First encounter with "The Hat"

Seneca Steve

Seneca Steve

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Back in 1973 I was playing pretty good pool and had a backer with deep pockets. I had been playing a small time hustler from Greenville SC for a couple of Saturdays in a row and had won a good bit of cash. So on this particular day the guy arrives with another player in tow. My backer and he start making a game and he requests the wild 8. My backer says no the game is too close. The second offer is to play his pal even. The game is on at 80 a rack. Well this guy is as unorthodox as it gets. Looks like he can`t play a lick. But he gets out and out and out. 800$ later its over . This guy could play. Time would reveal that this guy I thought couldn`t play was none other that Eddie the hat Burton, a great 9 ball and one pocket player. Eddie was originally from Anderson SC but at that time he had just returned from a 5 year road trip across the country.
 
Chicagoland had our very own Ronnie "the hat" Mayes. Old school hustler but a very good all around player as well. Pretty persnickety to deal with but a good player none the less. Don't know if he is still around the area or not.
 
?????????????

Eddie Burton was a good player but imho not a top tier player of his era an could get weight from quite a few. The hat he wore the little ivy leager earned him the nickname of Possum from cartoon Pogo. Many players appear to be world beaters until thry play one. I will say Eddie had no fear an was quite a character of his time............
Pinocchio
 
Pinocchio said:
Eddie Burton was a good player but imho not a top tier player of his era an could get weight from quite a few. The hat he wore the little ivy leager earned him the nickname of Possum from cartoon Pogo. Many players appear to be world beaters until thry play one. I will say Eddie had no fear an was quite a character of his time............
Pinocchio
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I saw Eddie drill Denny Searcy for 50K in around 1973. They were playing 9 ball and its was a see saw battle. But in the end Eddie prevailed. They were playing even.
I saw him play Mike sigel for 22 hours and break even. Sounds like top tier to me.
 
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dogginda9 said:
Chicagoland had our very own Ronnie "the hat" Mayes. Old school hustler but a very good all around player as well. Pretty persnickety to deal with but a good player none the less. Don't know if he is still around the area or not.
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I played against Ronnie "the hat" in a couple of 3-person team events at the Richfield Chalet in Wisconsin back in the mid 90's. He was a very strong player at that time (much better than me). He would have to be well into his 60's now.
 
I know a golf hustler in Myrtle Beach named Harry the Hat... I'm telling ya he don't look like much but he gets the job done....
 
Seneca Steve said:
Back in 1973 I was playing pretty good pool and had a backer with deep pockets. I had been playing a small time hustler from Greenville SC for a couple of Saturdays in a row and had won a good bit of cash. So on this particular day the guy arrives with another player in tow. My backer and he start making a game and he requests the wild 8. My backer says no the game is too close. The second offer is to play his pal even. The game is on at 80 a rack. Well this guy is as unorthodox as it gets. Looks like he can`t play a lick. But he gets out and out and out. 800$ later its over . This guy could play. Time would reveal that this guy I thought couldn`t play was none other that Eddie the hat Burton, a great 9 ball and one pocket player. Eddie was originally from Anderson SC but at that time he had just returned from a 5 year road trip across the country.
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Eddie came thru Houston in the 70's, but had no luck. I believe the tables at le Cue were to damp for him. Grady was there at the time and called him mayonnaise head, when they were on the road together Burton put mayonnaise on his head at night hoping it would grow hair. Last time I saw him was at the initial Clyde Childress memorial tournament in Richmond Ky.
He had a beard down to his stomach. He told me his nerves were so bad he was taking percodan to play.
 
There was a Kenny "the Hat" who played pretty good. Used to hang around South Bay Billiards in El Segundo, California. I think he died of a heart attack in Texas riding in a car with Ronnie Allen.
 
I sure could use a photo of Eddie Burton for my book. I have a story about him in there. Anyone?
 
demonrho said:
There was a Kenny "the Hat" who played pretty good. Used to hang around South Bay Billiards in El Segundo, California. I think he died of a heart attack in Texas riding in a car with Ronnie Allen.
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Kenny Anderson, a close friend of Richie Florence.
 
jay helfert said:
Kenny Anderson, a close friend of Richie Florence.
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I liked Kenny... we would play every day when I was in LA, and Richie would sometimes play Kenny one-handed after his second stroke.. Couldn't believe he died of a heart attack...

Eddie Clark just died a few days ago from one... I'm not sure of the details, but I think he was in the middle of a game matching up.
 
Thanks SJD (and JoeyA.)

It was so funny to click on this thread, while I am currently in the middle of watching Eddie "The Hat" Burton vs Freddie "The Beard" playing one pocket (with Buddy Hall & Billy Incardona commentating)

Doug
(San Jose Dick was kind enough to send it to me, along with some other 'goodies') :)
 
Smorgass Bored said:
It was so funny to click on this thread, while I am currently in the middle of watching Eddie "The Hat" Burton vs Freddie "The Beard" playing one pocket (with Buddy Hall & Billy Incardona commentating)

Doug
(San Jose Dick was kind enough to send it to me, along with some other 'goodies') :)
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I finished the DVD and with Eddie "The Hat" Burton owing 2 balls, he ran 10 and out to beat Freddie "The Beardless" (he was clean shaven) 5-1 in this 1991 Legends Of One Pocket Tournament hosted by Grady Mathews.

Doug
(Freddie never did look comfortable during this match....... imo)
 
jay helfert said:
Kenny Anderson, a close friend of Richie Florence.
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Yeah, that was his last name. There were actually two Kenny Anderson's at South Bay: Kenny "the Hat" Anderson and Kenny Anderson the sometimes desk man at SBB.
 
The tables were brutal

Smorgass Bored said:
I finished the DVD and with Eddie "The Hat" Burton owing 2 balls, he ran 10 and out to beat Freddie "The Beardless" (he was clean shaven) 5-1 in this 1991 Legends Of One Pocket Tournament hosted by Grady Mathews.

Doug
(Freddie never did look comfortable during this match....... imo)
Click to expand...

Those were the worst rolling tables I ever played on in a tournament. It was some off shoot brand and they didnt set up properly. Varner played good on them, I dont know how. Burton and I were great friends and lifetime pool rivals. In those days you gambled with your friends. I didnt know he was bald for years (never seen him with the hat off). Fargo beat Bugs playing bank pool at that tournament.

the Beard
 
demonrho said:
There was a Kenny "the Hat" who played pretty good. Used to hang around South Bay Billiards in El Segundo, California. I think he died of a heart attack in Texas riding in a car with Ronnie Allen.
Click to expand...
Actually he was alone driving his own car. The car went off the side of the road and coasted to a stop with no damange to anyone or thing. I heard his sister came and got the car. We'd recently been playing a lot of one pocket, he'd learned to like it since he'd gotten older.
 
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