Jersey for the HOF?
- Thread starter L.S. Dennis
- Start date
L.S. Dennis
Well-known member
Just watched a documentary of Eddie Taylor recently in which he went out of his way to say that Jersey Red should definetly be in the hof. I tend to agree with him,
Point well taken. Red certainly played a hall of fame worthy game, but the competitive resume just doesn't measure up. I put him in a category of near misses, which would include his frequent road partner and very close friend Johnny Ervolino. They were, by their own assessment, equals at both straight pool and one pocket, the two games that mattered most in their respective primes.
Jimmy Moore's tournament resume, to me, is far stronger than that of Jersey Red. Jimmy had five silver medals in the World 14. Championship, no small feat when those fields always included Willie Mosconi, Irving Crane, Jimmy Caras, Luther Lassiter and Art "Babe" Cranfield.
Of course, it's all in the eye of the beholder, and Jersey Red would not look out of place in the BCA Hall of Fame.
It's also worth mentioning that Rags Fitpatrick, who, by Eddie Taylor's assessment, was the greatest all-around player of the 1950s, is not a hall of famer. I once read that Rags died just before the beginning of the first Johnston City event.
It seems many of the all-around greats of that period are largely forgotten by the hall of fame committee. It is hardly surprising, given that the BCA hall of fame wasn't established until 1966.
Jim Buss told me he was at a tournament once with his cues and Jersey Red asked if he could hit some balls with one of Jim's cues. Jim said sure and told him to chalk it because it hadn't been chalked. Jersey Red set up a break ball, ran two racks of 14.1 and handed the cue back to Jim. "You don't need chalk if you hit center ball".
There are some players in the MLB HOF whose stats fall just short of HOF but their exploits make them legendary players. Dizzy Dean is one. Perhaps Jersey Red fits in that category.
There are some players in the MLB HOF whose stats fall just short of HOF but their exploits make them legendary players. Dizzy Dean is one. Perhaps Jersey Red fits in that category.
Rags died in 1960 at the age of 40! I first got involved in the pool world a couple of years later and the top players continued to reminisce about him. Fats called him the greatest money player who ever lived and Don Willis referred to him as unbeatable. George Rood and Eddie Taylor had a conversation where Rags came up and they both agreed he was the best money player and by far the best One Pocket player. Even Cincinnati Clem showed reverence when his name was mentioned and Clem thought he (meaning himself) was the best One Pocket player in the 1950's. For history's sake, One Pocket dominance in the 1950's and early 60's was Rags on top, then Clem, Squirrel and Taylor in no certain order. Rags was the Efren of his era.
I saw them both play in their prime, many times. You are correct when you say they were of near equal skill at all games. Ervolino was the far better money player, the best in New York and loved to play for high stakes. Red was content to play $20-40 One Pocket and 50 or 100 dollar sets of 9-Ball. $200 was a big bet for him and it usually involved a backer. Red loved playing pool, more than just about anyone else I ever watched play. He would put on an exhibition of pool excellence while playing someone $20 One Pocket and giving up a big spot. All the time he was making jokes and telling people to watch what he was going to do here. Everyone loved the big Redbird! Johnny Ervolino was a hard core gambler who stayed off the table until a game was made. Then he would put his game face on and take your money. He talked big and he played big!
I'm thankful for being around in that era. Pool was the most entertaining world back then. The cast of characters and great players were delightful to be around. Funnier than any stand up comedian this side of Steve Martin. I never have laughed so hard since then. I have some good memories of those days. A few not so good, but that came with the territory.
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L.S. Dennis
Well-known member
During the 90’s I had (still have) a friend who was editor and publisher of a small pool news letter. In the spring of 96’ he published a newsletter in which he recalls interviewing Red by phone shortly before his passing. One of the many things Red said in that interview was his experience with Earl. Here’s one of the quotes from that interview.
“The teenaged Earl Strickland was like me when I was 16 or 17- a kid with a lot of spunk whol wanted to play everybody. I know because Earl lived in Houston when he was young. We were good friends and played every week. I ‘d give him the eight. I think I probably helped him a little”.
IMO this is why he should be in the HOF. I got to be around Red in the 90's and he was a true gentlemen and just damn fun to be around. People would gather around and watch and listen. It was better than a comedy club. Pure entertainment. Everyone waiting to hear what he was going to say next. The guy put smiles on everyone's face. I loved that guy for sure. Plus, I got to watch a young Jeremy Jones become a great one pocket player because he lost a good amount of money playing Red for $10 a game. Red was a damn good teacher where he would show you the right shots as he beat you.
Red called me two weeks before he died to say good bye. He knew he didn't have long and wanted to talk to all his old friends before he was gone. I didn't actually know the purpose of his phone call other than to reminisce a little, until I got word he had passed away. Then I understood. In hindsight I realize that I truly loved Red. He brought a lot of joy to my life in the time I knew him, that dates back to the early 60's at 7/11. I think I became closer to my friends in the pool world then to members of my own family. FATS, Steve Gumphrey, Jimmy Reid, Ronnie and Richie, Keith, Johnny Archer, early Earl, Cornbread, Jersey Red, Ervolino and NY Blackie, Larry Lisciotti, Jimmy Marino, Billy Incardona, Jim Mataya, Buddy, Dallas, Buddy Dennis, Jeff Carter, David Howard, Swanee, Jim Rempe, Allen Hopkins, Miz, Grady, Cliff, Efren, Tang Hoa, Bob Hunter, Morro Paez, Ernesto Dominguez, Pat Fleming, Harry Platis, Chris MacDonald, Danny Medina, Shane, Dennis Orcollo, Warren Kiamco, Carlo Biado, Lee Vann, DANNY D. I'm probably leaving out a few but this was my family!
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Among the women, I was closest to Jeanette, Shari Stauch, Ming Ng, Helena and Monica Webb, Vivian, Robin and Mary K, Loree Jon, Ewa, Rubilen Amit, Jasmin, Kelly and even Jean B. I really always liked Allison, a very classy lady and her nemisis Karen Corr.
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L.S. Dennis
Well-known member
Quite a family, with the exception of Varner and Siegel, you pretty much have the bases covered! I’ll bet you have a lot of stories, other than the ones you covered in your two great books!
They should be on that list too. Too many stories about all these guys. Some are unfit for publication though. The most outrageous involved Jimmy Reid, Cornbread, Jimmy Mataya, Ronnie, Keith, Ervolino, Archer and mi amigo Morro. They wll reside in my memory bank forever.
I watched a lot of Allison and Corr playing each other and other opponents when women's pool was on TV.
Allison and Corr were the best women players at that time and I would give a slight edge to Allison.
Allison's cue ball control was better then Corr.