Great players from my youth

[jay helfert]

Does anyone remember Chuck Morgan, Johnny Dollar (Overton), Larry Ridgeway, Buddy Wallace, Herbie Cue, Pete Glenn and Cincy Clem? These are some of the best players when I was a kid around Ohio. Of course we all know about George Rood and Joey Spaeth but Chuck Morgan was held in the same high regard as these two and Clem was the best One Pocket player. Morgan was probably the best hustler in the Midwest back then along with Don Decoy.

In Oklahoma there was Little Hand, Eufala, Little Bear, and Herman the German. Of course Hitchcock was the legend back there. Hayden Van Lingo and Ronnie Allen came from Oklahoma as well. One other guy who I knew from the Dayton area but was originally from Detroit was Chris Raftis, probably the second best one handed player after Gusitay. I saw Raftis rob Eddie Taylor playing one handed up in the air. No contest! Race to Eleven and I think Chris got him 11-5. Of course at One Pocket no one could beat Ronnie playing one handed. But little Sergio beat Ronnie playing 9-Ball one handed, badly! I would rate Sergio even with Raftis. Little Miami was just a hair behind these two and Gusitay was rated the best at that time. Did anyone ever see Gusitay play? I didn't.

 

[xianmacx]

I'm from Cincy and met Clem a couple time around 15 years ago. he would stop in beechmont billiards. He was old and frail, a strong fart would have blown him over but he seemed dangerous at the same time. lol

I have heard a number of stories about how good he played. are those just local legends or was he is the top tier around the country?

Ian

 

[King T]

You heard right!

I'm from Cincy and met Clem a couple time around 15 years ago. he would stop in beechmont billiards. He was old and frail, a strong fart would have blown him over but he seemed dangerous at the same time. lol

I have heard a number of stories about how good he played. are those just local legends or was he is the top tier around the country?

Ian

I knew Clem well and he could play ANYBODY in the world dead even Banks!

 

[MachineGunKelly]

Herman the German is still doing well. He hangs out at Jamaica Joes in Midwest city Okla. Hes there everyday at the bar drinking coffee. He doesn't play much pool anymore. Great guy to sit around and chat with.

 

[Nine ... corner]

Does anyone remember Chuck Morgan, Johnny Dollar (Overton), Larry Ridgeway, Buddy Wallace, Herbie Cue, Pete Glenn and Cincy Clem? These are some of the best players when I was a kid around Ohio. Of course we all know about George Rood and Joey Spaeth but Chuck Morgan was held in the same high regard as these two and Clem was the best One Pocket player. Morgan was probably the best hustler in the Midwest back then along with Don Decoy.

In Oklahoma there was Little Hand, Eufala, Little Bear, and Herman the German. Of course Hitchcock was the legend back there. Hayden Van Lingo and Ronnie Allen came from Oklahoma as well. One other guy who I knew from the Dayton area but was originally from Detroit was Chris Raftis, probably the second best one handed player after Gusitay. I saw Raftis rob Eddie Taylor playing one handed up in the air. No contest! Race to Eleven and I think Chris got him 11-5. Of course at One Pocket no one could beat Ronnie playing one handed. But little Sergio beat Ronnie playing 9-Ball one handed, badly! I would rate Sergio even with Raftis. Little Miami was just a hair behind these two and Gusitay was rated the best at that time. Did anyone ever see Gusitay play? I didn't.

Sounds like the juices are beginning to flow regarding Pool Wars III.
I hope that's the case. :thumbup:

 

[fjk]

Sorry to hijack your thread, but on the subject on one handed players, I watched Efren gamble with someone back in the mid 80s and the spot was he played one handed. Efren beat a very good player in 9 ball with one hand. I'm not sure if he's known for one handed pool, but I was impressed.

