Harold Worst

gpeezy

gpeezy

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At this years Derby I purchased the GosPool from Mr.Bentivenga. It, as did Banking with the Beard, had lots of great stories. One that stuck was Harold Worst. For one I have never heard of him before. Two he mentioned him as one of the very best players around. Anyone have any stories of his play?
 
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Neil said:
I played Harold Worst one time. He was getting rather brash, and I showed him he really didn't know how to play at all. Of, course, I was playing his son Harold!:thumbup:

Harold Sr. I never had the chance to meet. But, I did play a lot with a good friend of his that played played him all the time. George told me about an exhibition 14.1 game they were playing at some 'club' downtown. It was a race to 200. George started out really good, and was up 150-0. Harold then asked him if he wanted to bet $50 on the match.

Well, at that time, 50 was a LOT of money. So, of course, George said yes. Then Harold got up and ran 200 and out! George said he never bet against him again!.
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Nice story Neil!

My dad was pals with Harold Sr. when they were kids, and my dad would make the bets when Harold was matching up (young teens) so he remained amatuer status I guess. Then they would go get an ice cream after Harold won. :smile: Fortunately (or not) for me my dad didn't learn the game from him.

George Ellis that Neil talks about here was a great player in his own right, having played Fats and Mosconi in their haydays. George beat Fats out of a thousand or so on multiple occasions, but could not defeat Willie. George told me that Harold was the best he had ever seen ... and that included having personally playing Mosconi. George was also Bobby Hunters mentor/teacher who has gone on to mentor our very own John Schmit IIRC. I miss George! Great guy. He was Harold's "sparring partner" when he was home from the road.

Harold Jr. is a good player.... but unfortunately was very young when his dad died. I remember going to the funeral home with my dad. That was a very sad day for pool. No telling how Sr. would have marked the history of the game. 3c. world champion as well as 14.1 and 9 ball IIRC. Anyone care to chime in with the records feel free.

td
 
Billiards Digest Article on Worst

R.A. Dyer wrote an article on Harold Worst for his Untold Stories feature in Billiards Digest. It's not currently online because it's too old, but I found it. Ignore the error messages all over the page - you can page through the article in its entirety. Here is the link:http://www.billiardsdigest.com/untold_stories/worst.php

Other than that, Freddy's Gospool is the best source I've read.

From the three cushion side, Danny McGoorty talks a little about Worst in Bob Byrne's McGoorty. He knew him pretty well. I highly recommend that book, by the way. One of the best books - of any kind - I ever read. Very unique.
 
More than one old-time pro player has told me that Harold Worst was the best all-around player they ever saw. In fact, he played in the 1966 world 14.1 event or 1966 U.S. Open (not sure which) when he had only 2 months to live, he had lost a ton of weight and was wearing a body brace and still managed to run 80 balls in one match. That's incredible!
 
OK, borrowing from English football, George Best, a superstar who played for Manchester United in the 1970's, had a last name that may have fit. George was, perhaps, the best English footballer, certainly among them. But Harold Worst is another story. One of our all-time greatest cuesports legends, he was far from the worst, so his last name didn't exactly fit.

Juliet said it best when she uttered "What's in a name? A rose by any other name would smell as sweet." And so it is with Harold Worst, who, as a cueist was, from everything that's been written, as sweet as it gets.
 
Another great story...

Rich93 said:
R.A. Dyer wrote an article on Harold Worst for his Untold Stories feature in Billiards Digest. It's not currently online because it's too old, but I found it. Ignore the error messages all over the page - you can page through the article in its entirety. Here is the link:http://www.billiardsdigest.com/untold_stories/worst.php

Other than that, Freddy's Gospool is the best source I've read.

From the three cushion side, Danny McGoorty talks a little about Worst in Bob Byrne's McGoorty. He knew him pretty well. I highly recommend that book, by the way. One of the best books - of any kind - I ever read. Very unique.
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Fantastic read!!

Thanks for posting that.... brings up some memories and ties up some loose ends for me. I had forgotten his nickname. I'll have to prod my dad for some more stories when I can. :smile: If he can remember.

td
 
gpeezy said:
At this years Derby I purchased the GosPool from Mr.Bentivenga. It, as did Banking with the Beard, had lots of great stories. One that stuck was Harold Worst. For one I have never heard of him before. Two he mentioned him as one of the very best players around. Anyone have any stories of his play?
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He was the MAN, Unfortunatly, I never saw him play, The guys (Jersey Red, Danny Jones, Ronnie Allen )that I asked about him, had the greatest praise. He did things in a short time span, that may never be equaled. A bright star that burned out too soon.
 
gpeezy said:
At this years Derby I purchased the GosPool from Mr.Bentivenga. It, as did Banking with the Beard, had lots of great stories. One that stuck was Harold Worst. For one I have never heard of him before. Two he mentioned him as one of the very best players around. Anyone have any stories of his play?
Click to expand...
Do a search on these forums on "Harold Worst." There are plenty of stories about him, especially from the guys who went to the Johnson City tournaments.

Fred
 
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