Eddie Taylor passes
- Thread starter hemicudas
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OldHasBeen
Tom Ferry
A True Gentleman & Great Player.
I only spent one week around Eddie Taylor in Shreveport way back when, but I'll never forget the mannerisms and history this great man shared with me.
His love of life and respect for the game of pool was remarkable. My only regret is that I didn't have the foresight to record the stories and thoughts that he stated so eloquently.
He will NEVER be equaled in the game he loved!
May He Rest In Peace!
TY & GL
I only spent one week around Eddie Taylor in Shreveport way back when, but I'll never forget the mannerisms and history this great man shared with me.
His love of life and respect for the game of pool was remarkable. My only regret is that I didn't have the foresight to record the stories and thoughts that he stated so eloquently.
He will NEVER be equaled in the game he loved!
May He Rest In Peace!
TY & GL
How sad. Eddie holds a special place in our game's history. Here's what the BCA Hall of Fame site had to say about Eddie Taylor:
EDDIE TAYLOR is a two-time world all-around tournament champion. He defeated Hall-of-Famer Luther Lassiter in all-around finals in Johnston City, Ill., in 1964. He also defeated Danny Jones and Mike Eufemia at '67 Stardust Open finals in Las Vegas. He lost to Lassiter in '63 Johnston City all-around finals, and finished 7th in '67 World 14.1 championship in New York.
A Tennessee native, the "Knoxville Bear" was inducted into the Knoxville Sports Hall of Fame in 1987. He is an active promoter of billiards in Boys Clubs of America, and is regarded as one of the greatest one-pocket and bank pool players of all time.
Eddie will live on in the minds and heart of the most serious pool fans. Wishing condolences to his friends and family.
EDDIE TAYLOR is a two-time world all-around tournament champion. He defeated Hall-of-Famer Luther Lassiter in all-around finals in Johnston City, Ill., in 1964. He also defeated Danny Jones and Mike Eufemia at '67 Stardust Open finals in Las Vegas. He lost to Lassiter in '63 Johnston City all-around finals, and finished 7th in '67 World 14.1 championship in New York.
A Tennessee native, the "Knoxville Bear" was inducted into the Knoxville Sports Hall of Fame in 1987. He is an active promoter of billiards in Boys Clubs of America, and is regarded as one of the greatest one-pocket and bank pool players of all time.
Eddie will live on in the minds and heart of the most serious pool fans. Wishing condolences to his friends and family.
OldHasBeen said:
I had a similar experience with him. He hung around the pool room for a while where I played in Miami and he would always answer any question you had and was very nice. He never put anyone down or treated you like a lesser player, if you liked pool that was enough, you were an equal. In retrospect that really impresses me most as to what kind of guy he was. Not that many pool players I would call roll models for other players but he was. It was a unique opportunity being around him for a while. I remember being at a tournament in I think Texas and seeing Buddy Hall and Nick Varner asking him about bank shots and shooting shots with him, they were like kids on Christmas around him. He was one of the most respected players ever and it is a real loss. Another real loss is many of the players like Mr. Taylor were never captured on film, all we have are the stories.
A great player and very nice man, rest in peace Eddie you will not be forgotten. "He hit that ball like Eddie Taylor" will always be the highest of complements for a well hit bank as long as the game is played.
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Knoxville Bear - Rest in Peace...
My condolences & deepest sympathy to his friends and family.., Eddie Taylor was not only a GREAT player.., he was a true gentlemen.., check out http://onepocket.org/EddieTaylorHOFpage.htm for more about "The Knoxville Bear".
My condolences & deepest sympathy to his friends and family.., Eddie Taylor was not only a GREAT player.., he was a true gentlemen.., check out http://onepocket.org/EddieTaylorHOFpage.htm for more about "The Knoxville Bear".
Attachments
my condolences
Very sorry to hear of the passing of a legend.... Never had the pleasure of seeing him play except on a video produced by Alf Taylor who I think was possibly his brother. Those of you interested in seeing him play should look for that tape... He was in his later years but still had a sweet stroke and could really bank them balls... My deepest sympathy goes out to his family and friends...
Very sorry to hear of the passing of a legend.... Never had the pleasure of seeing him play except on a video produced by Alf Taylor who I think was possibly his brother. Those of you interested in seeing him play should look for that tape... He was in his later years but still had a sweet stroke and could really bank them balls... My deepest sympathy goes out to his family and friends...
I met Eddie several times but I'm afraid I didn't know him when he was in his prime. On several occasions, my old road partner Gary Spaeth, and I ran into Eddie and every time there was a warm gretting. Gary told me stories of Eddie and once told told me that, next to his father Joey Spaeth, it was probably Eddie who had the most influence on his game. Gary said whenever he saw Eddie playing, back in his prime, he would stop whatever he was doing and watch, hoping to glean something form what he saw! By the time I'd first met Eddie, he was already a legend to me due to the respect that Gary had inspired.
