Best Black Players Of All Time

Island Drive

Otto/Dads College Roommate/Cleveland Browns
Silver Member
This guy was pretty good...

CMurphy.jpg
He's #1 all the way around. A true player/man.
 

sixpack

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
OK a few black players not mentioned that deserve some credit are:
Peter Gunn - you don't have to like playing him any game
Doc White - bar table specialist
Philadelphia Nate - played great, quit to hustle golf and did very well
Go Away Kid - Johnny ?? San Francisco player who played all games well. He and Ronnie Allen tangled a lot up there in the 60's.
Kansas City Shorty - in his prime late 50's could bring it playing all comers one pocket. never learned his name.
"Go Away Kid" was Jesse. He passed away I think about 10 years ago. I posted about it at the time. I was hanging out with him and sweating him in action the night before he died.
 

jay helfert

Shoot Pool, not people
Gold Member
Silver Member
OK a few black players not mentioned that deserve some credit are:
Peter Gunn - you don't have to like playing him any game
Doc White - bar table specialist
Philadelphia Nate - played great, quit to hustle golf and did very well
Go Away Kid - Johnny ?? San Francisco player who played all games well. He and Ronnie Allen tangled a lot up there in the 60's.
Kansas City Shorty - in his prime late 50's could bring it playing all comers one pocket. never learned his name.
Texas Shorty played his best in the late 50's to maybe early 70's. Traveled the country (East to West and back) and beat many "name" players of that era (even at 14.1). Small man with a great sense of humor, friendly manner and killer game. Very deceiving, looked like an average player but he just kept making balls.

Philly Nate and Black Nate also same guy. Top notch golf and pool hustler. Dressed like a pimp with very colorful clothes, and drove a big Caddy. He told me once that made people want to play him. He looked like $$$!

Peter Gunn (real name Len Wesson) was a dear friend of mine. His name and game was widely known, but how he looked was a closely guarded secret. He stayed undercover while traversing the Western U.S., beating just about everyone on a bar table. He could play on big tables too. Once beat Tacoma Whitey for 60K! A gun was flashed and Len never flinched. He was a big powerful man (former high school fullback) who you didn't want to tangle with. Maybe 6', 225-230 and all muscle. He left with the money, no shots fired. He scared the man with the gun! Originally from Bakersfield, he often stopped in my poolroom and we played One Pocket and Banks. He's still ahead...forever! Passed away over ten years ago.

Doc White took up residence in Vegas and made a nice living there hustling the bars. He rarely had to play somone good like Bobby LeBlanc or Walter Glass. I would put him in that class.
 
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bbb

AzB Gold Member
Gold Member
Silver Member
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Print History
Print History

Case (Cause) Nbr / StatusDefendantFiled / BookedCtDefendant StatusDispositionBond AmtOffenseNext Setting
POUNCEY, MOUISE
1/5/2004 |​
184Disposed(D)
Disposed(DISP)2/11/2004​
AGG ROBBERY-OVER 65 OR DISABLE (F)
POUNCEY, MOUISE
10/14/1998 | 10/14/1998​
184Disposed(D)
Dismissed(DISM)3/19/1999​
$100,000​
AGG ROBBERY-OVER 65 OR DISABLE (F)
3/22/1999​
POUNCEY, MOUISE
9/24/1998 | 9/25/1998​
184Disposed(D)
Dismissed(DISM)3/19/1999​
$100,000​
AGG ROBBERY-OVER 65 OR DISABLE (F)
3/22/1999​
POUNCEY, MOUISE
9/24/1998 | 9/25/1998​
184Disposed(D)
Dismissed(DISM)3/19/1999​
$50,000​
INJURY TO ELDERLY (F)
3/22/1999​
POUNCEY, MOUISE
9/24/1998 | 9/25/1998​
184Disposed(D)
Disposed(DISP)3/19/1999​
$50,000​
AGG ROBBERY-OVER 65 OR DISABLE (F)
3/22/1999​
POUNCY, LARRY MOUISE
9/24/1998 | 9/25/1998​
5Disposed(D)
Dismissed(DISM)3/25/1999​
$1,000​
RESIST ARR-SEARCH (M)
3/25/1999​
POUNCEY, MOUICE
9/2/1992 | 9/2/1992​
8Disposed(D)
Dismissed(DISM)10/15/1992​
$500​
FAIL IDENT TO P-O-FUGITIVE (M)
10/15/1992​
POUNCY, LARRY MOUISE
9/29/1986 | 11/7/1986​
262Disposed(D)
Dismissed(DISM)3/2/1987​
$5,000​
ARSON-BUILDING/HABITATION/VEH (F)
3/2/1987​
I dont see any reason to post the above in this thread
jmho
my post was in response that you thought he died in prison
to be sure we were talking about the same guy
 

