History of 9-ball

Well, I know for certain that it was played in the 1950's, but I'll bet it started before that. Like you, I'm looking forward to the answer to your queston.
 
don giancana said:
Does anyone know when 9-ball first came about and how long it's been around for?

Thanks


I don't know the answer, but will the person that finds out get any special
"favors" from you down the road? I mean, I don't even know how to address you...is it "your Excellency", "your lordship"? Man...this is exciting...I only read about Gotti, but I've never gotten to talk to a real "DON". :D
(I am your humble servant...call on me any time you wish)
 
don giancana said:
Does anyone know when 9-ball first came about and how long it's been around for?

Thanks

I know it was around in the 30's for sure, but not
sure exactly when it first started. I think I heard
once that it's as old as straight pool but up until
the 1950's it was just a gambling game. That must
have been a tougher game on the 5 x 10's.
 
According to the WPBA website, 9-ball apparently started around 1920. I'm still searching for more info, like maybe where it started...

One-pocket was first described in 1775.
 
seems like i remember reading somewhere that it just became a offshoot off simple 15 ball rotation. I think byrnes books usually have a good history of pool in them, somebody check im at work lol
 
drivermaker said:
I don't know the answer, but will the person that finds out get any special
"favors" from you down the road? I mean, I don't even know how to address you...is it "your Excellency", "your lordship"? Man...this is exciting...I only read about Gotti, but I've never gotten to talk to a real "DON". :D
(I am your humble servant...call on me any time you wish)


'Your Excellancy' is good enough.

Just answering my questions will be all thats needed at the moment.

Peace
 
mjantti said:
So is 8-ball older than straight pool ?


My understanding is that 8-ball is older than straight pool. The very design of the balls is a direct result of 8-ball. I believe the game was originally called "Brunswick" if I remember correctly.

(this is all from stuff I read a while back)


Jude M. Rosenstock
 
mjantti said:
So is 8-ball older than straight pool ?


Straight pool was invented in 1910. The first straight pool tournament was held from March 25 through April 6, 1912. (Good thing Danny Basavich's grandfather wasn't playing at that time, it wouldn't have ended until 1915.)

Before this time, the championship for pocket billiards was called "continuous pool," a variation of the game that was first played in 1889 and lasted through 1911. In continuous pool, all balls were racked, INCLUDING the last ball after it was pocketed. Jerome Keogh came up with the idea of leaving the last ball on the table and using it as "the break shot," thereby creating the new game of 14.1. The winner of the first tournament was Edward Ralph and the high run was 46, by Alfredo De Oro.
 
don giancana said:
Does anyone know when 9-ball first came about and how long it's been around for?

Thanks


Don't know when the different games started but I'd like to know how closely the rules of the different games are to the "ORIGIONAL" rules. Coin-op tables may be responsible for a surprising number of rule changes over the years.

Terry
 
drivermaker said:
Straight pool was invented in 1910. The first straight pool tournament was held from March 25 through April 6, 1912. (Good thing Danny Basavich's grandfather wasn't playing at that time, it wouldn't have ended until 1915.)

Before this time, the championship for pocket billiards was called "continuous pool," a variation of the game that was first played in 1889 and lasted through 1911. In continuous pool, all balls were racked, INCLUDING the last ball after it was pocketed. Jerome Keogh came up with the idea of leaving the last ball on the table and using it as "the break shot," thereby creating the new game of 14.1. The winner of the first tournament was Edward Ralph and the high run was 46, by Alfredo De Oro.

What happened with Line Up? I thought 14-1 was at least partially a take off from that game.

Rod
 
Rodd said:
What happened with Line Up? I thought 14-1 was at least partially a take off from that game.

Rod


Your memory might be better than mine...wait a minute...I wasn't even there.
All of my information came straight out of the second edition of the Billiard Encyclopedia. There were no references in there about Line Up, only what I wrote. I also got no indication that 8 ball was an older game than 14.1, although there was no mention of it. It just seems the way the encyclopedia had the progression of 6 pocket pool from billiards, balk-line, and snooker, 14.1 came first. I don't even now that 9 ball was invented until the 30's or 40's. According to info in the BCA, until about 1920 American billiards consisted mainly of carom games. Pool was a dying and almost dead sport. I guess we'll need something that goes beyond the Billiard Encyclopedia for information, whatever that could be.
 
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