Boston Shorty
- Thread starter nasc
- Start date
nasc,
Larry "Boston Shorty" Johnson was born on July 20, 1929 in Cambridge, Mass.and died Dec 10, 2000 at the age of 71 from cancer. He was a very, very accomplished player in both pocket games as well as 3 cushion. It's my opinion he was best at 1 pocket. He won the Johnston City 1 pocket championship in 1965, 1967, 1968 & 1972. He won the 1 pocket division at the Stardust Open in 1968 and was the All Around Champion at the 1973 Stardust Open. He was a life long bachelor who loved animals and his ever present hats. He started his pool career at the age of 14. Although he had several great 1st place finishes in tournaments, he made his living thru gambling. Billiards Digest did a profile on him in their May 1998 issue. Tom Shaw, a great pool historian, wrote an article on him in the July 1999 issue of Pool & Billiard magazine. He was inducted into the BCA Hall of Fame in 1999. Hope this helps some.
Larry "Boston Shorty" Johnson was born on July 20, 1929 in Cambridge, Mass.and died Dec 10, 2000 at the age of 71 from cancer. He was a very, very accomplished player in both pocket games as well as 3 cushion. It's my opinion he was best at 1 pocket. He won the Johnston City 1 pocket championship in 1965, 1967, 1968 & 1972. He won the 1 pocket division at the Stardust Open in 1968 and was the All Around Champion at the 1973 Stardust Open. He was a life long bachelor who loved animals and his ever present hats. He started his pool career at the age of 14. Although he had several great 1st place finishes in tournaments, he made his living thru gambling. Billiards Digest did a profile on him in their May 1998 issue. Tom Shaw, a great pool historian, wrote an article on him in the July 1999 issue of Pool & Billiard magazine. He was inducted into the BCA Hall of Fame in 1999. Hope this helps some.
A delightful guy and a great all around player. He was very intense and confident, and occasionally cocky, in a tourney or an action session, but there was much humility in the man, and he was very approachable.
Saw him play one pocket in the late 1980's, saw him play nine ball in the mid-1990's. Never saw him in his prime. Very composed at the table. I have watched footage of his three cushion game, and he showed quite a bit of form, averaging about 1.1 if memory serves.
Finally, I seem to recall that Boston Shorty was one of those who influenced the young Larry Lisciotti, but can't say for certain.
Saw him play one pocket in the late 1980's, saw him play nine ball in the mid-1990's. Never saw him in his prime. Very composed at the table. I have watched footage of his three cushion game, and he showed quite a bit of form, averaging about 1.1 if memory serves.
Finally, I seem to recall that Boston Shorty was one of those who influenced the young Larry Lisciotti, but can't say for certain.
Here's a happy opportunity to quote WONDEROYS...
Boston Shorty figures prominently in my little novel WONDERBOYS. Early on in the writing of it, I asked Shorty if I could use his name in a fictional account and he gave his permission. At a tournament in Chelmsford when I was visiting, I gave him the first copy of the book out of the box and the next day he told me that he thought it was just fine what I wrote with him in it. He kidded me and said it’s full of you know what…just like me. lol.
Here is a snippet from p. 108…the narrator was relating how he had a pretty good tournament, and threw in a Shorty short:
“I wore a black v-neck sweater, which I sometimes took off during my matches. Shorty said he was going to Peru to play in the World 3-Cushion Championship, and he needed a black sweater. He liked the v-neck, and I said he could have mine for that brown pork pie hat he was wearing. He said it was his lucky hat, but that he would give it to me when he came back. Shorty came back, and I've seen pictures of him with the other competitors, all in nifty black sweaters, with their country's flag stitched on the front. I'm still waiting for the pork pie hat. The one with the little red feather in the hatband.”
This is based in reality. I was wearing that black v-neck sweater during a tournament…and Shorty did ask about it…that he needed a black sweater for that 3-cushion tournament. He came up to Salem the day after the tournament so we could go shopping at the Marshall’s where I bought mine.
Shorty brought his mother along. She had some pictures of Shorty in her purse that were priceless…like one of Shorty in his little league baseball outfit…so cute. Well we went to Marshall’s and they had no more black v-necks…so Shorty asked if he could have mine…and I told the rest of what really did happen in this WONDERBOYS excerpt.
That day that I saw Shorty again and gave him his copy of WONDERBOYS I asked again for my pork pie hat and Shorty said that it was in the Smithsonian. I said that I would accept the hat he had that day and he said he needed it but he would mail it to me. I said ‘just like the pork pie hat?…and he said ‘just like the pork pie hat.’
