Greatest American player ever?

[Secaucus Fats]

Since the OP asked who is the greatest American player, I had to go with Mosconi.

If the question had been, who is the greatest player regardless of nationality, then I'd have to go with Alfredo De Oro.

Way before Mosconi, and Greenleaf, Alfredo De Oro (Cuban) was the man. De Oro won his first pocket championship in 1887 and then went on to win it 31 more times. He was also the only player in history to have held both the pool and billiards crowns simultaneously, on two separate occasions. He won the World 3 Cushion Championship in 1908, 1910, 1911, 1913, 1914, 1915, 1917, and 1919.

 

[3kushn]

Too bad the good die young.

Greenleaf
Worst
Roberts

Never had a chance for greatest ever. We'll never know.

 

[PoolBum]

"Who is the greatest American pool player ever?" should be who has the most skill in the largest number of games. At his peak, I'm guessing that was Sigel. I missed that whole generation so I'm not even going to vote, but if I were privy to all these candidates' accomplishments, I'm betting it would be Sigel.

I'm surprised there aren't more votes for Sigel. I suspect Sigel's personality may have something to do with it, but objectively speaking the fact that Sigel's personality rubs you the wrong way shouldn't influence your assessment of his pool playing ability.

 

[Celtic]

I'm surprised there aren't more votes for Sigel. I suspect Sigel's personality may have something to do with it, but objectively speaking the fact that Sigel's personality rubs you the wrong way shouldn't influence your assessment of his pool playing ability.

I don't know, he has more votes then the Miz, Buddy, 1 vote less then Greenleaf, only 4 less then Lassiter. I would say he is doing pretty well given the alternatives.

I think Sigel is great, the best for many years, but in no way am I voting for him on this particular list as the best American player ever.

Mosconi got my vote, noone ever dominated the sport like he did. He owned the top spot for 20 years, that is totally unhread of today. The last truly dominant sure thing best player in America on that list is Lassiter, he actually dominated the sport and was unquestionably the best player in the country. Then straight pool stopped being the professional game and in the same instant the sport lost the truly dominant players from then on. Funny how that worked.

Nevertheless there are 3 players on that list that were unquestionably the best players on the planet in their prime, Greenleaf, Mosconi, and Lassiter. Every other player on that list had peers that could be argueably be called just as good.

 

[Voodoo Daddy]

Where's Nick Varner or Danny Diliberto? The both won at the highest level for decades...Varner especially from the College level to world highest level and everything in between.

 

[PoolBum]

Where's Nick Varner or Danny Diliberto? The both won at the highest level for decades...Varner especially from the College level to world highest level and everything in between.

Unfortunately, polls only get ten choices, and Varner was the toughest choice for me to leave off the list.

Who would you remove from the list to put Varner on?

 

[bstroud]

Where is Eddy Taylor?

No one on your list wanted to play him?

Bill Stroud

 

[steveinflorida]

All around ? I gotta go with Harold Worst.

 

[book collector]

i'd have to say earl, as he competed against a wider world stage. i can't see there being too many philipino's back in the era of mosconi, greenleaf etc.:grin-square:

There have been world class players in the Phillipines since the 1800s.
I believe it was the English Billiards Champion HW Stevenson who had won the title several times in Europe and decided to go on a world cruise and show his prowess in many different countries.
He went to the Phillipines and in his autobiography warns everyone to not go there to play because everyone they put up against him beat him.

 

[wrldpro]

The guy who posted this who is the greatest player ever really went about this the wrong way.

1)greatest at what.there are so many games so greatest all around?
2)the best list would be one that pro players are asked to answer if the players in question are still alive.
3)Billiard digest already wrote a similar article in 2000 and made the same mistakes.

it is always interesting to hear all the opinions from all people on this subject though.

My personal vote absolutely goes to Nick Varner hands down.he is the greatest all around player because he has won a world title in all 5 ways to win a world title and the only player to do so..(lassiter second)

Also when people ask me this question who is the greatest player in the world now I find this easy to answer.my answer is whatever game you are talking about the answer would be whoever is the current world champion.

Thanks,

Bobby Chamberlain

 

[Celtic]

Also when people ask me this question who is the greatest player in the world now I find this easy to answer.my answer is whatever game you are talking about the answer would be whoever is the current world champion.

Errm, no. Daryl Peach has never been the greatest 9-ball player in the world. Winning one tournament on a good day with a few roles does not make a player the greatest in the world.

 

[shamrockhoax]

Harold Worst.

When finding out he had a brain tumor and only so long to live he won a 3 cushion tournament, a snooker tournament, and an all around (first in all three events) one-pocket, straight pool, and 9ball tournament. I guess he didn't start playing pocket billiards until he turned 32 or 33. He died at 39. In six years of playing pocket billiards he beat pretty much everyone. That is all according to this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c05AHZrvbU0&feature=related

I'd like to know more about him.

 

[cuetechasaurus]

Yes, it is reported to be 409. That doesn't by itself mean he has a good shot to beat Mosconi though, IMO.

I agree, but even if someone who could only run 150 balls could beat Mosconi in his prime on any given day. In the long run Mosconi would obviously be the winner, but any given day a fellow champion with a very high run could best him.

Heck, John Schmidt ran 400 something on extremely tight equipment. John right now vs Willie in his prime, I think it's a toss up to be honest. Not to take anything away from Mosconi, but in this case it's whoever gets the first shot is most likely gonna put a massive run together.

 

[PoolBum]

The guy who posted this who is the greatest player ever really went about this the wrong way.

1)greatest at what.there are so many games so greatest all around?

See post #4. I wanted opinions about who the greatest American player was without limiting it to particular games.

 

[KRJ]

Hmmm

all around.........Harold Worst...........close second Ralph Greenleaf..........but the polls going to say Mosconi i already know as your not findiing out about Ralph and Worsts exploits in any books really.......that said Mosconi's record on the 8 ft can go blow me for all i care. Greenleafs 300+ on the 10' is a much greater record and thats a fact........but hey can't make everyone not lick Willies dead balls........

WOW. Not your best stuff Ghost. I was a little shocked that one of the best AZB writers that usually is so eloquent and normally makes a very convincing argument no matter the topic could swing and miss so bad here. Your choice is not poor, but geez, do we need to really kick Mosconi in the process. I would of guessed this was written by any of the few "infamous" posters on AZB, since the terms used were "go blow me" and "lick Willies dead balls". No biggie, I take no offense. I just think you phoned this one in IMHO. I just thought you were always a better writer as welll as a billiard fan than tearing down one of the greats and using quite deragatory comments to make your case. Take care...

 

[KRJ]

Hmmm

Willie in a landslide. Earl comes in Second.

Ok, this is just a vote and there could be arguments against either two as well. But still 2 pretty darn great players imho.

 

[jay helfert]

I still think the best player I have seen in my lifetime was Harold Worst. He had it all; ability, heart, fearless, and lots of game! He wasn't afraid to take on any man at any game - with no spot! Plus he was a man's man, no BS came out of his lips. His words meant something.

 

[KRJ]

Hmmm

I still think the best player I have seen in my lifetime was Harold Worst. He had it all; ability, heart, fearless, and lots of game! He wasn't afraid to take on any man at any game - with no spot! Plus he was a man's man, no BS came out of his lips. His words meant something.

Jay, OK, convincing argument. GreyGhost where are you ??

 

[Banger]

Don't forget about Don Willis.