Larry Hubbard vs. Mike Sigel?

B

BackPocket9Ball

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I know that Larry Hubbard and Mike Sigel were road partners for a long time, and that Larry Hubbard was one of the most feared 9-ball money players in the country.

Do any of the older guys on this forum have any opinions as to who the tougher player was to take on for the cash -- Hubbard or Sigel?
 
BackPocket9Ball said:
I know that Larry Hubbard and Mike Sigel were road partners for a long time, and that Larry Hubbard was one of the most feared 9-ball money players in the country.

Do any of the older guys on this forum have any opinions as to who the tougher player was to take on for the cash -- Hubbard or Sigel?
Click to expand...

LARRY HUBBART
 
Hubbard (the original Ice Man) was a seasoned player before Mike even started playing. Both were from Rochester, NY (as was Irving Crane), and Hubbart showed Mike a lot about the game, and took him on the road a little.
Larry retired from pro pool in the late 70's, to found the APA, along with 'Texas Terry' Bell. Both are retired millionaires today.

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com
 
Yeah, only he took Mike on the road a lot. Larry would pick Mike up after school on Fridays and they'd take off to Detroit, or where ever the action was. He'd have him back in time for school on Monday.
On one of those trips Mike was in New Jersey playing a guy for money and Mike kept hitting the guy with killer safties. Finally, in exasperation the guy exploded with "Who the hell are you, f--kin Captain Hook?"
The rest is, as they say, History.
 
Last edited:
Certainly, for most of the years in which they were road partyners, Larry Hubbart was the stronger player of the two. By the end, I'd say Mike had caught up. Larry played superstrong in his day, and Mike was very forutnate that Larry took him on the road and helped teach him the ropes.

Hubbart and Crane ---- I guess you'd have to say that the young Mike Sigel had credible influences, LOL.

Larry Hubbart has been an enormously positive influence in our sport in so many ways, and I think it's only a matter of time before he (and APA co-founder Terry Bell) are inducted into the BCA Hall of Fame.
 
Hubbart retirement from pro pool

Scott Lee said:
Hubbard (the original Ice Man) was a seasoned player before Mike even started playing. Both were from Rochester, NY (as was Irving Crane), and Hubbart showed Mike a lot about the game, and took him on the road a little.
Larry retired from pro pool in the late 70's, to found the APA, along with 'Texas Terry' Bell. Both are retired millionaires today.

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com
Click to expand...
Scott, Larry was still playing as late as 1986. The photo below is from the 1986 Clyde Childress Memorial pool tournament.

As to whether Sigel was better than Hubbart, it seems to me that Sigel, at his best, was surely the better tournament player. Hubbart, at his best, was probably a better money player. Does that sound right to you other "older guys?"
 

Attachments

  • Hubbart1-s-CC86.jpg
    Hubbart1-s-CC86.jpg
    91.6 KB · Views: 1,715
sjm said:
Larry Hubbart has been an enormously positive influence in our sport in so many ways, and I think it's only a matter of time before he (and APA co-founder Terry Bell) are inducted into the BCA Hall of Fame.
Click to expand...
I try not to do this, unless of course it's a special occassion.

TAP! TAP! TAP!

Fred <~~~can't believe these guys haven't even been nominated
 
Cornerman said:
I try not to do this, unless of course it's a special occassion.

TAP! TAP! TAP!

Fred <~~~can't believe these guys haven't even been nominated
Click to expand...

I can believe it. It's simple... industry politics. For years the APA was in direct competition with the BCA League system. It would be hard to find two players that have done more for pool than Terry or Larry.

Other yearly notable HOF snubs:
Allen Hopkins
Louie Roberts
Bill Staton
Mike Lebron
Keith McCready
David Howard
Danny Diliberto
Oliver Ortmann
& most definitely
Grady Matthews

As far as who was tougher, Larry or Mike... I would have to say Larry, because he was as intimidating as a rattlesnake. When he was at the table, you knew he meant business and he had no good intentions towards the guy in the chair. He just had this way of moving around the table as if he owned it - and as if he owned you. I think that to a certain extent, tournament play bored him. Larry liked action and he loved the road. Nobody out there can say they were more successful on the road than Larry Hubbart.
 
HubbarT Yes it's a T

Yes, like a few have typed, it is not spelled HubbarD but HubbarT. The only player in the country, in the 70s, that was the favorite to beat Larry Hubbart gambling on the big table was Buddy Hall. On the bar table, Keith gave Larry the 8 and stuck him up in CA. Mike was with Larry at the time and thought Larry had a better chance with the 8 ball than he did. Larry Hubbart was a killer on the big table and the only person that was ever able to control Louie Roberts when they were on the road together.
 