Boston Shorty figures prominently in my little novel WONDERBOYS. Early on in the writing of it, I asked Shorty if I could use his name in a fictional account and he gave his permission. At a tournament in Chelmsford when I was visiting, I gave him the first copy of the book out of the box and the next day he told me that he thought it was just fine what I wrote with him in it. He kidded me and said it’s full of you know what…just like me. lol.
Here is a snippet from p. 108…the narrator was relating how he had a pretty good tournament, and threw in a Shorty short:
“I wore a black v-neck sweater, which I sometimes took off during my matches. Shorty said he was going to Peru to play in the World 3-Cushion Championship, and he needed a black sweater. He liked the v-neck, and I said he could have mine for that brown pork pie hat he was wearing. He said it was his lucky hat, but that he would give it to me when he came back. Shorty came back, and I've seen pictures of him with the other competitors, all in nifty black sweaters, with their country's flag stitched on the front. I'm still waiting for the pork pie hat. The one with the little red feather in the hatband.”
This is based in reality. I was wearing that black v-neck sweater during a tournament…and Shorty did ask about it…that he needed a black sweater for that 3-cushion tournament. He came up to Salem the day after the tournament so we could go shopping at the Marshall’s where I bought mine.
Shorty brought his mother along. She had some pictures of Shorty in her purse that were priceless…like one of Shorty in his little league baseball outfit…so cute. Well we went to Marshall’s and they had no more black v-necks…so Shorty asked if he could have mine…and I told the rest of what really did happen in this WONDERBOYS excerpt.
That day that I saw Shorty again and gave him his copy of WONDERBOYS I asked again for my pork pie hat and Shorty said that it was in the Smithsonian. I said that I would accept the hat he had that day and he said he needed it but he would mail it to me. I said ‘just like the pork pie hat?…and he said ‘just like the pork pie hat.’
He was inducted posthumously into the One Pocket Hall of Fame at a special event at Brighton Billiards in 2005. Here is his One Pocket HOF page
Shorty finally got the 7-Ball
Not long after they started, Frankie realized he was getting robbed and wanted to "adjust" the spot.., but Shorty said,"Nope".
Back in the mid 1990's I was at the Cue & Brew in Branford, CT and a young, talented Frankie Hernandez was woofing at a surely past his prime Boston Shorty trying to get him to play.., Frankie kept offering Shorty the 8 but Shorty just sat there and would not even look up, he'd just say "Nope".., finally, a frustrated Frankie shouted, "OK!!, you got the 7-ball.., c'mon, let's go!!.., you got the 7-ball!!"..., Shorty looked up at Frankie, paused and said, "I waited all my life for the 7-Ball.., get the balls kid!"nasc said:
Not long after they started, Frankie realized he was getting robbed and wanted to "adjust" the spot.., but Shorty said,"Nope".
So someone brings a 60ish Shorty out to the BCA tourney in the early 90's. He is entered in the Seniors division naturally. I had known him for 30 years and never saw him hit a ball on a bar table. He's practicing and the noted hustler King Kong notices that this old guy can play a little so he approaches him. One thing leads to another and soon they are embroiled in a six ahead set for 600. Two hours and three sets later, it's all over. Shorty has busted the great Kong.
I'm sitting there watching this slaughter. Finally KK turns to me and says, "Who is this old man"? I had to laugh. Shorty may have missed one ball and one or two run out opportunities. Afterwards he confided in me in that New England drawl of his, where everything sounds like a sneer. "Deesse tables are a jokkke"!
And for Shorty they were.
I'm sitting there watching this slaughter. Finally KK turns to me and says, "Who is this old man"? I had to laugh. Shorty may have missed one ball and one or two run out opportunities. Afterwards he confided in me in that New England drawl of his, where everything sounds like a sneer. "Deesse tables are a jokkke"!
And for Shorty they were.
I grew up in Detroit area before leaving for California in 1976. The room I played in had 8 billiard tables and that was my game of choice back then. Once a year, that room hosted a very big 3-cushion tournament, which Shorty attended many of them. So this is from a 3-cushion stand point:
Shorty was among the best of 3-cushion players in those days in the mid-west & East coast. Smooth as silk & it was hilarious watching him have to stretch for shots others, not nicknamed Shorty, played naturally. He was poetry in motion and very clever/creative with his shot selection and safety play. Remember he was an excellent pool player & gambled pretty big so he wasn't about to give up a shot to anyone. He definately had the "hustler" mentality. So with that said, here's my observation:
1) If you've never been to a pro 3-cushion tournament, the conditions are perfect. Tables freshly recovered, balls new, everything looks like you can eat off it. Billiard player treated the equipment with the utmost respect. Well here comes Shorty. First game of the tournament (& pretty much before every match), Shorty stands at head of the pristeen table, takes container of baby powder and puts a "generous" portion of it in the palm of his hand. He then rubs his hands together in a kind of slapping motion creating a cloud of powder over the table. But he doesn't stop there, he then takes both of his hands and rubs both palms on the fresh new cloth to get off the excess. It was a mess. His opponent is now on tilt & often times asked for the table to be brushed & we are rolling in the isles laughing our butts off.
