Jimmy Moore, Irving Crane

Raggedy Andy

Raggedy Andy

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Hey, fellas. I wanted to post a great video of my main mentor when I was a younger man, Jimmy Moore. I first saw Jimmy play in 1974, and moved to Albuquerque soon after, so I could just be around the pool scene there. I think Jimmy was maybe 62 or 63 when I first saw him, and probably 65 or so when I began to play with him. At 65...........he could still play.....with just about anyone. He used to play me straight pool....cheap....$5.00 or sometimes $10.00 a game, and most often gave me a no-count spot.....which meant he had to run a certain number of balls for his score to even count. Jimmy was not the only good player in Albuquerque, back then.......there were a few others including Freddie Garcia and Louie Royball, two of the best one pocket players in the country at that time. But, Jimmy was the man.......and he was an amazing gentleman. I learned much from him, and I treasure the games we played. A few years ago, I was talking with a couple of younger players in Albuquerque.....good players, and to my astonishment they didn't know who Jimmy was. That would be like someone from Rochester not knowing who Irving Crane was. Anyway, if go to the link, there are several more episodes of the game 10-20, that aired on ABC. Pretty cool stuff.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rBExQ1csXBw
 
Raggedy Andy said:
Hey, fellas. I wanted to post a great video of my main mentor when I was a younger man, Jimmy Moore. I first saw Jimmy play in 1974, and moved to Albuquerque soon after, so I could just be around the pool scene there. I think Jimmy was maybe 62 or 63 when I first saw him, and probably 65 or so when I began to play with him. At 65...........he could still play.....with just about anyone. He used to play me straight pool....cheap....$5.00 or sometimes $10.00 a game, and most often gave me a no-count spot.....which meant he had to run a certain number of balls for his score to even count. Jimmy was not the only good player in Albuquerque, back then.......there were a few others including Freddie Garcia and Louie Royball, two of the best one pocket players in the country at that time. But, Jimmy was the man.......and he was an amazing gentleman. I learned much from him, and I treasure the games we played. A few years ago, I was talking with a couple of younger players in Albuquerque.....good players, and to my astonishment they didn't know who Jimmy was. That would be like someone from Rochester not knowing who Irving Crane was. Anyway, if go to the link, there are several more episodes of the game 10-20, that aired on ABC. Pretty cool stuff.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rBExQ1csXBw
Click to expand...

Jimmy Moore happens to be one of my all time favorite players. When I was 17 years old Robin Bell and I were in a Straight Pool event and ended up in the finals. Part of the first place prize was the winner got to play Jimmy Moore as he was coming to town for an exibition. My parents were there and I played horrible and Robin won and got to play him. I saw him years later on tour with my band in a pool hall in New Mexico and it was his 80th birthday. I spoke with him about way back when which by the way was also 1974 I believe, maybe 73'. Anyway he got up and ran 111 balls at 80 years old!!! I can't ever remember seeing such a beautiful stroke. I have heard that nobody beat him for the cash in the Johnson City days. He was one feared player!! I just loved the guy he was so personable. He had made an instructional tape in Calif. and I gave him the money for it in New Mexico and he sent it to me. I have heard he was in a ton of world championship finals and kept finishing second. He beat everyone back then though. When you speak about Jimmy Moore, you are talking pure legend of pool history!!! Thanks for sharing:-)
 
That was good to watch, thanks.
The announcer was the same guy who did the match with Crane vs Balsis when Crane went 150 and out, i think it was. Guy cracked me up with some of his comments, lol.
 
Pretty cool stuff. It was a different time back then. Everyone dressed up when they went to sporting events.
 
Jimmy Moore missed his first shot by a full diamond. He barely got down at all, shot from nearly a standing position.

Both of them could draw the ball, though.

Boston Shorty had a great touch.

Anyone else think Jimmy Moore and Mike Dechaine look alike?
 
Jimmy's stroke

Thanks for all the comments, guys. It really was different back then, eh? Per Jimmy's stroke; He used the slip stroke when he really had to draw one. On his backstroke he would (while he was taking the stroke) let his hand slip down to the very end of the butt, and then follow all the way through going forward. I think he was one of the only players back then to use such a long stroke (not long by today's standard). He also stood more erect, as most players start to do when they get a little older. But, he could still really play when I was sparring with him. He was about 65 years old then. He played with a precision and beauty rarely seen today. The best players of today play a different brand of pool. Power pool. But, make no mistake. If you watch closely, you can trace the roots of every good player today.....all the way back to when these guys were kings.
 
Jimmie will always be remembered! One of my first tourneys I was in I had this back cut on the 9 ball, Sliced it in nicely! Jimmie and Louie were on the rail watching it all, and Jimmie complimented me on the shot! What a great feeling for a 15 year old...I invented slip stroke also! So I thought when I was younger, until I witnessed what the "Cowboy" was able to do with it. Over the years got away from that until recently was reminiscing about the good ole times, and started using it to the astonishment of others at the local hall...Thanks for the post, a fellow N.M.
 
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