PoolBum said:It's very difficult to compare players from different eras, but FWIW here are my top five straight-pool players of all time, in chronological order:
Ralph Greenleaf
Willie Mosconi
Irving Crane
Steve Mizerak
Mike Sigel
Sigel has the distinction of being among the top five all time in both of the categories that have defined championship tournament pool for the last century--straight pool and nine ball.
My top five nine ball players of all time, in no particular order:
Luther Lassiter
Mike Sigel
Earl Strickland
Johnny Archer
Efren Reyes
I'm not sure if this gentleman has been mentioned in the all-around category, but I want to remind everyone of Harold Worst, a champion in more than a couple disciplines from the Johnston City days whose career and life were all too brief.
Bob Jewett said:The 4x8 part is in the affidavit made at the time of the run. A link to the Smithsonian's on-line copy of the affidavit is item 22 on http://www.sfbilliards.com/misc.htm
The "did not happen" part might be based on some rumors that during the run at least one ball bounced from a pocket but was considered good. You need to weigh rumor against affidavit, I suppose. It is unfortunate that no one in the crowd had a video camera.
sjm said:I'd pick the same five in straight pool, and if you changed Reyes to Buddy Hall, we'd agree on nine ball.
Harold Worst was a fine all-around player, but an even better all-around player was Nick Varner, who captured the world championship in each of nine ball, eight ball, straight pool, and one pocket. I'm not sure any other player has done that.
I assume that the Smithsonian has it. Try contacting them.dmgwalsh said:...
Your link to the affidavit was pretty cool. Do you know where I might get a copy suitabel for framing. I'd like to get one for Frank "Sailor" Stellman and maybe one for me, too.
Any discussion of the greatest all around pool players must include a young , competitive Allen Hopkins, especially if the games are being played on Tight Pockets. JMHO! Fred McCannPoolBum said:Excellent points, both of them. I think I overlooked Buddy somehow but I agree that he belongs on the short list of all-time great nine ballers. And Nick is definitely underrated, and a great all-around player, from my home state of Kentucky (as was Buddy I believe).
Grady said:Excuse, you lowlife piece of junkie excrement? You're a fine pair, you and miss prim and proper JAM, only I know what and who she is. I repeat, you oughta be ashamed of yourself. I'm gonna give you action but there's gonna some big changes. We're not playing in front of a partial audience. In fact there's not going to be anyone except you, me, the referee and a 48 pack of beer for you.
You are going to have to be able to play 48 hours or until somebody wins. Since you're so great I guess it's all right if I pick the equipment, place and game?
PoolBum said:Excellent points, both of them. I think I overlooked Buddy somehow but I agree that he belongs on the short list of all-time great nine ballers. And Nick is definitely underrated, and a great all-around player, from my home state of Kentucky (as was Buddy I believe).
Bob Jewett said:I assume that the Smithsonian has it. Try contacting them.
mjantti said:Wow ! Running 361 in 1967 and running 333 in 2000 ? Now, who has runs over 300 in a period of 33 years ?
bruin70 said:from what i saw of johnny's game in his later years, it was very unique compared to other players, and i would have to call his game artistic.he got closer to the OB than anyone i have ever seen play, and he massaged the balls better than anyone i've seen play. this kind of game doesn't diminish over the years,,,i think it gets better because it is totally dependent on knowledge
sjm said:Yeah, Johnny's knowledge allowed him to play great straight pool even when he was in his sixties. Nonetheless, let's not misrepresent things here. New York City's top two straight poolers, Tony Robles and Dan Barouty would have been big favorites over Johnny even if they gave him a 50 ball spot in a race to 150.
bruin70 said:...what i find most interesting about this thread, is that with arguably pool's and most storied record, there is not only controversy, and mixed reflections on what actually happened, but outright denials that a TRUE 526 actually occured.....once again, this reflects on the slipshod manner with which the game is documented even by its most knowledgeable participants.
It was in Springfield, Ohio and I think the name of the place was East Side Billiards.watchez said:Well which was it???
He won Alaska 8-ball, 9-ball state championship and ran over 300 several times while in Alaska. Joe BVoodoo Daddy said:I wanna say it was 2 years ago, Johnny Ervolino ran 350+ at the ripe age of 68!!! In Ny somewhere...someone help out?
dmgwalsh said:Yeah, that's what I thought, too. But I couldn't find it on their site and thought you might know for sure. I'll get back to looking.
The name of the room and the location are listed in the affidavit that was made at the time of the run. A link to the affidavit is about item 20 on:Joe Pickens said:It was in Springfield, Ohio and I think the name of the place was East Side Billiards.