Did Scmidt set new record

Just imagine how you would feel if you posted a vid running 500+ plus balls and some dipshit starts talking about your opening break shot, how fast or .... lol.... easy your table is... come on people!

We all say we want to see John S. and other pros play more str8 pool. Well, most people dont put off a very positive feeling toward anyone that does try.

Did anyone of you call out Willie M.? Cricket, cricket.....

So, why say boo to John?

Rake
 
When you think about it, it's kind of amazing that Mosconi didn't try for a super high run off of a break shot, where it was witnessed and "certified". Especially after running the 526. Maybe he thought that the 526 would never be beat? Surely he had to hear about the other even higher runs by others in practice sessions.

Everyone seems so concerned that if John breaks the 526 what that would mean, but I'm pretty sure that John would openly acknowledge that Mosconi was a much better straight pool player than him, regardless if he ends up running more than 526 on tape.


I don't think Mosconi cared about a high run record.

It was just that that night, probably because he was friends with Bob, the pool room owner, he just felt like going for it. Everyone talks about how there's no money in breaking Mosconi's record. But the truth of the matter is that there was no money in it for Mosconi either. His contract had him on the hook for a exhibition match to 125, 150, or 200 and something like 14 trick shots. When he was done with that his contract obligation was completed. Then he wanted out of there and to get on to the next exhibition.

Lou Figueroa
 
"Earl Newman (referee)" is one name on the affidavit.


Have you ever been asked to autograph something or sign something official?

Yes, he signed Earl Newman on the affidavit. However, both the Springfield News and R.A. Dyer in "The Hustler & The Champ" refer to Clarence Newman. Because it was a legal document it's possible and even likely that he signed what was on his birth certificate rather than what he went by day-to-day. I'll also mention that according to the Springfield News that Mosconi's opponent, "Earl" Bruney actually went by the first name of Jake.

Lou Figueroa
 
John told me on several occasions that he could never run 527 on a Diamond.
However, if he does run 527 or more, that accomplishment would have to marked with an asterisk, not because of the table or the pocket size.
Why?
1. Ball in hand for the opening break shot.
2. Not a real game, because there's no opponent.
3. No referee.
4. No neutral racker.
Schmidt's procedure is identical to the format that's used at Derby City during the 14.1 Straight Pool Challenge. Under those conditions, shooting on a Diamond table, I don't think Schmidt has ever broken 200.


Oh, about the opening break thing and whether Mosconi shot a flyer his first shot, according to R.A Dyer's account in "The Hustler & The Champ" the opening sequence went like this:

"Bruney shot first and played a safety. Mosconi returned it, leaving Bruney nothing. They went back and forth like that a few times, ducking and stalling. Jake got the first open look and made three balls, but the fourth one he missed.

And then it was over."

Lou Figueroa
 
Last edited:
I don't need to go into it, searches here as well as across the web will bring up plenty of skepticism regarding Mosconi's run. Perhaps it is Mosconi's run that needs an asterisk.

You can tell from the way people respond how they really need the legend to continue. Maybe it was legit, maybe it wasn't so legit. Either way, it's an incredible feat, perhaps the greatest.

But like I said -

In my opinion, the highest video taped run is the best run of all time.



Regarding Mosconi, the only thing that should finally put things to rest would be a run of 527 or more balls, on a table at least 8 feet in size, and pockets no bigger than 5.25" ...cause Mosconi did it on an 8 footer with 5.25" sewers.

But even that won't satisfy the people who cling to legends. Even a breaking of the record will not suffice on ball count alone. They will come up with something to diminish any record breaking threat. Such as ....


All this "it was an exhibition" and "there was an opponent" and "he didn't start with a break shot" is bullshit. Completely irrelevant. All intended to invalidate any challenge to the record.
 
jesus christ. the conditions are never going to be replicated, get over it. there are no exhibitions anymore, and there are no straight pool crowds either. if john beats the record we will all be able to witness and scrutinize the record run. and that can't be said about mosconis 8-foot-run
Well said.
 
I don't need to go into it, searches here as well as across the web will bring up plenty of skepticism regarding Mosconi's run. Perhaps it is Mosconi's run that needs an asterisk.

You can tell from the way people respond how they really need the legend to continue. Maybe it was legit, maybe it wasn't so legit. Either way, it's an incredible feat, perhaps the greatest.

But like I said -

In my opinion, the highest video taped run is the best run of all time.



Regarding Mosconi, the only thing that should finally put things to rest would be a run of 527 or more balls, on a table at least 8 feet in size, and pockets no bigger than 5.25" ...cause Mosconi did it on an 8 footer with 5.25" sewers.

But even that won't satisfy the people who cling to legends. Even a breaking of the record will not suffice on ball count alone. They will come up with something to diminish any record breaking threat. Such as ....


