Encyclopedia of American Pool Players - Work in Progress

1

1000BallRunner

Member
I am trying to assemble a listing of all the greatest American players ever. I want a full record of all the great Americans who have contributed to our great sport. I am trying to capture those who won tournaments and money matches, as well as the legendary road players who may not have titles, but certainly left their mark on the sport and impacted the game both in terms of their skills as well as cultural contributions. Also a section for great promoters and those who have pushed the sport off the table. This list is a work in progress. It is obviously missing many and needs work - but wanted to get a listing out and get feedback from people on here. Keep in mind this is American born players only.

Platinum - Tier 1 (mastery of multiple disciplines, titles in multiple disciplines, gambling is feats are also considered. Strong excelling in one game, like mosconi, is also considered)
  • Harold worst
  • Mike sigel
  • Nick Varner
  • Earl Strickland
  • SVB
  • MIZ
  • Rifleman
  • Irving Crane
  • Mosconi
  • Eddie Taylor
  • Ralph green leaf
  • Dallas west
  • Jimmy Reid
  • Hoppee


Gold - Tier 2 - this would be a deep list - top speed players but ones that typically excelled in one discipline. Can be a savant at either tournaments, or gambling, or both. You’re a monster player but not the highest possible tier.
  • Danny Diliberto
  • Fats
  • Richie Florence
  • Luther Lassiter - only 9 ball per my research , I imagine people are going to say he belongs tier 1
  • Rempe - a personal favorite of mine
  • Kim D
  • CJ Wiley
  • Rodney morris
  • Jeremey jones
  • Billy Incardona
  • Jimmy M
  • Johnny archer (poss tier 1)
  • Allen Hopkins (poss tier 1)
  • Mike Massey
  • Ronnie allen
  • Roger griffiths
  • Larry Hubbard
  • Ginky
  • Grady M
  • Reed pierce
  • Larry Liscotti (poss tier 1)
  • Marshall carpetener
  • Jimmy mataya
  • Corey deul
  • John Schmidt
  • David Howard
  • Bob Vanover
  • Cisero Murphy
  • Johnny ervolino
  • Dennis hatch
  • Truman Hogue
  • Keith McCready

Rogue characters - legends of the game
  • Cornbread red
  • Jack Cooney
  • Kenny the truck driver
  • Johnny Irish
  • Scotty Townsend
  • Weldon Rogers
  • Omaha John
  • Strong arm John
  • Daddy warbucks
  • Hawaiian Brian
  • Weenie beanie
  • The beard
  • Bugs
  • Rags fitz
  • UJ Puckett
  • Artie B
  • Ronnie wiseman
  • Baby face Alton whitlow
  • Fat Randy (oklahama)
  • Denny Searcey
  • Monster John rouse
  • Bobby Legg
  • Chewtabacca


Promoters
  • Mark Griffin
  • Jansco Brothers
  • Jay Helfert
  • Upstate Al
 
You really don't know your players. Your 'tier-age' is a 'TAD' skewed. Sorry but that's how i see it. Having a list is one thing but trying to pigeon-hole them into rated 'tiers' is not a great idea. Regardless of how you do it people will disagree with it. To be honest i see no need for these lists. Not just you so relax but any of them.
 
garczar said:
You really don't know your players. Your 'tier-age' is a 'TAD' skewed. Sorry but that's how i see it. Having a list is one thing but trying to pigeon-hole them into rated 'tiers' is not a great idea. Regardless of how you do it people will disagree with it. To be honest i see no need for these lists. Not just you so relax but any of them.
Click to expand...
this is less about the skill - but more just having a record of great players that have impacted the game. I think removing the tiers could be wise because that will always be up for interpretation. I envision the final product of this book as a coffee table book with pictures and descriptions of the players. stories about their play etc.
 
garczar said:
You really don't know your players. Your 'tier-age' is a 'TAD' skewed. Sorry but that's how i see it. Having a list is one thing but trying to pigeon-hole them into rated 'tiers' is not a great idea. Regardless of how you do it people will disagree with it. To be honest i see no need for these lists. Not just you so relax but any of them.
Click to expand...
1000BallRunner said:
I am trying to assemble a listing of all the greatest American players ever. I want a full record of all the great Americans who have contributed to our great sport. I am trying to capture those who won tournaments and money matches, as well as the legendary road players who may not have titles, but certainly left their mark on the sport and impacted the game both in terms of their skills as well as cultural contributions. Also a section for great promoters and those who have pushed the sport off the table. This list is a work in progress. It is obviously missing many and needs work - but wanted to get a listing out and get feedback from people on here. Keep in mind this is American born players only.

