Nice thread over in the main forum about Frank McGown, a great straight pool player, who just died at age 76.
http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=198954
http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=198954
Frank McGown
- Thread starter Rich93
- Start date
Two Tour.
There were two tournaments in NY City in 1968. The first was at the Statler Hilton. That was the tournament that I was at when I was 17 yrs old and seen the pool table that I wanted for the first time.
The other tournament was the International Pocket Billiards Championship held at the Hotel Commodore from Sept. 20-29.
Both tournaments were played on the Dimalto Rivera tables & sponsored by the Dimalto Manufacturing Company which is table that I have and wrote about here on AZ.
During the tour. at the Hilton. Frank McGown beat Joe Balsis 150-0. It was the talk of the tournament. Cue Ball Kelly was a ref. and put on a great show of tricks during a break. He was really funny. I never forget being there to see all that.
There were two tournaments in NY City in 1968. The first was at the Statler Hilton. That was the tournament that I was at when I was 17 yrs old and seen the pool table that I wanted for the first time.
The other tournament was the International Pocket Billiards Championship held at the Hotel Commodore from Sept. 20-29.
Both tournaments were played on the Dimalto Rivera tables & sponsored by the Dimalto Manufacturing Company which is table that I have and wrote about here on AZ.
During the tour. at the Hilton. Frank McGown beat Joe Balsis 150-0. It was the talk of the tournament. Cue Ball Kelly was a ref. and put on a great show of tricks during a break. He was really funny. I never forget being there to see all that.
Last edited:
That might be right
That might be correct. Those two tournaments are the only two that I know that were in NY City that year. Maybe, McGown was in another one that we do not know about.
I have the the Official Souvenir Program from the Commodore which belonged to Joe Balsis. Frank McGown's name/photo is not printed in the Program.
I thought maybe not everyones name got printed. I do not know who won that tour. and who took the other places.
That might be correct. Those two tournaments are the only two that I know that were in NY City that year. Maybe, McGown was in another one that we do not know about.
I have the the Official Souvenir Program from the Commodore which belonged to Joe Balsis. Frank McGown's name/photo is not printed in the Program.
I thought maybe not everyones name got printed. I do not know who won that tour. and who took the other places.
Last edited:
Frank was:
- 4th in 1963 World's after Lassiter, Moore, Crane
- 4th in 1964 World's after Lassiter, Cranfield, Crane
- 7th in 1965 World's after Murphy, Lassiter, Crane, Breit, Balsis, Moore
- 6th in a second 1965 World's after Balsis, Moore, Lassiter, Murphy, Mizerak
- 10th in 1966 World's after Lassiter, Murphy, Butera, Breit, Balsis, Mizerak, Crane, Lauri, Worst
- 6th in 1967 World's after Lassiter, Breit, Balsis, Butera, Crane
- 8th in 1967 U.S. Open after Caras, Lassiter, Crane, West, Ervolino, Breit, Balsis
- 4th in 1968 World's after Crane, Lassiter, Mizerak
- 15th in 1968 U.S. Open after Balsis, Diliberto, Amadeo, Murphy, Crane, Weber, West, Gartner, Pawelski, Kollins, Jones, Peterson, Butera, Margo
This was all I found on Ursitti's website for the 60's. Not every tournament is there. For example, the infamous 1966 tournament where Mosconi finished second to Balsis and engaged in a mini-punchout with the promoter isn't there.
Not surprising that Frank considered Lassiter second in straight pool only to Mosconi, considering how well Lassiter did in these 60's tournaments.
There were four BCA U.S. Opens in the 60's - McGown only competed in two of them (or didn't place high enough to be mentioned). The top three in each were:
1966 - Crane, Balsis, Murphy
1967 - Caras, Lassiter, Crane
1968 - Balsis, Diliberto, Amadeo
1968 - Lassiter, Breit, Mizerak
- 4th in 1963 World's after Lassiter, Moore, Crane
- 4th in 1964 World's after Lassiter, Cranfield, Crane
- 7th in 1965 World's after Murphy, Lassiter, Crane, Breit, Balsis, Moore
- 6th in a second 1965 World's after Balsis, Moore, Lassiter, Murphy, Mizerak
- 10th in 1966 World's after Lassiter, Murphy, Butera, Breit, Balsis, Mizerak, Crane, Lauri, Worst
- 6th in 1967 World's after Lassiter, Breit, Balsis, Butera, Crane
- 8th in 1967 U.S. Open after Caras, Lassiter, Crane, West, Ervolino, Breit, Balsis
- 4th in 1968 World's after Crane, Lassiter, Mizerak
- 15th in 1968 U.S. Open after Balsis, Diliberto, Amadeo, Murphy, Crane, Weber, West, Gartner, Pawelski, Kollins, Jones, Peterson, Butera, Margo
This was all I found on Ursitti's website for the 60's. Not every tournament is there. For example, the infamous 1966 tournament where Mosconi finished second to Balsis and engaged in a mini-punchout with the promoter isn't there.
Not surprising that Frank considered Lassiter second in straight pool only to Mosconi, considering how well Lassiter did in these 60's tournaments.
There were four BCA U.S. Opens in the 60's - McGown only competed in two of them (or didn't place high enough to be mentioned). The top three in each were:
1966 - Crane, Balsis, Murphy
1967 - Caras, Lassiter, Crane
1968 - Balsis, Diliberto, Amadeo
1968 - Lassiter, Breit, Mizerak
Last edited:
Wow
That is Great Info. Thanks for finding those stats & posting them.
Looks like Lassiter was the Man in the 60's. What a great all around player.
That is Great Info. Thanks for finding those stats & posting them.
Looks like Lassiter was the Man in the 60's. What a great all around player.
Frank Mc Gown
Frank played Danny a match at the Statler Hilton in 1968. Frank was a great player
with a textbook 14.1 game. Danny was a bit of a gunslinger who made the rounds
and hung out at the Golden Cue lookin for action. Anyways, Danny got the first shot
and proceeded to run 149 on Frank only to be stopped for lack of a shot. They exchanged
safeties but Frank's was too strong and he ran 150 and out on Danny to win 150-149.
Thats what the top old school players could do-rest in peace Frank!
Frank played Danny a match at the Statler Hilton in 1968. Frank was a great player
with a textbook 14.1 game. Danny was a bit of a gunslinger who made the rounds
and hung out at the Golden Cue lookin for action. Anyways, Danny got the first shot
and proceeded to run 149 on Frank only to be stopped for lack of a shot. They exchanged
safeties but Frank's was too strong and he ran 150 and out on Danny to win 150-149.
Thats what the top old school players could do-rest in peace Frank!