 

[ibuycues]

Does anyone remember Chuck Morgan, Johnny Dollar (Overton), Larry Ridgeway, Buddy Wallace, Herbie Cue, Pete Glenn and Cincy Clem? These are some of the best players when I was a kid around Ohio. Of course we all know about George Rood and Joey Spaeth but Chuck Morgan was held in the same high regard as these two and Clem was the best One Pocket player. Morgan was probably the best hustler in the Midwest back then along with Don Decoy.

In Oklahoma there was Little Hand, Eufala, Little Bear, and Herman the German. Of course Hitchcock was the legend back there. Hayden Van Lingo and Ronnie Allen came from Oklahoma as well. One other guy who I knew from the Dayton area but was originally from Detroit was Chris Raftis, probably the second best one handed player after Gusitay. I saw Raftis rob Eddie Taylor playing one handed up in the air. No contest! Race to Eleven and I think Chris got him 11-5. Of course at One Pocket no one could beat Ronnie playing one handed. But little Sergio beat Ronnie playing 9-Ball one handed, badly! I would rate Sergio even with Raftis. Little Miami was just a hair behind these two and Gusitay was rated the best at that time. Did anyone ever see Gusitay play? I didn't.

I remember Chuck Morgan well, a monster player. I went with Emil Glocar once when he played Chuck at the Hilltop (early 1970s).

Didn't Larry Ridgeway open a nice pool room in the Toledo area in the mid 1970s? I played in a straight pool tournament there and was lucky enough to draw Irving Crane. (No, I didn't win). By the way, Larry was a great player as well as being good enough with his money to open a nice room.

I grew up with Bill Stigall in Mansfield, Ohio. He later moved to Tampa and opened a room. A very good player, cagy but a bit cocky which got him in a bind a time or two. A good friend, I liked him a lot.

When I lived in Canton for about 10 years, I played most of my pool at the College Bowl on 30th St. What a den of great players.
Certainly Don Willis (who grew up in Canton and enjoyed the College Bowl), but also several other players like Glenn Knowles from the next town over (Alliance), who came in regularly. He traveled 9 months of the year with Dyne carnival, which was housed about 5 minutes from the College Bowl. Glenn was an extraordinary 1-pocket player, and would play Cornbresd et al regularly. He cleaned up more than once in Dayton at Forest Park while tournaments were going on in 1973-5.

Ted Elias was another great player from the Mansfield area, good enough in his time that he would be known worldwide if he were playing these days. Long gone, but quite the player.

Will Prout

 

[pdcue]

I'm from Cincy and met Clem a couple time around 15 years ago. he would stop in beechmont billiards. He was old and frail, a strong fart would have blown him over but he seemed dangerous at the same time. lol

I have heard a number of stories about how good he played. are those just local legends or was he is the top tier around the country?

Ian

One Pocket and Bank Pool, absolutely.

The guys at Beechmont would have only heard the tip of the iceberg.

Dale

 

[SJDinPHX]

Herman the German is still doing well. He hangs out at Jamaica Joes in Midwest city Okla. Hes there everyday at the bar drinking coffee. He doesn't play much pool anymore. Great guy to sit around and chat with.

Thats good to hear. We were quite good friends, back in the day! I used to stay at his house when I was in OKC..We have been out of touch for about 35-40 years..Next time you see him, please tell him San Jose Dick says hi!

PS..If he wants to get back in touch, I will PM my phone # to you.

 

[Don Owen]

Does anyone remember Chuck Morgan, Johnny Dollar (Overton), Larry Ridgeway, Buddy Wallace, Herbie Cue, Pete Glenn and Cincy Clem? These are some of the best players when I was a kid around Ohio. Of course we all know about George Rood and Joey Spaeth but Chuck Morgan was held in the same high regard as these two and Clem was the best One Pocket player. Morgan was probably the best hustler in the Midwest back then along with Don Decoy.