thedude

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Here is the question that I have been wondering about... has there been, either in the past or present, any notable black cue makers?
 

Brookeland Bill

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I dont see any reason to post the above in this thread
jmho
my post was in response that you thought he died in prison
to be sure we were talking about the same guy
You don’t know the half of it. This came from the Harris County District Clerks site. It’s public information. This is not petty behavior. Ive played pool with guys that have committed crimes and done time but nothing to this extent.
 
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straightline

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Gabby was somewhat of a legend in the LA area. Used to rob Keith FWIW. Never knew or met the guy and when somebody posted here how brutal a mugger he is, man lucky stars...
 

gypsy_soul

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I know their was a thread similar to this once before;I just thought I'd add my 2 cents..

Btw,these guys are the best I have seen with my own two eyes..I've heard about Marvin Henderson,Youngblood,Cannonball etc..but I can't include them because I have never seen any of them play..So with that in mind here goes!

1.Bugs Rucker--without a doubt! One of the most feared money-players of all time ..Black or white! ..He played super strong and left many a talented pool player busted and disgusted.I watched him play many times and I found it strange that he'd shoot with his chalk still in his hand (left hand)..Bugs is a leftie..One of the greatest players to ever pick up a cue.

2.Mark Tadd--Maybe the most talented black player I have ever seen..It's too bad (for pool) that he quit in his prime..he was fearless!

3.Cliff Joyner--Cliff may be one of the top 10 best over-all players in the world today..he plays all games at a high level but most notably One-Pocket..He is considered the second best in the world in 1P.

4.Gabby--I never knew his real name..but I knew that he shot straighter than Wyatt Earp! It's a shame, what happened to him..I wish I had his talent..Gabby could REALLY play! R.I.P.

5.Cecil Tugwell--I saw Cecil play in the late 80's early 90's 1P in Cali and man........He was something else! Cecil was a character but could play with anybody in those days..I heard he has fallen on hard times over the past 15 years or so..

6.Strawberry Brooks--I honestly thought strawberry played better 1hole than Cecil but I think Cecil is the better Over-all player..Strawberry is a legend in Baltimore and in Philly..

7.Bus-driver Ronnie from D.C.--Plays really good speed..strong player..capable of putting multiple racks together.

8.Patch Eye Basheer--Moves like a ghost..He can frustrate his opponent like no other..patch-eye will have you talking to yourself!

9.Joey Barnes--Dallas Player..plays pretty sporty but can be very treacherous..can get out from anywhere..

10.Eddie Brown--Call me a homer if you want to but for years this guy was the strongest player in the state of Louisiana;save for maybe Scotty..But Eddie has beaten Reed Pierce when Reed was in his prime(taking the seven) Grady Mathews,Ronnie Wiseman,and the list goes on and on..
He was never a champion;but in his prime,he played the eight under a champion..

Hon.mention:1)Ace Brown from Utah--Super strong player that no one knows anything about outside of Utah 'cause he does'nt like to travel..I could sneak Ace in several rooms and literally clean up! Ace is a monster!
2)Ike Runnels from Chicago--Solid player,plays all games good..He may have a stronger game than a few of the players on my list but because I have'nt seen too much of him I must put him in the H.M.
MONSTER JOHN !!!!! Also Gabby is alive and well in Houston!
 

Fatboy

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Here is the question that I have been wondering about... has there been, either in the past or present, any notable black cue makers?
Interesting observation

I know some black cue collectors, great guys. We all love cues!

A good friend of mine from Stockton Tony White was a solid player, he worked at a couple Reno tourneys. He was a mentor to me on many things. I’ll always be grateful for the lessons Tony taught me. You should know him Jay.

Best
Fatboy 😃
 
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