Bill Stroud also once told me a few stories of his time on the road with Eddie. Bill considered Eddie as the greatest natural talents he'd known. That opinion seems to be popular among the players of his era!
Rest in peace Eddie! God Bless!
Sherm
Bill Stroud also once told me a few stories of his time on the road with Eddie. Bill considered Eddie as the greatest natural talents he'd known. That opinion seems to be popular among the players of his era!
Rest in peace Eddie! God Bless!
Sherm
E.t.
Eddie Taylor used to come to my hometown Huntington W. Va back in the 70s. He was friends with my father Brier Spivey who ran the Hub Pool Room & Eddie played pool and cards with dad. I moved to Longview 4yrs ago to sell cable here,Ronnie Allen stopped to see me on his road trip last year he wanted to go see some friends in Shreveport,next thing I know were having a 300.00 dinner & I,m hearing story after story about my dad. What a story teller & fun man,It had been years since I'd seen him,I,ve been to see him several times at his home he would show me books where his name was on several pages and say"CAN YOU BELIVE IM IN ALL THESE PAGES!!! I don't think he knew HOW FAMOUS He was & is. He loved Buddy Hall, Talked about all the old gang he injoyed telling GOOD STORYS never sayin a bad word about anyone ,Grady did such a great job when he Inducted him in The one-pocket hall of fame You guys should have seen him Glowing, Chest OUT- BIG SMILE,he SAID B.J. Did you see all the cars in the lot? I have never seen that many cars here! I said 'Hell' Eddie there here to see a LEGEND "YOU"!!His eyes got Wide,Took a long breath & said I just don"t belive it!!! He was verrrrry happy that day,the local news was there also He was on TOP. I'm proud to say I was a friend of Eddie Taylors B. J. Spivey
Eddie Taylor used to come to my hometown Huntington W. Va back in the 70s. He was friends with my father Brier Spivey who ran the Hub Pool Room & Eddie played pool and cards with dad. I moved to Longview 4yrs ago to sell cable here,Ronnie Allen stopped to see me on his road trip last year he wanted to go see some friends in Shreveport,next thing I know were having a 300.00 dinner & I,m hearing story after story about my dad. What a story teller & fun man,It had been years since I'd seen him,I,ve been to see him several times at his home he would show me books where his name was on several pages and say"CAN YOU BELIVE IM IN ALL THESE PAGES!!! I don't think he knew HOW FAMOUS He was & is. He loved Buddy Hall, Talked about all the old gang he injoyed telling GOOD STORYS never sayin a bad word about anyone ,Grady did such a great job when he Inducted him in The one-pocket hall of fame You guys should have seen him Glowing, Chest OUT- BIG SMILE,he SAID B.J. Did you see all the cars in the lot? I have never seen that many cars here! I said 'Hell' Eddie there here to see a LEGEND "YOU"!!His eyes got Wide,Took a long breath & said I just don"t belive it!!! He was verrrrry happy that day,the local news was there also He was on TOP. I'm proud to say I was a friend of Eddie Taylors B. J. Spivey
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B.J.the bandit said:The one-pocket hall of fame You guys should have seen him Glowing, Chest OUT- BIG SMILE,he SAID B.J. Did you see all the cars in the lot? I have never seen that many cars here! I said 'Hell' Eddie there here to see a LEDGEN "YOU"!!His eyes got Wide,Took a long breath & said I just don"t belive it!!! He was verrrrry happy that day,the local news was there also He was on TOP. I'm proud to say I was a friend of Eddie Taylors B. J. Spivey
Hi BJ,
4 or 5 weeks ago I called Diane and asked her to give a call to Eddie to find out the name the player against whom Eddie sunk 37 banks shots in a row 40 years ago in Ashville,NC.I hope Diane found out the info on that historical event.cheers
vagabond
Goodbye to the Bear
Eddie "The Knoxville Bear" Taylor, was one of the few really superstars in the game. Whereas I was pretty familiar with most of the other top players -- we talked and interacted -- around Taylor I was in such awe that I never even attempted to talk to him, even though I was dying to. For example, in Johnston City, in a town full of the greatest players in the world, he never got asked to play! It was kind of assumed by everyone to just leave him be and go find something else. He was even barred out of the ring Nineball games. Wimpy said the Bear was the only pool genius he had ever met beside Spin The Ball George.
the Beard
(originally posted in Onepocket.org)
Eddie "The Knoxville Bear" Taylor, was one of the few really superstars in the game. Whereas I was pretty familiar with most of the other top players -- we talked and interacted -- around Taylor I was in such awe that I never even attempted to talk to him, even though I was dying to. For example, in Johnston City, in a town full of the greatest players in the world, he never got asked to play! It was kind of assumed by everyone to just leave him be and go find something else. He was even barred out of the ring Nineball games. Wimpy said the Bear was the only pool genius he had ever met beside Spin The Ball George.
