Jerry Forsyth
Well-known member
We are working on putting the story on our front page now but I wanted to release the news to the forums that Ralf Souquet and Danny Diliberto will be inducted into the Hall of Fame at the US Open this October.
DiLiberto and Souquet Elected to HOF!
- Thread starter Jerry Forsyth
- Start date
Great choices.
Ralf is, quite simply, one of the best players of all time. He has won virtually every significant title in existence and has been one of the most dominant players for years and years. He shines in the biggest events.
Dan is one of the greats of yesteryear and I was lucky enough to watch him many times in his prime. I recall watching several of his matches when he made a great run in the 1982 PPPA World 14.1 Championships only to fall to Steve Mizerak in the final.
Let's add that these are not just two great players but two great gentleman.
Ralf is, quite simply, one of the best players of all time. He has won virtually every significant title in existence and has been one of the most dominant players for years and years. He shines in the biggest events.
Dan is one of the greats of yesteryear and I was lucky enough to watch him many times in his prime. I recall watching several of his matches when he made a great run in the 1982 PPPA World 14.1 Championships only to fall to Steve Mizerak in the final.
Let's add that these are not just two great players but two great gentleman.
The HOF is about to become even more special with the induction of Danny. I'm a fan of Ralph's as well. Not only are they great players, but fine gentlemen as well. Congrats.
Nice
Two very good choices.
Two very good choices.
Wonderful
I am thrilled to hear of this year's two inductees into the Hall of Fame. Ralph is of course deserving as he's been probably the most dominant tournament player of the last 15 years.
I am particularly happy to hear that Danny D is finally inducted into the Hall of Fame. His skills and knowledge of the game have transcended his playing career and thanks to the coverage of accu-stats will carry on for ever. Danny D deserves entrance into the HOF not only for his incredible skill in all games of pocket billiards, but also for his dutiful and consistent dedication and contribution to the sport of professional pool. He is a colorful and wonderful character in the pool world and I feel honored to be able to lay witness to his induction at this year's US Open. God Bless you Danny.
Sincerely,
Raymond Linares
I am thrilled to hear of this year's two inductees into the Hall of Fame. Ralph is of course deserving as he's been probably the most dominant tournament player of the last 15 years.
I am particularly happy to hear that Danny D is finally inducted into the Hall of Fame. His skills and knowledge of the game have transcended his playing career and thanks to the coverage of accu-stats will carry on for ever. Danny D deserves entrance into the HOF not only for his incredible skill in all games of pocket billiards, but also for his dutiful and consistent dedication and contribution to the sport of professional pool. He is a colorful and wonderful character in the pool world and I feel honored to be able to lay witness to his induction at this year's US Open. God Bless you Danny.
Sincerely,
Raymond Linares
@JAM: As a point of clarification, once a player who has been on the ballot for a number of years turns 60 years old, the player automatically comes off the general ballot. That's what happened to Parica. Those players (DiLiberto, Parica, Mataya, etc) are subsequently reviewed by the Hall of Fame Board's Veterans Committee (a five-person committee elected by the USBMA members) every other year. The committee reviews their playing careers to see if the voters should reconsider them. This year the committee recommended Danny, and the Hall of Fame Board (made up of USBMA members, At-Large members and living Hall of Famers) confirmed their recommendation.
I know that all sounds terribly official, but the point is this...after a while it becomes apparent that certain players aren't going to be elected. Danny had the misfortune of being on the ballot back when the BCA (read: industry members) was doing the voting. He had no chance against modern day players like Sigel, Varner, Strickland, etc. because he wasn't current enough. Parica had the misfortune of being on in more recent years against the likes of Fisher, Archer, Busty, Hopkins.
The Veterans Committee can help by recommending a great for a second look. They do this in baseball as well. Players are taken off the ballot after a certain number of years, and are reviewed every other year by a Veterans Committee.
I think the current Hall of Fame Board, which is run by the industry's media members, has done a great job of protecting the integrity of the way a Hall of Fame should be operated.
I (personally only!) think that Parica's time will come, but it will have to wait until at least 2013.
I know that all sounds terribly official, but the point is this...after a while it becomes apparent that certain players aren't going to be elected. Danny had the misfortune of being on the ballot back when the BCA (read: industry members) was doing the voting. He had no chance against modern day players like Sigel, Varner, Strickland, etc. because he wasn't current enough. Parica had the misfortune of being on in more recent years against the likes of Fisher, Archer, Busty, Hopkins.