2) At one of the World tournaments held in Vegas in the late 70s or early 80s, Shorty was about to play against Raymond Ceulemans for the 1st time. Ceulemans was, by far, the best player that ever lived in those days and still might be. He was averaging over 1.5 billiards/inning in the days where that was unheard of. But Shorty being Shorty, he leaned over to Allen Gilbert, whom I was next to at the time, and out of the side of his mouth he whispers something like: "wait til he (Ceulemans) gets a taste of good old American oiyyyyyyyylllll." (meaning safety play). Shorty then proceeded to get beat like 50 - 8 or 10 & Raymond had his best billiard/inning average of the tournament. Again, we we're rolling in the isles.
Shorty was one of a kind and is missed. I'm just sorry I couldn't be a round him more.
Dave
Shorty was among the best of 3-cushion players in those days in the mid-west & East coast. Smooth as silk & it was hilarious watching him have to stretch for shots others, not nicknamed Shorty, played naturally. He was poetry in motion and very clever/creative with his shot selection and safety play. Remember he was an excellent pool player & gambled pretty big so he wasn't about to give up a shot to anyone. He definately had the "hustler" mentality. So with that said, here's my observation:
1) If you've never been to a pro 3-cushion tournament, the conditions are perfect. Tables freshly recovered, balls new, everything looks like you can eat off it. Billiard player treated the equipment with the utmost respect. Well here comes Shorty. First game of the tournament (& pretty much before every match), Shorty stands at head of the pristeen table, takes container of baby powder and puts a "generous" portion of it in the palm of his hand. He then rubs his hands together in a kind of slapping motion creating a cloud of powder over the table. But he doesn't stop there, he then takes both of his hands and rubs both palms on the fresh new cloth to get off the excess. It was a mess. His opponent is now on tilt & often times asked for the table to be brushed & we are rolling in the isles laughing our butts off.
2) At one of the World tournaments held in Vegas in the late 70s or early 80s, Shorty was about to play against Raymond Ceulemans for the 1st time. Ceulemans was, by far, the best player that ever lived in those days and still might be. He was averaging over 1.5 billiards/inning in the days where that was unheard of. But Shorty being Shorty, he leaned over to Allen Gilbert, whom I was next to at the time, and out of the side of his mouth he whispers something like: "wait til he (Ceulemans) gets a taste of good old American oiyyyyyyyylllll." (meaning safety play). Shorty then proceeded to get beat like 50 - 8 or 10 & Raymond had his best billiard/inning average of the tournament. Again, we we're rolling in the isles.
Shorty was one of a kind and is missed. I'm just sorry I couldn't be a round him more.
Dave
Last edited:
The 'Short One' no BS
Boston Shorty, we called him back in the 'day' "the short man" looked like a cab driver...had an internal smile that drew himself towards you. I being easily 12+ inches than the short man, I marveled in his mannerisms.
Like the Fat Man ' ala Rudolph Wanderone, the "short man" syndrome surely won him allot of money back in the day.
Shorty...Johnston City IL 67-72 first saw Boston Shorty...a lady's man
Powder Down...Never saw a player/probably never will...played with a non-wrap cue he had to look UP to the tip, could not see the top/PUT a ton of baby powder into both his hands...rubbed the powder into the "whole" cue from shaft to butt, rubbed his hands together, clapped them with a nice poof of powder and some clap noise...then he was ready to play. He was a ball under Ronnie Allen back in the day, more like 1.5+ balls anywhoo.
Saw him in the 'back room' Johnston City, "ring game" (1970/69?). Shorty, The Springfield Rifle, Ed Kelly, Mexican Johnny and Searcy. The bet $50/30 on the 10/5 & doulble on run-outs. Shorty finally got a shot after 5 racks of ten ball being run before his first shot, he was hooked...hooked good". Quoted Shorty..."this is the Shits"...he was sick to see such easy run outs till his shot...he would of felt lucky just to 'hit' his ball let alone luck it in.
Boston Shorty, we called him back in the 'day' "the short man" looked like a cab driver...had an internal smile that drew himself towards you. I being easily 12+ inches than the short man, I marveled in his mannerisms.
Like the Fat Man ' ala Rudolph Wanderone, the "short man" syndrome surely won him allot of money back in the day.