In Oklahoma there was Little Hand, Eufala, Little Bear, and Herman the German. Of course Hitchcock was the legend back there. Hayden Van Lingo and Ronnie Allen came from Oklahoma as well. One other guy who I knew from the Dayton area but was originally from Detroit was Chris Raftis, probably the second best one handed player after Gusitay. I saw Raftis rob Eddie Taylor playing one handed up in the air. No contest! Race to Eleven and I think Chris got him 11-5. Of course at One Pocket no one could beat Ronnie playing one handed. But little Sergio beat Ronnie playing 9-Ball one handed, badly! I would rate Sergio even with Raftis. Little Miami was just a hair behind these two and Gusitay was rated the best at that time. Did anyone ever see Gusitay play? I didn't.

Jay,
Herman the German spends every day in Jamaica Joe's in Midwest City, Ok. He's getting up in years but Jess and her staff watch out for him.
Don

 

[Scott Lee]

Will...I don't remember Bill opening a room in Tampa, but I remember him opening a room in Richmond VA called The Playing Field...also now closed.

Ted Elias was from Lima OH.

Scott Lee
http://poolknowledge.com

I grew up with Bill Stigall in Mansfield, Ohio. He later moved to Tampa and opened a room. A very good player, cagy but a bit cocky which got him in a bind a time or two. A good friend, I liked him a lot.

.

Ted Elias was another great player from the Mansfield area, good enough in his time that he would be known worldwide if he were playing these days. Long gone, but quite the player.

Will Prout

 

[Donny Lutz]

1955

Does anyone remember Chuck Morgan, Johnny Dollar (Overton), Larry Ridgeway, Buddy Wallace, Herbie Cue, Pete Glenn and Cincy Clem? These are some of the best players when I was a kid around Ohio. Of course we all know about George Rood and Joey Spaeth but Chuck Morgan was held in the same high regard as these two and Clem was the best One Pocket player. Morgan was probably the best hustler in the Midwest back then along with Don Decoy.

In Oklahoma there was Little Hand, Eufala, Little Bear, and Herman the German. Of course Hitchcock was the legend back there. Hayden Van Lingo and Ronnie Allen came from Oklahoma as well. One other guy who I knew from the Dayton area but was originally from Detroit was Chris Raftis, probably the second best one handed player after Gusitay. I saw Raftis rob Eddie Taylor playing one handed up in the air. No contest! Race to Eleven and I think Chris got him 11-5. Of course at One Pocket no one could beat Ronnie playing one handed. But little Sergio beat Ronnie playing 9-Ball one handed, badly! I would rate Sergio even with Raftis. Little Miami was just a hair behind these two and Gusitay was rated the best at that time. Did anyone ever see Gusitay play? I didn't.

The first strong player I saw play when I began playing in west Wisconsin (1950s) was Jack Hoffman

 

[cueman]

In our area when I was a kid some of the best players were Vernon Elliott, Hansome Danny Jones and Railroad John Williams.

 

[book collector]

I remember Chuck Morgan and Pete Glenn coming to Columbus 4 or 5 times each from the late 60s to the 90s, I never got to see Chuck play though.
He had some connections in the card world also and they called him "Chesty"
Pete I saw play Howard Vickery and even as cautious as Howard was with matching up, Pete talked him into giving him some goofy spot.
8 to 5 I think was the game .
It was a heist, and he got Howard to go off for 8 or 9 games which was unbelieveable in itself.

 

[pt109]

Will...I don't remember Bill opening a room in Tampa, but I remember him opening a room in Richmond VA called The Playing Field...also now closed.

Ted Elias was from Lima OH.

Scott Lee
http://poolknowledge.com

You aren't old enough to remember Stigal in Tampa...he owned Baker's in the 60s.
The Playing Field in Richmond was opened by a different Bill...he posts here as Billy.

 

[Scott Lee]

pt109...I'm old enough, but I didn't start playing until 1971...so you're right. I've been to Baker's back in the late 70's. Who was the Bill that opened The Playing Field? Thanks for the correction.

Scott Lee
http://poolknowledge.com

You aren't old enough to remember Stigal in Tampa...he owned Baker's in the 60s.
The Playing Field in Richmond was opened by a different Bill...he posts here as Billy.

