'Champagne Eddie' Kelly and 3C

billiardshot

AzB Gold Member
Gold Member
Silver Member
You hear about Boston 'Shorty', Harold Worst, even D. Matlock. But have anyone see 'Champagne Eddie' Kelly playing 3 Cushion and how did he fair?
 
Eddie Kelly

I first met Eddie K. when I was 16 or 17 in a poolroom in Balt. MD. The Pool room was Klein's,Eddie was the counterman and he also taught dancing lessons at a Authur Murry's dance studio. He was the best 3'c player in MD. The year I think was 1960. I know he is a friend of Eddie Robin. I would say ,his average was about a ONE. I think he won a tournament in 3'c on the west coast. Klein's was a very famous Poolroom in MD. The best players in the world played there,such as Greenleaf,Mosconi,Boston Shorty,Washington Rags. I was there when Eddie Kelly challenge Willy Mosconi to play 9 BALL and of course Willy declined.
 
In Eddie Robin's Winning One Pocket" there a picture of Eddie and Kelly, caption say Corner Pocket of America 1982 2nd place in 3C Tournament.

fastedief thank for added information in your post. Are you a 3C player?
 
A lot of good pocket players play/played good 3-c - the late Irving Crane , Dallas West, Efren Reyes - the late George Mikula NYC - a good pool player (300+ 14.1) played very good 3-c., to name a few.
 
CaromTV still has the match between Boston Shorty and Sang Lee available for sale. It is rough, but a rare sight! I would have loved to see Champaigne Ed Kelly play 3C. That would have been a sight.
 
Sorry Eddie F

Sorry Eddie;
I have to disagree with my friend Eddie F about Eddie K, in 1973 Eddie K was in Chicago with Pancho from NYC, they hung around an all night pool room in Cicero, in there, they had 2 GC billiard tables. Eddie got trapped by a couple of Spanish players playing 3C. When I heard He was in town, I went there a couple of nights later, Pancho woudn't let Him play Me even, so I gave Him 10 pts to 50, for $300.00 a game, wasn't close, then 15 to 50, same result, they pulled up, lucky to get the second barrel. I'd have to say Eddie K was a 700 player at best, made alot of pool shots, actually, He played a little better than Pancho. Boston Shorty could of gave Eddie K the same spot at that time.
Bill Smith "Mr3Cushion"
 
Sorry Eddie;
I have to disagree with my friend Eddie F about Eddie K, in 1973 Eddie K was in Chicago with Pancho from NYC, they hung around an all night pool room in Cicero, in there, they had 2 GC billiard tables. Eddie got trapped by a couple of Spanish players playing 3C. When I heard He was in town, I went there a couple of nights later, Pancho woudn't let Him play Me even, so I gave Him 10 pts to 50, for $300.00 a game, wasn't close, then 15 to 50, same result, they pulled up, lucky to get the second barrel. I'd have to say Eddie K was a 700 player at best, made alot of pool shots, actually, He played a little better than Pancho. Boston Shorty could of gave Eddie K the same spot at that time.
Bill Smith "Mr3Cushion"

I don't want to hijack this thread, but I'm curious about how good Pancho really was. I played him several times in the early 90's at Chris's and I would put him at around .700. But one time at Chris's I played him in a tournament. Bill might remember it. It was right after they got the Verhoevens (1993?). After the flights there was a 16 man single elimination final. Bill played Mazin in the first round and I drew Pancho. He made everything averaging well over 1.000.

Mark
 
Mark any thread or post I do can be highjack. Because it all about 3C history. Cause my next question would be about E.Reyes playing a 3C tournament at Chris in Mid '80 placing 5th or 6th?
 
Back
Top