The Veterans Committee can help by recommending a great for a second look. They do this in baseball as well. Players are taken off the ballot after a certain number of years, and are reviewed every other year by a Veterans Committee.
I think the current Hall of Fame Board, which is run by the industry's media members, has done a great job of protecting the integrity of the way a Hall of Fame should be operated.
I (personally only!) think that Parica's time will come, but it will have to wait until at least 2013.
Nice to see Ralf getting recognized for his achievements. Total shock to realize that Danny has been left out for this long. Long overdue if you ask me.
, would there ever have been a more sure-thing bet in life? 
Well, first and foremost, I must say that I feel extremely honored to have your first post on this forum address my observation. :bow-down:
Thank you for taking the time to provide an explanation of how the voting process works. It seems like the BCA Hall of Fame voting mechanism changes every few years, but maybe this new voting mechanism will become a mainstay, thus projecting and air of transparency and fairness to all. :angel2:
How refreshing it is to learn how the process works and not wonder what, how, and why after the fact. :smile:
Don't be a stranger 'round these parts, MikeP312. Welcome to the jungle! :wave3:
Ralf and Danny
Congratulations for both - they are well deserved!
I also feel Jose Parica's time will come - and it is unfortunate he missed out in earlier years. He is deserving.
But Ralf is truely one of the best ever - and Diliberto has been around the pool world forever - in many capacities - and always excelled.
It is especially nice to see Danny being inducted - when just a year or so ago, it was questionable how his health would hold up.
It is tough to keep a fighter down!
mark Griffin
Congratulations for both - they are well deserved!
I also feel Jose Parica's time will come - and it is unfortunate he missed out in earlier years. He is deserving.
But Ralf is truely one of the best ever - and Diliberto has been around the pool world forever - in many capacities - and always excelled.
It is especially nice to see Danny being inducted - when just a year or so ago, it was questionable how his health would hold up.
It is tough to keep a fighter down!
mark Griffin
For those that are interested;
1966–1969
* Ralph Greenleaf (1966)
* Willie Hoppe (1966)
* Charles (Charlie) C. Peterson (1966) •
* Welker Cochran (1967)
* Alfredo DeOro (1967)
* Benjamin (Ben) B. Nartzik (1967) •
* Willie Mosconi (1968)
* Jacob (Jake) "The Wizard" Schaefer Sr. (1968)
* Jacob (Jake) Schaefer Jr. (1968)
* Herman J. Rambow (1969) •
[edit] 1970–1979
* Harold Worst (1970)
* John Wesley Hyatt (1971) •
* Johnny Layton (1974)
* Frank Taberski (1975)
* James (Jimmy) Caras (1977)
* Irving Crane (1978)
[edit] 1980–1989
* Steve "The Miz" Mizerak (1980)
* Dorothy Wise (1981)
* Joseph (Joe) "The Meatman" Balsis (1982)
* Luther Lassiter (1983)
* Rudolph "Minnesota Fats" Wanderone Jr. (1984) •
* Jean Balukas (1985)
* Lou Butera (1986)
* Erwin Rudolph (1987)
* Andrew Ponzi (1988)
* Michael (Mike) Sigel (1989)
[edit] 1990–1999
* John Brunswick (1990) •
* Walter Tevis (1991) •
* Nick Varner (1992)
* Michael Phelan (1993) •
* Eddie "The Knoxville Bear" Taylor (1993)
* Ray "Cool Cat" Martin (1994)
* Jimmy Moore (1994)
* Cisero Murphy (1995)
* Dallas West (1996)
* Arthur "Babe" Cranfield (1997)
* Ruth McGinnis (1997)
* Larry "Boston Shorty" Johnson (1999)
[edit] 2000–2009
* Cecil (Buddy) P. "The Rifleman" Hall (2000)
* Robert Byrne (2001) •
* Raymond "Mr. 100" Ceulemans (2001)
* Loree Jon "Queen of the Hill" Jones (2002)
* James (Jim, Jimmy) "King James" Rempe (2002)