All this "it was an exhibition" and "there was an opponent" and "he didn't start with a break shot" is bullshit. Completely irrelevant. All intended to invalidate any challenge to the record.


Arguing about records is what aficionados of every sport do.

And frankly, all the things we're discussing here will come into play in assessing the validity of any claim to the record. And about the video thing -- Cleary already demonstrated to all of us how deceptive video can be.

Lou Figueroa
 
I don't need to go into it, searches here as well as across the web will bring up plenty of skepticism regarding Mosconi's run. Perhaps it is Mosconi's run that needs an asterisk.

You can tell from the way people respond how they really need the legend to continue. Maybe it was legit, maybe it wasn't so legit. Either way, it's an incredible feat, perhaps the greatest.

But like I said -

In my opinion, the highest video taped run is the best run of all time.



Regarding Mosconi, the only thing that should finally put things to rest would be a run of 527 or more balls, on a table at least 8 feet in size, and pockets no bigger than 5.25" ...cause Mosconi did it on an 8 footer with 5.25" sewers.

But even that won't satisfy the people who cling to legends. Even a breaking of the record will not suffice on ball count alone. They will come up with something to diminish any record breaking threat. Such as ....


All this "it was an exhibition" and "there was an opponent" and "he didn't start with a break shot" is bullshit. Completely irrelevant. All intended to invalidate any challenge to the record.

You are correct! And if it was an exhibition to 200, then at 200 it was over. After that it was just shooting balls.

Going by all the nitpickers logic, his run was 200, end of story. Cant have it both ways.
Jason
 
Arguing about records is what aficionados of every sport do.

And frankly, all the things we're discussing here will come into play in assessing the validity of any claim to the record. And about the video thing -- Cleary already demonstrated to all of us how deceptive video can be.

Lou Figueroa

So now video isn't proof?
Jason
 
You are correct! And if it was an exhibition to 200, then at 200 it was over. After that it was just shooting balls.

Going by all the nitpickers logic, his run was 200, end of story. Cant have it both ways.
Jason


Perhaps..

...but nobody left their seats, the ref was still racking balls, and the witnesses signed an affidavit as to what they saw.

Lou Figueroa
 
Arguing about records is what aficionados of every sport do.

And frankly, all the things we're discussing here will come into play in assessing the validity of any claim to the record. And about the video thing -- Cleary already demonstrated to all of us how deceptive video can be.

Lou Figueroa

And 30, or so, people sitting around jibber-jabbing while Mosconi is shooting is 100% verifiable?

I have no doubt that he made 526 balls, but I'm not so sure he "never" table fouled during the process.

I'm not one to nit and pick about how he did it, but there are too many "worshipers" who won't accept anything but what they want to believe.

Even Mosconi has told different stories as to how his run ended.

If he couldn't remember, who is to say anybody else could say what happened on each and every shot?

Even if somebody beats his record, somebody else will say, "well, all 526 balls weren't exactly in the same place they were when Willie did it".

There is no way to do "what he did"...it can never be replicated "exactly" like it "was".
 
Perhaps..

...but nobody left their seats, the ref was still racking balls, and the witnesses signed an affidavit as to what they saw.

Lou Figueroa

Still, to all the nitpickers it's a clear cut end of exhibition and anything after does not count.
Jason
 
I believe that would count as your opinion, not fact.

Lou Figueroa
dooly noted

It is NOT my opinion. All these nitpickers saying - it wasnt on the same table, it wasnt the same cloth, it wasnt the same size pockets, it wasnt the same balls, it's not in an exhibition, he shot a shot he wouldnt shoot in a tournament, and on, and on and on.

No matter what John or anybody else does, somebody that cant run out in 3 ball is gonna say it doesnt count.

Fact is - if an exhibition, tournament, etc is to 200 balls, that is when "exhibition/tournament" ends.
 
I agree! That's why it would be a significant achievement to accomplish this. The fact that it might come after hundreds of consecutive attempts as opposed to happening during the play of a single match also makes it quite a bit different than Mosconi's 526. Remember Mosconi only got one try per exhibition to run balls and almost always he quit after he got to 150. What if Mosconi had continued all his runs after he reached 150? How high would his best run be then? :thumbup2:

There is also the idea that Mosconi was making a good living doing regular exhibitions during this time period, so although he generally stopped at 150, he played a LOT of individual games when spread across his exhibition schedule, whereas 14.1 is only a practice game for John, and on much tougher equipment than Mosconi's run was on. And John isn't making the equivalent of $2,000 - $3,000 a week the way Mosconi was. If John had that kind of financial incentive, you can guarantee that the record would not still be standing.

I am of the opinion that Mosconi only attempted to continue his run because the table was playing brutally easy. I doubt he even bothers to try if the table is 4 1/2 x 9 or 5 x 10. Given that one of his exhibition requirements was bucket pockets, that tells you how easy this particular 4 x 8 played if he could be cajoled into trying for a high run.
 
Back
Top