I'm surprised Larry didn't apply for the IPT. Not sure how old he'd be now, but he can't be as old as Mike LeBron or Ed Kelly, who are members.
 
Scott Lee said:
Hubbard (the original Ice Man) was a seasoned player before Mike even started playing. Both were from Rochester, NY (as was Irving Crane), and Hubbart showed Mike a lot about the game, and took him on the road a little.
Larry retired from pro pool in the late 70's, to found the APA, along with 'Texas Terry' Bell. Both are retired millionaires today.

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com
Click to expand...


Many miss not having these greats in Rochester anymore. Even Pool shark52 (Pat H.) left us for Fla.

Funny though each time Poolshark52 visits us, the room gets full of serious players. When he is gone, its back to ussual business.

Yes the league players and couples playing brings in business, but these guys bring in entertainment and challenge. Even more reason for pool rooms to regard your top players (respectable ones) with honor. These are the guys that support the game and get new interested talent. The rest is needed profit.
.
.
 
BillPorter said:
Scott, Larry was still playing as late as 1986. The photo below is from the 1986 Clyde Childress Memorial pool tournament.

As to whether Sigel was better than Hubbart, it seems to me that Sigel, at his best, was surely the better tournament player. Hubbart, at his best, was probably a better money player. Does that sound right to you other "older guys?"
Click to expand...


Wow. I can't seem to dismiss the similarities in looks between Hubbart and Cliff Thorburn!!
 
hemicudas said:
Yes, like a few have typed, it is not spelled HubbarD but HubbarT. The only player in the country, in the 70s, that was the favorite to beat Larry Hubbart gambling on the big table was Buddy Hall. On the bar table, Keith gave Larry the 8 and stuck him up in CA. Mike was with Larry at the time and thought Larry had a better chance with the 8 ball than he did. Larry Hubbart was a killer on the big table and the only person that was ever able to control Louie Roberts when they were on the road together.
Click to expand...

There was another person able to control Louie but out of respect for this person, I won't post his name here. Louie never dumped this person when in together.

Louie was also involved in the original APA (Busch League). The story gets a little bit hazy but some how Larry & Terry managed to buy Louie out for a ridiculous low amount when they saw the league was going to be a big success with corporate backing. Louie was in the process of getting a law suit together against the APA/Larry & Terry at the time of his death.
 
Tough call...

BackPocket9Ball said:
I know that Larry Hubbard and Mike Sigel were road partners for a long time, and that Larry Hubbard was one of the most feared 9-ball money players in the country.

Do any of the older guys on this forum have any opinions as to who the tougher player was to take on for the cash -- Hubbard or Sigel?
Click to expand...


Larry used to play Mike 100-60 straight pool. Larry went on the road for a time and when he came back Mike went looking to play him because he had improved a lot. So Mike kept running 60 & out, 60 & out, 60 & out, Larry said "no more spot."

They would play to see who would buy dinner and the movies and would play their ass off, 100 & out, 100 & out, 100 & out. The old guys say it was pretty even, never a clear cut favorite.

On the road, whoever felt better would play. So to answer your question, who the tougher player was, "the one who felt better." lol
 
watchez said:
There was another person able to control Louie but out of respect for this person, I won't post his name here. Louie never dumped this person when in together.

Louie was also involved in the original APA (Busch League). The story gets a little bit hazy but some how Larry & Terry managed to buy Louie out for a ridiculous low amount when they saw the league was going to be a big success with corporate backing. Louie was in the process of getting a law suit together against the APA/Larry & Terry at the time of his death.
Click to expand...

You might be talking about me, but I'm not sure. Louie and I did travel together and for the most part I could keep him under control. But not always. We had one memorable battle at the Pheasant Run Hotel where the Classic Cup was played. We literally fought off and on in the room, for hours, after Louie got drunk, hit Holly and ran out into the hall naked.

And I had to get up and do commentary the next day. I am sure he never dumped me when I put him in action. I wouldn't let him make bad games, which he was prone to do. He respected me, but didn't always have a high opinion of himself unfortunately.
 
Sorry Jay...it wasn't you I was speaking of. I know your name but don't know you. If interested, send me a PM.
 
hemicudas said:
Larry Hubbart was a killer on the big table and the only person that was ever able to control Louie Roberts when they were on the road together.
Click to expand...

Wow, I think that's the most impressive thing I've heard about him yet!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top