“MELVIN “STRAWBERRY” BROOKS
“Straw” was born on 12/10/33. He’s 10 years older than I. Whatever year it was that Martin Luther King got killed, that’s when I was playing Strawberry on Pennsylvania Ave. in Baltimore at Macke’s pool room. Actually we were playing One Pocket, $500 at the time Dr. King left us. “As much as I’m enjoying this Grady, I think you’d better leave. I’m worried about your safety, exclaimed Brooks to me.” So depart I did, over to Detroit, a mistake because there were riots and I was given a 7pm curfew.
Nobody ever got robbed when playing Strawberry, even at 7th and T. Residents of D.C will know what I’m talking about. Macke’s in Baltimore was owned by Melvin, a pretty good pool sucker , a backer for Strawberry, and a kingpin of that area. for some big stakes as we’ll see shortly.
Straw has always been unafraid and a lover of big wagering. To lend more respect to his game, he’s defeated “Bugs” a number of times and, try as I may, I can’t remember him turning anyone down to play. He beat “Jew Paul” playing him 2 and safe for 6 days in a row, a feat which nobody else matched and which caused Paul to win some big money.
I can’t help myself here. I just have to tell this little tidbit about my silver tongued friend. He once introduced me to this fine lady, saying,” Grady, get a load of the thighs on this heifer.” In the day, I liked this sort of thing about as much as pool.
Melvin staked Strawberry to play Cicero a set of One Pocket for $25,000. It wasn’t really a match because Murphy didn’t play good One Pocket. Another large win Brooks came at the hands of “Chicago Paul.” Straw had to make two block fours. Paul was a good player, too and not much fun to play with.
$42,000 was the number.
I was surprised to learn that Strawberry never met “Rags” Fitzpatrick, who died at age 41 in 1960. They had played a lot of pool within 50 miles of each other. Straw credits Eddie “The Knoxville Bear” Taylor with having influenced him the most. They took road trips together and were best of friends. Brooks told me, “Grady, I know Eddie had to miss a bank once in a while. I just never saw it.” Digest that, honorable readers. He also credits Earl Schriver with teaching him things.
He made a few mistakes, like most of us and one of those caused him to be a guest of the state from 1972 to 1976. Like most difficulties in this notable man’s life, he sort of shrugged it off and continued with life. His wife of 30 years, Mary El Amin is working on a book, no title yet but it’s sure to be good.
“Straw” was born on 12/10/33. He’s 10 years older than I. Whatever year it was that Martin Luther King got killed, that’s when I was playing Strawberry on Pennsylvania Ave. in Baltimore at Macke’s pool room. Actually we were playing One Pocket, $500 at the time Dr. King left us. “As much as I’m enjoying this Grady, I think you’d better leave. I’m worried about your safety, exclaimed Brooks to me.” So depart I did, over to Detroit, a mistake because there were riots and I was given a 7pm curfew.
Nobody ever got robbed when playing Strawberry, even at 7th and T. Residents of D.C will know what I’m talking about. Macke’s in Baltimore was owned by Melvin, a pretty good pool sucker , a backer for Strawberry, and a kingpin of that area. for some big stakes as we’ll see shortly.
Straw has always been unafraid and a lover of big wagering. To lend more respect to his game, he’s defeated “Bugs” a number of times and, try as I may, I can’t remember him turning anyone down to play. He beat “Jew Paul” playing him 2 and safe for 6 days in a row, a feat which nobody else matched and which caused Paul to win some big money.
I can’t help myself here. I just have to tell this little tidbit about my silver tongued friend. He once introduced me to this fine lady, saying,” Grady, get a load of the thighs on this heifer.” In the day, I liked this sort of thing about as much as pool.
Melvin staked Strawberry to play Cicero a set of One Pocket for $25,000. It wasn’t really a match because Murphy didn’t play good One Pocket. Another large win Brooks came at the hands of “Chicago Paul.” Straw had to make two block fours. Paul was a good player, too and not much fun to play with.
$42,000 was the number.
I was surprised to learn that Strawberry never met “Rags” Fitzpatrick, who died at age 41 in 1960. They had played a lot of pool within 50 miles of each other. Straw credits Eddie “The Knoxville Bear” Taylor with having influenced him the most. They took road trips together and were best of friends. Brooks told me, “Grady, I know Eddie had to miss a bank once in a while. I just never saw it.” Digest that, honorable readers. He also credits Earl Schriver with teaching him things.
He made a few mistakes, like most of us and one of those caused him to be a guest of the state from 1972 to 1976. Like most difficulties in this notable man’s life, he sort of shrugged it off and continued with life. His wife of 30 years, Mary El Amin is working on a book, no title yet but it’s sure to be good.
they all had kind words of encouragement and filled me in on the many things I was doing wrong at the time. I think they knew I had a real passion for the game, and wanted to play correctly. 
....then I ran a couple racks and missed a break ball.....He said my patterns were better, and I had him worried
I just laughed and shook his hand. Bob is a great guy...