Mosconi, The Hustler, Public Popularity
- Thread starter Mr. Bond
- Start date
306?
According to Dyer's "The Hustler and The Champ", Mosconi's run of 526 occurred during an exhibition match at East High Billiards in Springfield, OH on March 19, 1954 - 8 years before this article was published. He also had a 309 before this in what he thought was a new record, unbeknownst that Crane also had a 309 at the time. I wonder why his high run is listed as 306.
Ron F
According to Dyer's "The Hustler and The Champ", Mosconi's run of 526 occurred during an exhibition match at East High Billiards in Springfield, OH on March 19, 1954 - 8 years before this article was published. He also had a 309 before this in what he thought was a new record, unbeknownst that Crane also had a 309 at the time. I wonder why his high run is listed as 306.
Ron F
I have always been suspicious of 'high run' figures, just because of the characters that claim them and the sometimes questionable character of the onlookers who vouch for the numbers. Now, don't get me wrong, I love the game and I'm friends with many good people who play the game.
My point is, was Mosconi's feat witnessed by others and has it been verified as actual fact?
Thanks.
Speedi
SORRY!!!!
I should have read some of the earlier posts under history. I now see the signatures of those who were present when Willie worked his magic. I am glad that they did this to preserve his place in the history of billiards/pool in the United States of America.
Speedi
I remember going to Julian's when I worked in NYC from 1984-1987....it had the most unbelievable smell when you went into that place coming from the men's and woman's room. Sometimes guys would be sleeping under the tables. Crazy, classic, and I wish I could go there today, pool room.
Bob
Bob
I've heard a two different stories but the one that seems to be ringing over and over is that it was an exhibition to 200 balls in which he actually got too tired to go on and just quit but never missed. Now as incredible as 526 is on any table, please keep in mind that he was playing on a 4'x8' with 4 7/8" pockets which quite frankly... eat the balls like Pac Man.
You have to wonder at the validity of his statements after he says Willie Mosconi played a major role in the movie. He may have been the technical advisor, but his roll in the movie lasted a couple of seconds. I don't even remember if he spoke. All he did was rack the balls after someone said "Rack em Willie."
Julian's
I climbed those stairs to Julian’s Billiard Academy next to Luchow’s and the Academy of Music on Fourteenth Street many times from 1963 to 1965. There they were: the gleaming row of colossal snooker tables near the windows, the old guys missing some hair, a few teeth, and a few buttons from their double breasted suits, flipping half dollars constantly while telling you about the time they played Greenleaf. There was even a local legend called the Judge, a short, squat man who came up those stairs on time every night just like Gleason in that movie whose every scene, shot, and line was engraved in the memories of a whole generation of kids like me.
I went back there in 1986-7 to play and the crowd was a lot younger. One thing that vanished over those twenty plus years: the aprons that men used to wear to protect their suits from chalk dust when they popped in from work during the daytime..
I climbed those stairs to Julian’s Billiard Academy next to Luchow’s and the Academy of Music on Fourteenth Street many times from 1963 to 1965. There they were: the gleaming row of colossal snooker tables near the windows, the old guys missing some hair, a few teeth, and a few buttons from their double breasted suits, flipping half dollars constantly while telling you about the time they played Greenleaf. There was even a local legend called the Judge, a short, squat man who came up those stairs on time every night just like Gleason in that movie whose every scene, shot, and line was engraved in the memories of a whole generation of kids like me.
I went back there in 1986-7 to play and the crowd was a lot younger. One thing that vanished over those twenty plus years: the aprons that men used to wear to protect their suits from chalk dust when they popped in from work during the daytime..
He didn't rack the balls. Sausage did that. Willie held the stake. He didn't speak.
In his autobiography, Willie's Game, he admits to "missing a tough cut shot" but attributed it to being tired. In his interview with Bill on WW of sports piece, he said he just got tired and did not mention missing a ball.
-dj
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I was told Willies method of getting high runs on those 4 x 8s.
He would set up for break shots but not explode the balls , he played 90% of the game in the bottom half of the table.
This meant he had less long shots, he would have had to play tight shape quite often and more breakouts but it must have been more than a fair trade off for his particular style game or he would not have done it.
This information was given to me by George Rood who played Willie many times in exhibitions.
He would set up for break shots but not explode the balls , he played 90% of the game in the bottom half of the table.
This meant he had less long shots, he would have had to play tight shape quite often and more breakouts but it must have been more than a fair trade off for his particular style game or he would not have done it.
This information was given to me by George Rood who played Willie many times in exhibitions.