Dave Yager ... How good was he ?

[iowa_player]

I have heard alot about Mr.Yager around town here ( Clinton Iowa )
From the things I have been told he was a very strong player
back in the day !

Would love to hear some stories if anyone has any to share .

Thanks ... Larry

 

[pulldapin]

Funny, my uncle's name was Dave Jaeger from Cascade.

Good luck in your search.

Carl

 

[Mikjary]

Dave Yeager had a nickname, "Univac 1000" back when computers were science fiction. We also called him, "Ichabod" because of his appearance, tall and thin. The computer name was because he never missed a ball.

I used to watch him routinely run six packs on the 9 footers. He hung with Buddy Hall and his pos was like watching Buddy play in his prime. He said he had a high run in big table 9 ball of 22 racks. After seeing him play I have no doubt this is true.

He was a strong banker, too. A friend of mine challenged him to some full rack banks. At one point Dave strung three racks and my friend pulled up. No telling how many banks he would have run. He was a champion at jumping balls, too. He would roll out to a jump shot and force you to shoot it or he would probably run out. :grin:

He was strictly a money player and didn't do too well in tournaments. He stayed under the radar and made a living on the road. I beat him in a big nine ball tourney once, but would never do more than practice with him outside of that. In his prime he was easily as good or better than the best. If you played against him you got used to sitting and racking. :wink:

Best,
Mike

 

[JMB]

clinton, iowa

dave yaeger was a medium SHORTSTOP, nothing more.

 

[dardusm]

Dave used to come down to the KC area and play quit a bit. I had the privilege of practicing against him at Raytown recreation every so often. One time, he broke and ran a 9 pack (I remember this as I was his rack boy and counted each one). This was an actually break and run on a 9 foot Brunswick with no 9 ball breaks or combo's. The pockets were buckets but still very impressive.

He one time matched up with an up and coming future pro Jimmy Wetch on Big Bertha (5 x 10) at the Rec. Jimmy the Kid was in town matching up with players and played Dave with the seven. Jimmy won the match but the impressive thing was that Jimmy getting the seven to begin with so that told me how much respect he had for Dave's game at the time. He might not have been a champion but I think he was stronger than a medium shortstop.

 

[mosconiac]

So if I understand this correctly...dave yaeger was a medium SHORTSTOP that could run 22 racks of 9B on a 9' and run 3 consecutive racks of full-rack banks, nothing more.

There's your answer, Larry! Nothing to see here, please move along.

 

[ironman]

So if I understand this correctly...dave yaeger was a medium SHORTSTOP that could run 22 racks of 9B on a 9' and run 3 consecutive racks of full-rack banks, nothing more.

There's your answer, Larry! Nothing to see here, please move along.

One of my most memorable matches was against Dave in the Denver Open around 1983.
he had me down 10-2 going to 11. I was just sick but just couldn't get a shot to get going.
With him on the hill and it being loser break, I broke and made 6 balls. Then just shoot and stop and out.
i then won 8 in a row with some unbelievable rolls and getting chances finally.
i honestly felt rather badly for Dave as he had played so well early. If he could have gotten to the top of the pool room, I think he would have jumped off, head first. If I remember correctly Jay was sitting there watching.
Dave was a good guy and a very nice guy. I haven''t heard the name in years.
later on I eleminated by our own Island Drive who went on to get 3rd place. The winner was Mike Segal!

 

[iowa_player]

Funny, my uncle's name was Dave Jaeger from Cascade.

Good luck in your search.

Carl

LoL

Dave Yeager had a nickname, "Univac 1000" back when computers were science fiction. We also called him, "Ichabod" because of his appearance, tall and thin. The computer name was because he never missed a ball.

I used to watch him routinely run six packs on the 9 footers. He hung with Buddy Hall and his pos was like watching Buddy play in his prime. He said he had a high run in big table 9 ball of 22 racks. After seeing him play I have no doubt this is true.

