I'm talking about 9-ball tourneys only. I know that Mike is nine or ten years older than Earl so he might have reached his prime before Earl became a world beater. During the 80's and 90's Mike was still playing a lot, so they must have clashed against each other quite a few times.
80's and 90's Strickland and Sigel--who had a better record against the other?
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Mike was not playing anywhere near as many tournaments as Earl in the 90s. He pretty much stopped playing tournaments regularly in the mid 90s. Their encounters happened mostly between the mid 80s and the early 90s, before Mike left the tournament scene. They overlapped, but somewhat different eras.
You should watch the earl Strickland story! If memory serves me, I believe they gambled and Mike quit him when he ran a huge package on him!
Tough to fade Earls shotmaking in his prime! As far as I'm concerned, he is the greatest shot maker(was) of our lifetime! His pocketing is truly beautiful to watch! Watching the balls go center pocket shot after shot after shot is just a beautiful display of pure greatness!
Sigel just didn't make any mistakes and make you earn EVERY ball.
Mike was really tough to beat, and I'm pretty sure Earl struggled with him in their earliest encounters. Sigel just didn't make any mistakes and make you earn EVERY ball. Earl's break and offensive abilities shined in the matches he won, no doubt, however, Mike was tough to the very end.
I had several big matches with Sigel, here's a clip of one of them from the Bicycle Club when I was first on the pro circuit. CLICK HERE - MIKE SIGEL
Mike was really tough to beat, and I'm pretty sure Earl struggled with him in their earliest encounters. Sigel just didn't make any mistakes and make you earn EVERY ball. Earl's break and offensive abilities shined in the matches he won, no doubt, however, Mike was tough to the very end.
I had several big matches with Sigel, here's a clip of one of them from the Bicycle Club when I was first on the pro circuit. CLICK HERE - MIKE SIGEL
To answer your question quite simply. Mike Sigel had the better record in 9-Ball. As a matter of fact, I don't know of one that has a winning record against Mike in the 80s and early 90s.
Mike is the most winnegest player in pocket billiards, and still is. Also adding in the fact Mike retired much to early (while still playing excellent pool), he no doubt would have certainly went on to win much more if having continued. I don't think the financial rewards of pool kept his attention in playing pro events (that's my opinion).
Someone above said Earl was an awesome ball pocketer, and this is true. However, Mike was certainly as good or better at ball pocketing. I personally have never seen anyone who could come up with the really really difficult shots in the most high pressure situations so consistently as Mike Sigel. He thrived on the times many of us would be shaking from the sheer pressure. Another talent Mike has that is really hard to come by is the ability to quit the pro level for years on end, come back to the game, and run a 150 n out on ya.
9-Ball would be the closest game between Mike and Earl. All other games would certainly favor heavily on an 80s Sigel. To show how dominant Mike was we have facts. Having retired much to early, other players have went on to play another 20 years, and still not reached the amount of majors Sigel has won.
Mike is the most winnegest player in pocket billiards, and still is. Also adding in the fact Mike retired much to early (while still playing excellent pool), he no doubt would have certainly went on to win much more if having continued. I don't think the financial rewards of pool kept his attention in playing pro events (that's my opinion).
Someone above said Earl was an awesome ball pocketer, and this is true. However, Mike was certainly as good or better at ball pocketing. I personally have never seen anyone who could come up with the really really difficult shots in the most high pressure situations so consistently as Mike Sigel. He thrived on the times many of us would be shaking from the sheer pressure. Another talent Mike has that is really hard to come by is the ability to quit the pro level for years on end, come back to the game, and run a 150 n out on ya.
9-Ball would be the closest game between Mike and Earl. All other games would certainly favor heavily on an 80s Sigel. To show how dominant Mike was we have facts. Having retired much to early, other players have went on to play another 20 years, and still not reached the amount of majors Sigel has won.
The closest thing to exact record in pool is called old pool and billiard magazine tournament results, video of commentators giving the records etc... Good reading if you wanted proof :thumbup:
Or, you could always just ask Earl :wink:
I seriously doubt Earl would have gambled with Sigel. I saw them gamble once around 1980 they played for $2000 and Earl quit.
I know you said 9 ball only but in an all around match Sigel would destroy Earl. Mike was off the chart good at one time, a class by himself.
A lot of pros have said Mike was at his strongest in the finals and had a very high win rate.
Earl said in an interview that he has lost twice as many finals as he has won. Seems hard to believe.