Frank Taberski

JazzyJeff87

JazzyJeff87

AzB Plutonium Member
Silver Member
Hey AZB. Been away a while but I’ve been getting back into playing. I was just reading some hall of fame stuff and found this:

Frank Taberski grew up in Schenectady, N.Y. At the age of 26, he attended a pocket billiard championship in New York City, and came home convinced he played as well as the champions. The next year, he entered and placed third behind Johnny Layton. From then on, he was almost invincible. In those days, 450 point challenge matches were the means of competition; the prize a ruby and diamond studded gold medal with the proviso that any one who won 10 consecutive challenge matches could keep it. Alfredo DeOro had come closest with five straight defenses. By 1918 Taberski had accomplished the impossible and the medal was his.


Does anyone know what this medal looked like? Are there any pictures or does anyone know where it ended up? I couldn’t find anything in a quick search
 
Here's a picture his Great Grandson, Billy Folinusz, Tweeted back in 2019.

Frank Tabersk Championship Medal.jpg
 
I hit some balls on one of Frank Taberski’s table ….Gary Empey took me there.
I recall the rails being a little higher than modern tables, which I like.
 
3kushn said:
So Frank Taberski beats Johnny Layton .......

Nothing here against Frank T. but Layton was 7X World 3Cushion Champion
I can't find if he was ever World 14:1 Champ, so I assume not.

I might be wrong but I'm thinking only Harold Worst was World Champion in both games at the same time.

Even this is hard to determine, since it was against the "rules" or the sanctioning bodies?? or something that didn't allow a player to hold both titles at the same time. Don't know why, and I can't prove that. Just what I've been told by those that should know. They had to relinquish one of the titles.. Or one was pulled. Don't know those details.

Kind of sad story but not surprising, My sales territory 30 years ago included Sedalia, MO where Layton resided.
No rooms and really nobody even knew one of the greatest players was one of them.
Click to expand...
 
I believe Layton only one title in pool and it was in a challenge match rather than the tournament but I can't remember the year for sure (I'll try to check). De Oro won titles in both 3 cushion and pool (mostly continuous pool prior to Keough coming up with 14.1 continuous). Worst won his world 3-Cushion Championship in 1954 and he won in pool at Johnston City and at The Stardust. Harold certainly would have been capable of winning a straight title had he not passed away so young.
 
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Going by history, It seems that Frank Taberski was the slowest player ever. He would definitely have some competition, but that is the history.
 
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