Babe Cranfield

[cardiac kid]

It was before my time but I heard of the room from a lot of old timers. On a sadder note, Fran "Sonny" Brewer died last week. He was 80 and had cancer. Not sure if you knew him or not but about anybody who played in The New York State 9 Ball Championships at The Pocket Billiard Lounge in Binghamton, NY in the '70s. '80s, and '90s might have played him or at least known him. I think he played in all of them and was around the Triple Cities Pool scene for ages.
Real nice guy.

Fran was better known to me as "The Frito Bandito". Used to drive a long haul truck for Frito-Lay Co. Very sad news indeed :sad:. He was having health problems last time I saw him in the early 2000's. Thanks for the update.

Lyn

 

[gulfportdoc]

I have a memory of Babe Cranfield which goes back to 1966 or 1967. I attended the World’s Straight Pool Championship in NYC as a youth. Other than Lassiter and Crane and Balsis, I didn’t know who any of the players were, having recently arrived from the Midwest. The tournament was, as I recall, in The Commodore Hotel. I began to watch a match in which “Arthur Cranfield” was playing, whoever “Arthur Cranfield” might be. I still remember that the referee was Ed “Cue Ball” Kelley...

Mike, I attended the event in 1968. Then they were called the "New York City World's Invitational 14.1 Championship" (sponsored by the Billiard Room Proprietor Assoc. of America - BRPAA). That year it was at the Statler Hilton. I'm not sure about the previous years.

Irving Crane won it that year, and "Cue Ball" Kelley was the referee. I recall Cranfield very well. He was a nervous fellow with lots of quirks who chain-smoked. But he could really run the balls! He never seemed satisfied, as you say.

The next year the "World Pocket Billards Championship" moved to the Elks Club at MacArthur Park in Los Angeles. My guess is that the BRPAA rescinded their sponsorship... I'd moved to L.A., so I got to see Ed Kelly win in '69, followed by I. Crane again the following year, and our own Ray Martin in '71. ~Doc

 

[Scott Lee]

Keeping on topic, in that article, the person who submitted it mentioned Cueball Kelly, whose real name was Carl Zingale. Kelly was a well known referee, as well as a bit of an entertainer. I always wondered if Mike Massey got his ideas for finger pool from Kelly, who could spin the ball amazingly with his fingers.

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com

Mike, I attended the event in 1968. Then they were called the "New York City World's Invitational 14.1 Championship" (sponsored by the Billiard Room Proprietor Assoc. of America - BRPAA). That year it was at the Statler Hilton. I'm not sure about the previous years.

Irving Crane won it that year, and "Cue Ball" Kelley was the referee. I recall Cranfield very well. He was a nervous fellow with lots of quirks who chain-smoked. But he could really run the balls! He never seemed satisfied, as you say.

The next year the "World Pocket Billards Championship" moved to the Elks Club at MacArthur Park in Los Angeles. My guess is that the BRPAA rescinded their sponsorship... I'd moved to L.A., so I got to see Ed Kelly win in '69, followed by I. Crane again the following year, and our own Ray Martin in '71. ~Doc

 

[gulfportdoc]

Keeping on topic, in that article, the person who submitted it mentioned Cueball Kelly, whose real name was Carl Zingale. Kelly was a well known referee, as well as a bit of an entertainer. I always wondered if Mike Massey got his ideas for finger pool from Kelly, who could spin the ball amazingly with his fingers.

Scott, there's little doubt that Massey was able to learn from Zingale. Mike is old enough to have been around to see CBK work out. "Kelly" used it in all kinds of situations. But where I've seen Mike do it, it's jaw-dropping impressive.

There was another prop bettor that was always around the big events in those days too. I think he was called "Spin the Ball" George. He would bet you that, from the foot rail, he could spin the cue ball by hand around the table 3 cushions, break the full rack of balls; then proceed to repeat that shot until all the balls were made in one of the corner pockets.

The prop was that he could do it in X amount of "shots". I don't recall what the typical number was, but it was surprising how quickly he could get it done. I'm sure it was less than 50 "shots". He usually had no problem getting takers...

Doc

 

[measureman]

Scott, there's little doubt that Massey was able to learn from Zingale. Mike is old enough to have been around to see CBK work out. "Kelly" used it in all kinds of situations. But where I've seen Mike do it, it's jaw-dropping impressive.

There was another prop bettor that was always around the big events in those days too. I think he was called "Spin the Ball" George. He would bet you that, from the foot rail, he could spin the cue ball by hand around the table 3 cushions, break the full rack of balls; then proceed to repeat that shot until all the balls were made in one of the corner pockets.

The prop was that he could do it in X amount of "shots". I don't recall what the typical number was, but it was surprising how quickly he could get it done. I'm sure it was less than 50 "shots". He usually had no problem getting takers...

Doc

First rule is never bet a man on his own proposition.But I would make that bet just to see it done.
Years ago in a pool room I hung out in was a card mechanic. He did awesome card tricks and one night as I was betting him a few dollars on a trick I had seen him do many times. One of the rail birds asked why I was throwing away my money. I replied "Because if we don't let him win a few bucks he will stop entertaining us with his tricks"