or 92 this is how the exchange went.
Me : " Hello Mr. Mosconi, if you could make the signature out to Jim please"
Mosconi : "hmmpf" he grumbled as he started to sign a black and white BCA sponsored 8x10 photo.
Me : Looking a little nervous and defiantly out of my league deciding to take a shot and speak to the man...
- " Mr. Mosconi, I just want to tell you how great an influence you have been over my life in and out of pool... thank you so much for all that you have done! "
He then slowly handed me the photo as he locked eyes with mine. Here was 80 years of extensive pool knowledge in front of me, and I could tell that my little speech had really affected him deeply.
Mosconi: "Next"
As I briskly walked away, I happen to glance down at my personally autographed BCA sponsored black and white 8x10 with the inspiring inscription ---- "To Kim"
For the rest of the day I went by the name "Kim"
A few other times I had the chance to meet and chat with him, but this will always remain in my memory bank.
When I approached him at BCA convention in 91 or 92 this is how the exchange went.
Me : " Hello Mr. Mosconi, if you could make the signature out to Jim please"
Mosconi : "hmmpf" he grumbled as he started to sign a black and white BCA sponsored 8x10 photo.
Me : Looking a little nervous and defiantly out of my league deciding to take a shot and speak to the man...
- " Mr. Mosconi, I just want to tell you how great an influence you have been over my life in and out of pool... thank you so much for all that you have done! "
He then slowly handed me the photo as he locked eyes with mine. Here was 80 years of extensive pool knowledge in front of me, and I could tell that my little speech had really affected him deeply.
Mosconi: "Next"
As I briskly walked away, I happen to glance down at my personally autographed BCA sponsored black and white 8x10 with the inspiring inscription ---- "To Kim"
For the rest of the day I went by the name "Kim"
A few other times I had the chance to meet and chat with him, but this will always remain in my memory bank.
I think there is a practical reason for the two-line signature. I believe at some point he was signing a lot of balls. If you leave them in the box, there is a lot less handling but you probably need to sign on two lines. Also, there is less chance of smudging if they stay in the box.
