Older players vs newer players

M

Mr441

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Okay with all this debate on this board about Mosconi vs Schmidt and older players vs newer players, lets make it simple without the need to get into any arguments, the question is simply: If all the top pool players who've ever lived (gamblers and tournament players) were to play in a big all-around event to see who truly is the best ever, who would you bet all the money you have in the world on to win it?

Let's say it's a round robin that goes on for a long time, say a month or two, every player plays every player, a match would consist of say straight pool to 250 points, 9-ball race to 20, one pocket race to 7. a player has to win 2 of the 3 games to get a win for that match, the player with the most total wins at the end of the tourny wins the event. I guess with all the great players it would take more like 3 or 4 months to complete.

Personally I'd go with Mosconi.
 
I'd have to go with Mike Sigel. He ruled the game of 9 ball in a time where there were monster players. He's a great straight pool player. He has tons of heart and he does everything well.
Good question!!!
 
I'd Pick Miz... been reading this forum and many other publications for years ... never heard anyone ever mention Miz's weakest game.... Did he have one???
 
Efren Reyes
I doubt he'd win the straight pool portion, but he would most definitely be tops in 9 ball and one pocket.
 
Wow, what I wouldn't give to see some of those matches! Well I can narrow it down to Mosconi, Sigel, Lassiter and Harold Worst and if I was really forced to choose one I'd probably go with Mike Sigel. But man would I be a wreck during the matches, I mean who wouldn't be nervous with money riding against Mosconi, Lassiter, Worst, Greenleaf, Reyes, Varner, Mizerak, Parica etc?
 
Sounds good to me: Sigel, Miz, Efren.

Did you know Earl has a 408 run in straight pool!!! Greatest 9 ball player ever...IMO. Can we throw him in????
 
atthecat said:
Sounds good to me: Sigel, Miz, Efren.

Did you know Earl has a 408 run in straight pool!!! Greatest 9 ball player ever...IMO. Can we throw him in????
Click to expand...

SUre, you can throw Earl in. Why not Buddy, Gabe, Jimmy Reid, BIlly Johnson, Keith, and scores of others. A tournament is a tournament and not many have dominated in them for very long. Segal went on an incredible run for many years as did Earl, and even Efren. Whoever would win this, the same questions would be out there.

When gambling, usually, there are few doubts left afterwards. When playing for the big dough, people usually take that as the final answer or ante up again until the score is settled.

In the tournamen settin, ususaly little is invested, they shake hands at the end and move on to the next event.

It's odd to me, that there is all this talk about Earl and Segal and I guess Efren being the best tournament players of all time and the greatest players and so forth. If they were so covincigly the best, why didn't they just move to Detroit, get an apartment and pick on Cornbread and Matya. There was enough there to be won to retire many. Many thought those two were the best when the pressure was on. THey were always ready to back it up too.
 
I'm assuming we are talking all the players in their prime?

Efren or Sigel....both are a toss up....just ask Efren who the toughest player he ever went up against was??? Sigel

my dark horses would be

1. Allen Hopkins....all around killer, and one of the most ducked money players EVER!

2. Babe Cranfield....anyone who can run over 600 multiple times has my nod in any game!
 
That debate is always in any sport whether pool, basketball, baseball, etc. In my opinion there are a lot of variables to consider... equipment being one. I have seen Scott Lee in another post debating a method Jimmy Caras used to practice follow through. It's the old versus the new. Which method is better. I think with the abundance of knowledge not only in playing equipment but also in practice drills and the overall game in general the edge may have to go to the new player of today. BUT the answer we will NEVER know.
 
How about "Larry, Boston Shorty," Johnson. Not only a great nine-ball and one-pocket player, his three cushion skills may put him in a class of his own.
 
That would be something. I would go with Sigel to take the crown with Efren second and Wimpy coming in third.

I do not know enough about Harold Worst, but I would have loved to see him play.
 
Harold Worst...

But, if anyone bet all their $ on any one person with this field...... They have a gambling PROBLEM!!! :smile:

td
 
In your two out of three format, with long races, it's tough to bet against Efren. Whoever beats him has to beat one of the greatest 9-ball players ever at 9-ball AND straight pool, since there's nobody who has a chance to beat him in a race to 7 in one-pocket.

Sigel would have a chance. He's also one of the greatest 9-ball players ever, and at one time was probably the best in the world at straight pool as well, as far as I understand.

I know Allen Hopkins is regarded with legend status in all 3 games, but I haven't really seen much video of him at his peak, and so I have trouble imagining he'd beat these other greats.

And of course there's Earl, but I think the format you described is too long for Earl. I don't think he could keep his demons in check for long enough to win in that format against any great player.

-Andrew
 
There's this guy I know who play's a pretty strong all-around game. In fact, he's been world champion in nine ball, straight pool, one pocket, banks and eight ball, yet he isn't getting any attention in this thread.

Geez, let's not forget about the legendary Nick Varner.
 
ralph greenleaf

in the late 60's early 70's i had a chance to be around lassiter, fred walen, balsis, heart attack jack, tweedy, when they would show up at the billiard palace upstairs in bellflower ca. i ask this question many times and they always came back with , ralph greenleaf. so a lot of the old timers would pick him. now days most pick efren, but i have to agree with the goose, we will never know because its like apples and oranges. you just cannot compare the two.
 
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