5 best players ever (in your opinion)

I'm assuming ALL billiard/pool games are included......

......like 3-cushion, balkline, etc. If so, I can't believe Willie Hoppe's name hasn't popped up on somebody's list. I can sure see some names on the list that couldn't hold a candle to him. Granted, I never saw him play, but his records/achievements speak for themselves. I gotta agree with all that put Mosconi on their list. What a name he made for himself with all the titles he won. Greenleaf too!! Just because they played many years ago doesn't mean they couldn't hang with todays elite. Some people wanna talk about the "huge" pockets they had back then. I'll betcha a helluva lot of the "old-timers" shots went dead center into whatever pocket they were shooting at. Crane, Lassiter, Sigel, Strickland, Archer, Reyes, Souqet, Holman, etc.
Damn, there's just too many great names to choose from to round up this list.

Maniac
 
Maniac said:
......like 3-cushion, balkline, etc. If so, I can't believe Willie Hoppe's name hasn't popped up on somebody's list. I can sure see some names on the list that couldn't hold a candle to him. Granted, I never saw him play, but his records/achievements speak for themselves. I gotta agree with all that put Mosconi on their list. What a name he made for himself with all the titles he won. Greenleaf too!! Just because they played many years ago doesn't mean they couldn't hang with todays elite. Some people wanna talk about the "huge" pockets they had back then. I'll betcha a helluva lot of the "old-timers" shots went dead center into whatever pocket they were shooting at. Crane, Lassiter, Sigel, Strickland, Archer, Reyes, Souqet, Holman, etc.
Damn, there's just too many great names to choose from to round up this list.

Maniac
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I was assuming just pool. If you include other cuesports, you'd have to include Hoppe and Ceulemans, leaving litle room for pool players. Both Hoppe and Ceulemans played at top level longer than any pool player has ever done.
 
I'm curious how many people who have responded to this thread have actually been witness to all the players they've mentioned.

FIVE players is a short list and a list that requires tons of knowledge about the era they played in. Hell, I'm only 35-years-old and can say I've seen the game make some HUGE changes.

Five greatest players ever is impossible. I could likely do that list 10 times over and frankly, I don't need to include Efren (arguably best player today) on that list and it would be perfectly understandable.
 
best players (not 14.1 players, not 1 pocket players, not 9 ballers, not 3C players and certainly not snooker players)

and not in order

Reyes
Mosconi
Crane
Sigel
Taylor

Paul Mon---I had a hard time leaving Greenleaf and Lassiter off
 
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All Around (not in order):

Mike Sigel
Buddy Hall
Efren Reyes
Luther Lassiter
Ralf Soquet
 
Efren Reyes
Ralph Greenleaf
Willie Mosconi
Mike Sigel
Irving Crane

I don't think limiting it to 5 is fair (or accurate) but you can see my obvious bias toward the straight pool players. :p
 
JAM said:
But, of course, The Russian. How on earth could I forget him?! The highest stakes I ever witnessed, the Russian was involved. He showed no fear and didn't care what the stakes were. That kid's gotta mean break! :p

I keep forgetting Marcus Chamat is from Sweden. He's always such a mainstay on the American tournament trail at the higher profile events. Is he living in Philippines these days? When Marcus discovered I drove a Volvo, he seemed to like me more. :p

Niels plays only a couple games in the wonderful world of pocket billiards, and doesn't have a diversified knowledge of all games. I wouldn't consider him a money player, not saying he won't gamble, though.

Another European I hastily forgot is Fabio Petroni, the Italian Stallion. He's one of those quiet money players, like a panther waiting to pounce on his prey. He can be deadly on a field of green, and he likes money games. My fondest memory was seeing him spank Dennis Hatch in Toledo. Dennis was barking it up mighty loud, and Fabio just sat there, quiet as a church mouse. I think the whole American audience was pulling for the Italian player that night! :D

JAM
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For what it is worth I have tortured Fabio Petroni 3 different times playing $ 2000 10 ahead sets
 
Jimmy M. said:
Efren Reyes
Ralph Greenleaf
Willie Mosconi
Mike Sigel
Irving Crane

I don't think limiting it to 5 is fair (or accurate) but you can see my obvious bias toward the straight pool players. :p
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Ditto, those are my five, too.
 
1. Reyes
2. Mosconi
3. Crane
4. Sigel

and tied for 5th.....

Lassiter, Hall, Strickland, Worst, Mizerak, Greenleaf, and the High Priest of Pocket Apiece, Jersey Red.

but I'm biased. :)
 
Top 5 pool players? Or all cue sports? It's hard to pick just 5 but here goes:

Top 5 pool players

Ralph Greenleaf
Willie Mosconi
Harold Worst
Luther Lassiter
Mike Sigel


Top 5 Cueists

Walter Lindrum
Stephen Hendry
Ronnie O'Sullivan
Raymond Ceulemans
Willie Mosconi
 
Ralph Greenleaf
Willie Mosconi
Luther Lassiter
Mike Sigel
Efren Reyes

And very honorable mention to:
Cowboy Jimmy Moore
Jersey Red
Steve Mizerak
Buddy Hall
 
Efren
Mosconi
Luther Lassiter
U J Puckett
and what about Don Willis????


Oh!! and Eddie Taylor!!

Tough to stick with 5.

DRawls
 
I Agree

ribdoner said:
Efren
Buddy
Luther
Mike
Nick
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I posted all names the same except for Nick. I originally had Ralf but after thinking about it more, I'd go with Nick rather.....he plays all games superb! Can't believe I missed him! And what a class guy!
Curly
 
JAM said:
Best All-Around Player (all games and proficiency on all equipment): Keith McCready, Jose Parica, Shannon Daulton, Larry Lisciotti, Corey Deuel, Dave Matlock, Louie Roberts, Ernesto Dominguez, and Alex Pagulayan.

JAM
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Could you explain your reasoning for excluding Efren from your "Best All Around Player" list? When I think of "all games", I certainly include 3 Cushion Billiards. I'm not sure some of the players you listed are proficient in that discipline. I understand this is a very subjective question, but would like to hear your thoughts on why Efren was not one of your choices.
 
best

efren is BY FAR the best all around player ever. To go along with that he has the best personality. He plays all games and grins.
 
theres a guy that never gets his due on here but should and thats Oliver Ortmann.guys like a machine
 
i know how great efren is and a classy player but bustamante played a little better in his day.
 
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