the Beard
(originally posted in Onepocket.org)
Deepest sympathy
I believe there were 3 brothers, Eddie, Bob, and Alfie. All 3 were down in Houston in the early 70's when Boston Shorty and Jersey Red were down
there too. Most of the best players used to go the Golden Cue downtown
Houston. I used to play Alfie (who was Texas 9 ball champion at the time)
all the time in the Village. I heard quite a few stories about the Taylor brothers, and what fine players they were.
barrett9ball said:
I believe there were 3 brothers, Eddie, Bob, and Alfie. All 3 were down in Houston in the early 70's when Boston Shorty and Jersey Red were down
there too. Most of the best players used to go the Golden Cue downtown
Houston. I used to play Alfie (who was Texas 9 ball champion at the time)
all the time in the Village. I heard quite a few stories about the Taylor brothers, and what fine players they were.
Dana Bufalo said:
Thanks for posting the link on Eddie Taylor,much appreciated.It made for some very historical informations about many legendary players. RJ
Eddie Taylor
too bad he was never filmed and his banking skills will not be recorded. oh what a pool player today would give to know his many secrets in bank pool.
Cross Side Larry
hemicudas said:
too bad he was never filmed and his banking skills will not be recorded. oh what a pool player today would give to know his many secrets in bank pool.
Cross Side Larry
Your road buddy Gary Spaeth
undefined my old road partner Gary Spaeth, and I ran into Eddie and every time there was a warm gretting. Gary told me stories of Eddie and once told told me that, next to his father Joey Spaeth, it was probably Eddie who had the most influence on his game.
I grew up playing pool in Mergards Bowling alley in Northside, a suburb of Cincinnati on Hamilton avenue. The best hustler by far was "Northside "Eddie" Spaeth, Joey Spaeth's father.
Cross Side Larry
undefined my old road partner Gary Spaeth, and I ran into Eddie and every time there was a warm gretting. Gary told me stories of Eddie and once told told me that, next to his father Joey Spaeth, it was probably Eddie who had the most influence on his game.
I grew up playing pool in Mergards Bowling alley in Northside, a suburb of Cincinnati on Hamilton avenue. The best hustler by far was "Northside "Eddie" Spaeth, Joey Spaeth's father.
Cross Side Larry
CrossSideLarry said:
So very true, Larry. Freddy (The Beard) Bentivegna, has a book out on banking with many road stories in it that is a good read called, Bankin With The Beard. Freddy didn't bank quite as well as Eddie Taylor but he does know many of Eddie's secrets.
Eddie Taylor was a class act on the table and off. He will be missed by the many who knew him.
Snapshot9 said:
I used to hang out with Alfie when he was maybe 18 or 19 years old. He had an older brother named Jack who was also a pretty strong pool player. I believe Jack is still alive and living in San Marcos. Texas. I heard that Alfie went on to become a road player, but later went into business buying and selling oriental rugs. Anyway, I never heard either Jack or Alfie mention Eddie as a relative. Just my $.02.
Alfie is Eddie's nephew.
Have you ever seen this?
I've watched and played in jillions of tournament matches and I never seen this but once. Eddie Taylor was playing a Nineball match with Ronnie Allen in Johnston City. Ronnie broke and ran the first 3 racks. Tayor finally got a shot in the 4th game and ran to the nine. He had a super easy shot, a slight cut into the corner. He never hesitated, he got down and blasted the ball cross-corner! It was a sort or reminder to Ronnie as to who he was playing with. A shaken and embarassed Ronnie never won another game in the set. Has anybody else ever seen anybody purposely bank the nine, in a big tournament match, down 3 games to 0, and playing a young Ronnie Allen? That was the Knoxville Bear, and many people on this pool forum dont even know who he was. It was bad enough when 2 guys here were questioning if they ever was a real Cornbread Red! My god, how old am I.
the Beard
I've watched and played in jillions of tournament matches and I never seen this but once. Eddie Taylor was playing a Nineball match with Ronnie Allen in Johnston City. Ronnie broke and ran the first 3 racks. Tayor finally got a shot in the 4th game and ran to the nine. He had a super easy shot, a slight cut into the corner. He never hesitated, he got down and blasted the ball cross-corner! It was a sort or reminder to Ronnie as to who he was playing with. A shaken and embarassed Ronnie never won another game in the set. Has anybody else ever seen anybody purposely bank the nine, in a big tournament match, down 3 games to 0, and playing a young Ronnie Allen? That was the Knoxville Bear, and many people on this pool forum dont even know who he was. It was bad enough when 2 guys here were questioning if they ever was a real Cornbread Red! My god, how old am I.
the Beard