* Edwin "Champagne Eddie" Kelly (2003)
* Efren "Bata the Magician" Reyes (2003)
* Ewa "The Striking Viking" Mataya Laurance (2004)
* George Balabushka (2004) •
* Mike Massey (2005) •
* Robin Bell "Bankroll" Dodson (2005)
* Earl "The Pearl" Strickland (2006)
* Sang Lee (2007)[1]
* Allen Hopkins (2008)
* Pat Fleming (2008) •
* Johnny "The Scorpion" Archer (2009)
* Allison "The Duchess of Doom" Fisher (2009)
[edit] 2010–2019
* Francisco "Django" Bustamante (2010)
1966–1969
* Ralph Greenleaf (1966)
* Willie Hoppe (1966)
* Charles (Charlie) C. Peterson (1966) •
* Welker Cochran (1967)
* Alfredo DeOro (1967)
* Benjamin (Ben) B. Nartzik (1967) •
* Willie Mosconi (1968)
* Jacob (Jake) "The Wizard" Schaefer Sr. (1968)
* Jacob (Jake) Schaefer Jr. (1968)
* Herman J. Rambow (1969) •
[edit] 1970–1979
* Harold Worst (1970)
* John Wesley Hyatt (1971) •
* Johnny Layton (1974)
* Frank Taberski (1975)
* James (Jimmy) Caras (1977)
* Irving Crane (1978)
[edit] 1980–1989
* Steve "The Miz" Mizerak (1980)
* Dorothy Wise (1981)
* Joseph (Joe) "The Meatman" Balsis (1982)
* Luther Lassiter (1983)
* Rudolph "Minnesota Fats" Wanderone Jr. (1984) •
* Jean Balukas (1985)
* Lou Butera (1986)
* Erwin Rudolph (1987)
* Andrew Ponzi (1988)
* Michael (Mike) Sigel (1989)
[edit] 1990–1999
* John Brunswick (1990) •
* Walter Tevis (1991) •
* Nick Varner (1992)
* Michael Phelan (1993) •
* Eddie "The Knoxville Bear" Taylor (1993)
* Ray "Cool Cat" Martin (1994)
* Jimmy Moore (1994)
* Cisero Murphy (1995)
* Dallas West (1996)
* Arthur "Babe" Cranfield (1997)
* Ruth McGinnis (1997)
* Larry "Boston Shorty" Johnson (1999)
[edit] 2000–2009
* Cecil (Buddy) P. "The Rifleman" Hall (2000)
* Robert Byrne (2001) •
* Raymond "Mr. 100" Ceulemans (2001)
* Loree Jon "Queen of the Hill" Jones (2002)
* James (Jim, Jimmy) "King James" Rempe (2002)
* Edwin "Champagne Eddie" Kelly (2003)
* Efren "Bata the Magician" Reyes (2003)
* Ewa "The Striking Viking" Mataya Laurance (2004)
* George Balabushka (2004) •
* Mike Massey (2005) •
* Robin Bell "Bankroll" Dodson (2005)
* Earl "The Pearl" Strickland (2006)
* Sang Lee (2007)[1]
* Allen Hopkins (2008)
* Pat Fleming (2008) •
* Johnny "The Scorpion" Archer (2009)
* Allison "The Duchess of Doom" Fisher (2009)
[edit] 2010–2019
* Francisco "Django" Bustamante (2010)
This post made my day.:happydance::happydance::happydance:
I am SOOO pleased and happy for Danny Diliberto.
And the quiet and unassuming Ralf Souquet is a great addition also...
I sat with him after he won the US Open 'cause he seemed so out of place
in that raucous atmosphere with everyone partying and high-rollin' and
Alex being Alex.
It's like discovering your uncle,the CPA, is also a pool champion.:smile:
I mentioned that they had overlooked him for the Mosconi that year but
I suspected that they may reconsider...(and they did)....Ralf smiled.
Up off your knees, girl! It's just me!
Don't plan on posting much (I prefer to hide behind my computer screen), but in this case I thought some clarification was in order. Any sport's hall of fame should be REALLY difficult to get into. Only the very best. And, in fact, the BCA Hall of Fame is one of the most exclusive halls I know of. The fact that there are only 60 or so member is an indication of how special it is. I'm a big proponent of preserving and protecting that. I'm glad the system is very precise, and I'm glad the billiard media is the watchdog. No special interests.
Thanks for your interest. Now I think I'll retreat from the "jungle" and get back to the civility of my ivory tower!!
P.S> I hope anyone thinking of coming to the Open will consider attending the HOF Banquet. It's a fun (and short!) event, and the honorees deserve the respect of the fans they've entertained.