jimmy Matt’s

S

SHORTY WRIGHT

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Has anybody ever heard of Jimmy Matt’s from the Pennsylvania area from the 70’s .... I heard no pro could beat him ... He played Jimmy Fusco when he was young ...
 
Jimmy Matz was certainly a very good player but definitely not a great player. He was very cagey and took few chances. Cautious to say the least.
 
Last edited:
SHORTY WRIGHT said:
Has anybody ever heard of Jimmy Matt’s from the Pennsylvania area from the 70’s .... I heard no pro could beat him ... He played Jimmy Fusco when he was young ...
Click to expand...

I knew him, he was very good but not a champion level player. Unlike many road players of the day who were always broke, he was a money making machine. He could make money any place he went. He was a real chameleon and would just blend in anywhere.

Also unlike many road players who made enemies everywhere they went he made friends. He could beat people out of their money and they would enjoy it. After his accident he was very different, he suffered some brain damage I think. He could still play though. Don't know anyone who didn't like him.
 
.



Yes he was a great player. I played him for three hours straight one time and only lost $45 dollars.

We played for a dollar a rack.



Earl told me he was the only guy ever to break and run seven in a row for $50 a rack.




.
 
Jimmy Matts

Before his car accident Jimmy was one of the best players in the world. I am very sorry to tell the doubters but Jimmy was a pro and he played the best and beat the best. He played Mizerak, Strickland, Hopkins and many others and came out on the winning side. And there were pro's who would not not even play him. He also was a great hustler. He could throw a match and them collect double the amount outside in the parking lot.

God Bless everyone with peace, love, health and happiness.
 
Saw him play in the 90's in Glen Burnie Md. He played very well. He had a very unorthodox grip but it didn't slow him down. He was a little weird. He would walk
around the room talking to himself. Could have been a gaffe .... but played great 9 ball.
Fun to watch.
 
IDK if I have the same guy, but I recall a story about a top Philly player that was in a car accident, and his hand was messed up. After the accident, he had to play opposite handed, but still played a top speed.
 
I never really knew how good he played. The stories going around back then were that he played a speed under Billy Cardone, Jimmy Marino and players like that. But on the other hand I never heard of anyone who beat him. When I asked my friend Jimmy Marino if he ever played Matts, he just smiled at me and didn't comment.
 
Gunn_Slinger said:
Saw him play in the 90's in Glen Burnie Md. He played very well. He had a very unorthodox grip but it didn't slow him down. He was a little weird. He would walk
around the room talking to himself. Could have been a gaffe .... but played great 9 ball.
Fun to watch.
Click to expand...

Jimmy was a legend here in Reading Pa. I used to watch him shoot at Berks Lanes quite a bit. He was definitely fun to watch. He was super quirky walking around the table pointing all over the place as he carried a conversation on with himself. He was a truly amazing player and I only knew him after his accident when he was on his downward spiral. I would have loved to see him in his prime. The guy never seemed to miss unless he wanted to. If anyone has any video footage I would love to see it.
 
Some Facts about "Jimmy Matz"

I too knew Jimmy as we grew up together... those who say he was NOT a great player are 100% wrong... knowing him for many, many years... & Seeing (NOT just hearing) the stories about how good he was proved it...

YES he beat the BEST in the world at the time he played... He once ran 275 balls at a pool hall called Susie Q's near Reading, PA without missing he just put his cue away & stopped saying he was tired of playing... Reading Eagle Newspaper put it in their paper... I know as I was there!! Yes he played Jimmy Fusco also at Susie Q's... he did play at Bartman's in Gilbertsville, Pa - (where I met him), Bowl-A-Rama, Heister's Lanes, & Berks Lanes.... just to mention a few.

Jimmy was barred from entering ALL tournaments (locally)… mostly cause they said he was a pro... which he never became because there was more money in hustling... He did NOT lose unless he had reason to... later in his life he was in an accident in FL with his CORVETTE... he had a bad head injury which did hurt his playing, however was still a great player up to his death... (the 275 ball run & match with Fusco was after the accident)...

I am sure there are hundreds of stories out there about Jimmy - some good some bad... BUT... unless you knew him personally or played with him... then you really didn't know him!! Most of his road players he played with are also now gone... as in the day Jimmy was considered one of the "Best Money Players" in the world at that time

Hopefully this helps set the record straight on Jimmy Matz.... :-)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top