Shorty...Johnston City IL 67-72 first saw Boston Shorty...a lady's man
Powder Down...Never saw a player/probably never will...played with a non-wrap cue he had to look UP to the tip, could not see the top/PUT a ton of baby powder into both his hands...rubbed the powder into the "whole" cue from shaft to butt, rubbed his hands together, clapped them with a nice poof of powder and some clap noise...then he was ready to play. He was a ball under Ronnie Allen back in the day, more like 1.5+ balls anywhoo.
Saw him in the 'back room' Johnston City, "ring game" (1970/69?). Shorty, The Springfield Rifle, Ed Kelly, Mexican Johnny and Searcy. The bet $50/30 on the 10/5 & doulble on run-outs. Shorty finally got a shot after 5 racks of ten ball being run before his first shot, he was hooked...hooked good". Quoted Shorty..."this is the Shits"...he was sick to see such easy run outs till his shot...he would of felt lucky just to 'hit' his ball let alone luck it in.
Last edited:
As I recall, that would have been May 1st, 1978 starting at about 4PM at the Sahara. It was Ceulemans' first match and he had just gotten off the plane from Belgium. He won the lag and got out to 60-8 in 26 innings for a 2.308 average. Since Raymond broke, Shorty got the equalizing inning starting from a break shot, so he goes up to the table needing a run of 52 to tie. He got two points from the break for a 60-10 loss and a 0.385 average for the match. Ceulemans had a better match in the final of the tournament against Kobayashi (who finished 2nd) with only 25 innings.12squared said:
Some other details are at http://www.sfbilliards.com/3c/Ceul02m.gif
A shot Shorty was known for was shooting the spot shot into the side pocket without the cue ball hitting a cushion. Think masse.
. Thanks for the corrected info...let's not let the facts get in the way of a good story 
jay helfert said:
Do you think it's possible he stopped in Denver on the way?
I was playing the Colorado state 9-ball championships (early 90's) and a guy fitting the description (sixty-ish, short, wearing a hat and rotund) was hanging out watching some people play and he asked me if I wanted to gamble. I had never seen the guy and I was getting ready for a match, but I told him Dave Gomez would probably gamble...thinking I was giving Davey a fish.
Anway, Davey tells me "I don't know, he plays pretty good." and politely passed on the action. I had never seen that, after all, when the pros came to town, Davey was ready to fire a few barrels at them. I asked Davey later who it was and he said he didn't know, but he knew he played good.
I don't remember who it was, but somebody good (maybe Melvin Sharp) played him and man could that short, fat guy play. He ran out from everywhere. He won 5 games in as many minutes and the local guy quit. It was the best bar-box playing I'd seen to date and I was regularly playing with and watching Danny Medina and some of the other great barbox players in and around Denver at the time. It wasn't just that he was running out, but that every shot was perfect. There was a snap to the way he played. Hard to explain.
I've always wondered who that stranger was, maybe it was him?
Cheers,
RC
sixpack said:
sixpack,
Shorty was "short" but no way fat. He had a little paunch, but nothing that would be construed as being even chunky, let alone fat. The older he got, the slimmer he got.
Accu-Stats has a video of him playing Lou Butera in a senior 9 ball tournament. If you get the chance, maybe view that to see if his image or style rekindles any memories. From your description however, I doubt that was him.
sixpack said:
Could be by the way you described his play. He definitely had a "snap" to his game. But he wasn't that fat, just a little belly on him. And very short, only about 5'2". He was bald also.
I can't think of any other short, chubby guy that age who could play his speed. He wore the old fedora style hat. And he definitely liked to gamble. He wouldn't get on a table without a bet. A little old school that way.
Shorty played the "go anywhere, play anyone" speed. It really didn't matter who you were. In the 60's, 70's and 80's only a handful of players could play his speed. And they had to gamble good too, because he wasn't going to dog it.
Last edited:
I grew up in Somerville,MA and started playing pool at age 9,where Shorty played.He was a daily fixture in Davis Square. His best playing years according to him were mid 50's to late 70;s.He played alot barbox later on,I remember playing in the same weekly tourney's at the hideaway bar in Cambridge.I was also thier in Vegas when he was inducted into the HOF.One of the greatest things I saw was at Abels in Queens when he thumped Sang Lee in a 3C tourney.I also played 3C with Shorty and learned alot. Later on cancer cought up.He had hardly any family,all his pool trophy's are in a bar called Redbones in Somerville where he spent alot of time.He was a stand up guy and my friend.
jay helfert said:
LOL! I use to hang out at Boston Bowl with my brothers and Shorty would pop in every once in a while looking for action. You captured as closely as possible his speech! He was usually cussing, always wore a hat and he always had a cigar in his mouth.