 

[ibuycues]

Will...I don't remember Bill opening a room in Tampa, but I remember him opening a room in Richmond VA called The Playing Field...also now closed.

Ted Elias was from Lima OH.

Scott Lee
http://poolknowledge.com

Scott,

When Bill Stigall left Mansfield, he moved to Plant City, FL just east of Tampa. He started the Stigall Family Billiards on Hillsborough Ave in Tampa, and the United Billiard Association where he began his promoting. He promoted a lot of big tournaments.

I believe Ted was actually from Fostoria, near Findlay, about midway between Mansfield and Lima but a little north. A great straight pool player, used to beat up on Steve Cook regularly when Steve was a young man still in Lima. Ted was friendly, liked by all. He played a lot of pool in Mansfield at both Park Lanes and the pool room downtown.

Will

 

[pt109]

pt109...I'm old enough, but I didn't start playing until 1971...so you're right. I've been to Baker's back in the late 70's. Who was the Bill that opened The Playing Field? Thanks for the correction.

Scott Lee
http://poolknowledge.com

Pretty sure his name is Stephens...unsure of the spelling...he can play pool and snooker.

 

[ribdoner]

long time ago

i played a guy in CHI that went by the name of Don (maybe Larry) Watson back in 70 or 71 that played like burning hell.

He was apprx 5'7", stocky, R handed, from OH, played with a fancy Joss or JW cue, clean cut and said he was a sales rep for a large electronics co ( GE?)

imo the only local favored to beat him was Johnny the Mex on a bar table

who was that masked man, he did leave a silver bullet

 

[know it all]

pool players

You guys forgot Steve Cook ,lima ohio.Herbie Cue ,was Carmen Colangio, and Tommy Harwood played out of the same place. Buddy wallace and leo wineburger were the house men at northfield lanes.Chuck Morgan played out of Lacues pool room and resturant on west 25 and clark. In twinsburg,hudson township you had the hill top motel resturant ,bar,truck stop and apartments.It had 2 bar tables and 1 9ft gold crown that was iron jaws.Mike Gulyassy lived there and he was the house mouse.Many money games there,u never knew who would show up ,like hopkins,wade crane fly boy jimmy spears,jim marion,james brock,buddy hall,mighty mouse,from detroit,and marvin henderson,who got beat like a drum by chuck morgan playing,9 ball ,banks and 1 pocket.EVEN..Also at lacues on west 25 was porturican mike and Angelo.The air barrell kings.And Billy Stouffer, Billy Dripron.Hard action in cleveland in the 60s and 70s.And well into the 80s.Akron ohio had Starchers Billiards.open 24 hrs off waterloo rd, no longer there..Dottie starcher owned it.It had the best chicken wings in the state.It was the home of the akron open which earl stricland won 8 or 9 times,and always gave away a meucci cue to some young boy or girl in the stands.Dotie would order about 600 lbs of chicken for the open.Joe Kerr was the big promoter at the time,and he was always in action or had someone in the box.Also at the hill top and any bar you had Joe the hat.And right down the road from starchers billards you had joes truck stop.On rt 24 or 224 ?The good ole days.Also at starchers you had mario stletilli, Preacher don eddy who also drove truck.He always had a champiom with him ,Brock,wade crane.Curly moon from akron was the same always had a champion like mexian joe slalazar, 2 bars in akron off kenmore blvd were the tourch club and house of doubles,side by side owned by the same person.Champions were always in there,like joey speith playing a race to8 for 500 with mexian joe and winning 7 to 1 or 7 to2 ,and joe ran the set out,on a 7 ft bar box. I forgot jerry wolf at starchers and he played at moon mullins place in cuyahoga falls,and forgot Tommy parker and joe randaso jr and sr ,they called sr cowboy,at northfield lanes and Tall mike ruffo .And elmer carrick with his wife Bev.Where you saw herbie you saw elmer.They made good games.And the game maker bruno Katea ,wore the same burgandy button up sweater for yrs. Rich aka the skunk.