Platinum - Tier 1 (mastery of multiple disciplines, titles in multiple disciplines, gambling is feats are also considered. Strong excelling in one game, like mosconi, is also considered)
  • Harold worst
  • Mike sigel
  • Nick Varner
  • Earl Strickland
  • SVB
  • MIZ
  • Rifleman
  • Irving Crane
  • Mosconi
  • Eddie Taylor
  • Ralph green leaf
  • Dallas west
  • Jimmy Reid
  • Hoppee


Gold - Tier 2 - this would be a deep list - top speed players but ones that typically excelled in one discipline. Can be a savant at either tournaments, or gambling, or both. You’re a monster player but not the highest possible tier.
  • Danny Diliberto
  • Fats
  • Richie Florence
  • Luther Lassiter - only 9 ball per my research , I imagine people are going to say he belongs tier 1
  • Rempe - a personal favorite of mine
  • Kim D
  • CJ Wiley
  • Rodney morris
  • Jeremey jones
  • Billy Incardona
  • Jimmy M
  • Johnny archer (poss tier 1)
  • Allen Hopkins (poss tier 1)
  • Mike Massey
  • Ronnie allen
  • Roger griffiths
  • Larry Hubbard
  • Ginky
  • Grady M
  • Reed pierce
  • Larry Liscotti (poss tier 1)
  • Marshall carpetener
  • Jimmy mataya
  • Corey deul
  • John Schmidt
  • David Howard
  • Bob Vanover
  • Cisero Murphy
  • Johnny ervolino
  • Dennis hatch
  • Truman Hogue
  • Keith McCready

Rogue characters - legends of the game
  • Cornbread red
  • Jack Cooney
  • Kenny the truck driver
  • Johnny Irish
  • Scotty Townsend
  • Weldon Rogers
  • Omaha John
  • Strong arm John
  • Daddy warbucks
  • Hawaiian Brian
  • Weenie beanie
  • The beard
  • Bugs
  • Rags fitz
  • UJ Puckett
  • Artie B
  • Ronnie wiseman
  • Baby face Alton whitlow
  • Fat Randy (oklahama)
  • Denny Searcey
  • Monster John rouse
  • Bobby Legg
  • Chewtabacca


Promoters
  • Mark Griffin
  • Jansco Brothers
  • Jay Helfert
  • Upstate Al
Click to expand...
Freddy the Beard's "'Encyclopedia' of Pool Hustlers" is a good starting point for what I think you're hoping to accomplish. Not all-comprehensive, but it still goes well beyond the sort of players in your Tier One. It also may be the most entertaining book ever written about pool.
 
You might try looking at the available printed/written material, such as Ursitti's extensive records, the decades and decades of the National Billiard News that are available on AZB. the BCA rule books that have records and results, the list of BCA Hall of Fame members, ...

A list like that is far more interesting if it has at least a short bio of each player.
 
H

Thread 'Who are the top five players in your state?'

Ohio

Corey Duell (Even though he is rarely here)
Shawn Putnam
Eric Durbin
Steve McAnnich
Troy Frank (may have relocated to the south)

Huck
  • Like


I would look through the DCC lists, Johnson City, US Open, Sands events and WPC too etc.. 1pocket.org would surely have threads about this too or you could start one with lists you come up with and have people debate it out. and you could reference the BCA and 1P hof's. Much easier to just do a top 20 - 30 list by decade for rotation games then a top 10 for 1p/banks or straight pool starting from 2020's then work your way back in time for top 10 - 20 lists by decade then just a top 10 for pre 1970's/1980's

Once you have your own list you could put up each decade as a tourney chart and have people fill out their own chart like IG has clips of all the time for more mainstream sports w an 8 player tourney type bracket to narrow it down who the g.o.a.t. of each decade is.
 
I might have missed them on the list, but...

Buddy Hall
Jean Balukas
Ruth McGinnis
Jimmy Moore
Lou Butera
Babe Cranfield
Johnny Layton
Andrew Ponzi
Loree Jon ______
John Brumback
Shannon Daulton
Jeanette Lee
Joe Balsis
Lori Shampo
Don Willis

And probably a bunch of others, I can't think of right now.
 
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