He was a strong banker, too. A friend of mine challenged him to some full rack banks. At one point Dave strung three racks and my friend pulled up. No telling how many banks he would have run. He was a champion at jumping balls, too. He would roll out to a jump shot and force you to shoot it or he would probably run out. :grin:

He was strictly a money player and didn't do too well in tournaments. He stayed under the radar and made a living on the road. I beat him in a big nine ball tourney once, but would never do more than practice with him outside of that. In his prime he was easily as good or better than the best. If you played against him you got used to sitting and racking. :wink:

Best,
Mike

Thank you Mike this is along the lines of what I hear localy !

dave yaeger was a medium SHORTSTOP, nothing more.

Thanks for your input sir.

Dave used to come down to the KC area and play quit a bit. I had the privilege of practicing against him at Raytown recreation every so often. One time, he broke and ran a 9 pack (I remember this as I was his rack boy and counted each one). This was an actually break and run on a 9 foot Brunswick with no 9 ball breaks or combo's. The pockets were buckets but still very impressive.

He one time matched up with an up and coming future pro Jimmy Wetch on Big Bertha (5 x 10) at the Rec. Jimmy the Kid was in town matching up with players and played Dave with the seven. Jimmy won the match but the impressive thing was that Jimmy getting the seven to begin with so that told me how much respect he had for Dave's game at the time. He might not have been a champion but I think he was stronger than a medium shortstop.

WoW Thank you sir. !

So if I understand this correctly...dave yaeger was a medium SHORTSTOP that could run 22 racks of 9B on a 9' and run 3 consecutive racks of full-rack banks, nothing more.

There's your answer, Larry! Nothing to see here, please move along.

Hi Mark hows it going ? Thanks for your input my friend ... Please give Hanna a hug for me !

One of my most memorable matches was against Dave in the Denver Open around 1983.
he had me down 10-2 going to 11. I was just sick but just couldn't get a shot to get going.
With him on the hill and it being loser break, I broke and made 6 balls. Then just shoot and stop and out.
i then won 8 in a row with some unbelievable rolls and getting chances finally.
i honestly felt rather badly for Dave as he had played so well early. If he could have gotten to the top of the pool room, I think he would have jumped off, head first. If I remember correctly Jay was sitting there watching.
Dave was a good guy and a very nice guy. I haven''t heard the name in years.
later on I eleminated by our own Island Drive who went on to get 3rd place. The winner was Mike Segal!

Awesome come back !!! Thanks for your input sir.


Any one else have any other stories to share ?

 

[JMB]

dave yaeger

Dave used to come down to the KC area and play quit a bit. I had the privilege of practicing against him at Raytown recreation every so often. One time, he broke and ran a 9 pack (I remember this as I was his rack boy and counted each one). This was an actually break and run on a 9 foot Brunswick with no 9 ball breaks or combo's. The pockets were buckets but still very impressive.

He one time matched up with an up and coming future pro Jimmy Wetch on Big Bertha (5 x 10) at the Rec. Jimmy the Kid was in town matching up with players and played Dave with the seven. Jimmy won the match but the impressive thing was that Jimmy getting the seven to begin with so that told me how much respect he had for Dave's game at the time. He might not have been a champion but I think he was stronger than a medium shortstop.

jimmy wetch was a far superior player.

 

[Mikjary]

When Dave came through Chicago in the 70's, nobody knew who he was. He managed to stay relatively unknown until he beat everybody in town. He laid down a lot of lemons on the road and most people who watched his game never really got a gauge on how good he really played.

As I said, I spanked him in a big 9 ball tourney and wouldn't have thought much of him, but I saw him play many times for the cash. His top gear outside of tournaments was as good as it gets.

Best,
Mike

 

[Cuaba]

He could give me any spot I asked for and beat me like a drum.

 

[dardusm]

jimmy wetch was a far superior player.

Yep, Jimmy was/is a great player. I was lucky enough to watch Jimmy play well over a dozen top players over the years for pretty good $$$. He was being staked by several down here in the KC area. I watched him play Efren Reyes, CJ Wiley, Jose Parica, Roger Griffus, Shannon Daulton, Keith McCready, Reed Pierce, Johnny Archer, Dave Matlock, and some others I can't remember. Most of the sets were 10 ahead.

As far as Dave, he might not have been a top tournament soldier but Jimmy respected his game enough that he wanted the spot. But this was when Jimmy was probably 18 or so and not quite a top pro yet.