Irving Crane Story

[lfigueroa]

Reading through the Caras thread made me think of the following story Mark Wilson told me a few days ago.

Crane showed up to do an exhibition, racks the balls and sets up a break shot, and announces to the crowd that he’s going to run 100. And then he says, “I can’t do this every time but I’ll give it a try. I want someone in the crowd to pick out what ball in the rack they want me to use for the next break ball.”

Someone names a ball and Crane successfully runs 14 and maneuvers to use the selected ball, and all the subsequent balls shouted out for break balls, to run 100.

Lou Figueroa

 

[sjm]

Yes, the confidence level of the legends is really incredible. Irving could usually run 100 on demand, and this extra requirement made it only marginally more difficult. I knew him well, and nobody inspired me more to play pool than him.

As is well known, Crane was an influence on Mike Sigel, as both hailed from the Rochester, NY area. There's a similar story about Sigel. About forty years ago, Mike did an exhibition at the Mayfair club, a private social club located in Gramercy Park, Manhattan, NY. He played a match against that club's top pool player. Mike broke and his opponent made the first few balls in the race to 100. Then, it was Sigel's turn and he started running some balls and then some more balls. When he was up to eighty or so, former NYC mayor John Lindsey walked in and saw the last twenty of Sigel's 100 and out. After the match, Lindsey was introduced to Sigel, and the former mayor commented [I watched the end of your 100-ball run and I wish I'd been here to see it in its entirety.] Sigel's almost legendary reply was "Do you want me to do it again?"

Yup, those boys from Rochester could really play straight pool.