Sailor???

[Williebetmore]

While I was in St. Louis, Mark Wilson regaled me with stories about Sailor - a straight pool player from the Chicago/Wisconsin area. Mark attributes much of his selfless work in promoting the game to a perceived obligation to Sailor - who helped him out when he was a developing player, and who exhibited a great and true love for the game (not to mention incredible talent in playing and cuemaking).

I have heard DMGWalsh mention a couple of straight pool tournaments in the Chicago area - and always some poster chimes in with, "is Sailor going to be there?" Is this the same Sailor (I think last name may be Stelman or something like that)? Does anyone know where he is, or what he is doing? Is there any way to visit or play with him???

 

[rukiddingme]

While I was in St. Louis, Mark Wilson regaled me with stories about Sailor - a straight pool player from the Chicago/Wisconsin area. Mark attributes much of his selfless work in promoting the game to a perceived obligation to Sailor - who helped him out when he was a developing player, and who exhibited a great and true love for the game (not to mention incredible talent in playing and cuemaking).

I have heard DMGWalsh mention a couple of straight pool tournaments in the Chicago area - and always some poster chimes in with, "is Sailor going to be there?" Is this the same Sailor (I think last name may be Stelman or something like that)? Does anyone know where he is, or what he is doing? Is there any way to visit or play with him???

There is a one and only Sailor!
When Sailor was created they surely broke the mold...lol
Those who know him will most certainly agree.
He's in Racine still making cues in his shop.
His pool knowledge is absolutely amazing. He is a character...old school...and I say that with the greatest respect and admiration.
ruk

 

[matthew staton]

There is a one and only Sailor!
When Sailor was created they surely broke the mold...lol
Those who know him will most certainly agree.
He's in Racine still making cues in his shop.
His pool knowledge is absolutely amazing. He is a character...old school...and I say that with the greatest respect and admiration.
ruk

his cues are loved by WI people and seem to fairley rare in the secondary market. If he makes you a cue he won't make one for a collecter so ya better make sure he thinks you are going to play with it.He's getting old so ya better hurry ......

 

[ManifestEcstacy]

how much do his cues go for?

 

[Williebetmore]

how much do his cues go for?

ManEc,
I don't think that they "go." Once you have one you keep it. Mark said if he was broke, he would sell his shirt and shoes before he would sell his Sailor cue (in fact, I think he said he wouldn't sell it even then).

 

[TATE]

ManEc,
I don't think that they "go." Once you have one you keep it. Mark said if he was broke, he would sell his shirt and shoes before he would sell his Sailor cue (in fact, I think he said he wouldn't sell it even then).

Frank Stellman, Racine Wisconsin, is "Sailor" - Blue Book page 459. He played a lot in Chicago and bought Eddie Laube's lathe.

I've seen a few of his cues change hands. A plain cue went for about $400. The cues I saw had a butt that flared out like a Perry Weston and were otherwise plain.

Chris

 

[1 Pocket Ghost]

Eddie Laube

Frank Stellman, Racine Wisconsin, is "Sailor" - Blue Book page 459. He played a lot in Chicago and bought Eddie Laube's lathe.

I've seen a few of his cues change hands. A plain cue went for about $400. The cues I saw had a butt that flared out like a Perry Weston and were otherwise plain.

Chris

Hey Chris, Your the first person that I've ever seen on a pool forum mention the name of the tremendously talented, innovative and under-appreciated cue maker of the 1960's-70's, Eddie Laube ( may he rest in peace, or make fancy cues for angels, as the case may be ) - he made some very cool cues with unusual points, polka dot inlays, and a very innovative and well conceived joint design. Are you also familiar with his cues, or collect them ?....anybody else on here know about or collect Eddie Laube cues ? Ghost PS, I apologize for straying slightly sideways/off topic PPS, I also know 'Sailor' and as has already been noted, he's a character and a great guy

 

[jazznpool]

In the room I played at in East Detroit as a young teen in 1969-70, Laube cues were used by some of the best players. They were considered superior cues to the common Vikings, Rich-Q's, National Tournament Cues, and common Palmers. When my buddy bought one I went with him to see a greek guy named Nick, owner of a place called the Carom Club. Nick was the only Laube dealer in Michigan (learned this later). On a Saturday morning he laid out over 20 cues on two pool tables. No point Merry Widow style cues were 150.00 and pointed cues were 250.00. My buddy who picked out one of the 150.00 cues and an extra shaft. At the time, my cue was a red nylon wrapped rosewood National Tournament Cue that I paid 32.50 for and was tickled to have it as it replaced my ramin shafted Sears cue.

Martin

Hey Chris, Your the first person that I've ever seen on a pool forum mention the name of the tremendously talented, innovative and under-appreciated cue maker of the 1960's-70's, Eddie Laube ( may he rest in peace, or make fancy cues for angels, as the case may be ) - he made some very cool cues with unusual points, polka dot inlays, and a very innovative and well conceived joint design. Are you also familiar with his cues, or collect them ?....anybody else on here know about or collect Eddie Laube cues ? Ghost PS, I apologize for straying slightly sideways/off topic PPS, I also know 'Sailor' and as has already been noted, he's a character and a great guy

 

[TATE]

Hey Chris, Your the first person that I've ever seen on a pool forum mention the name of the tremendously talented, innovative and under-appreciated cue maker of the 1960's-70's, Eddie Laube ( may he rest in peace, or make fancy cues for angels, as the case may be ) - he made some very cool cues with unusual points, polka dot inlays, and a very innovative and well conceived joint design. Are you also familiar with his cues, or collect them ?....anybody else on here know about or collect Eddie Laube cues ? Ghost PS, I apologize for straying slightly sideways/off topic PPS, I also know 'Sailor' and as has already been noted, he's a character and a great guy

I had one in my hands that I sold for professional instuctor Scott Lee. It was a plain forearm birdseye with a clear plastic window on the butt and his name and patent number for the joint on foil under the window. The joint was brass, the cue was heavy, about 21 ounces or better, and solid as a tank. The cue was perfectly straight and it had the original buckeye ferrule. Eddie swore by buckeye and he guaranteed them against breaking. That guy could really build a cue. The shaft wood was tight and dense. The cue was really cool, like an old Balabushka or a Martin, and had a feeling of substance to it.

Like a hairbrain I sold it - I should have bought it and kept it. There are a few cues I regret letting slip by - this was one of them. I'm still kicking myself on that one. These cues don't come up for sale very often.

Chris

 

[rukiddingme]

Frank Stellman, Racine Wisconsin, is "Sailor" - Blue Book page 459. He played a lot in Chicago and bought Eddie Laube's lathe.

I've seen a few of his cues change hands. A plain cue went for about $400. The cues I saw had a butt that flared out like a Perry Weston and were otherwise plain.

Chris

The flair design is a little different than Weston's...more prominent... and has been used by Sailor forever.
His cues are player cues. Whitey moves effortlessly around the table.
ruk

 

[dmgwalsh]

While I was in St. Louis, Mark Wilson regaled me with stories about Sailor - a straight pool player from the Chicago/Wisconsin area. Mark attributes much of his selfless work in promoting the game to a perceived obligation to Sailor - who helped him out when he was a developing player, and who exhibited a great and true love for the game (not to mention incredible talent in playing and cuemaking).

I have heard DMGWalsh mention a couple of straight pool tournaments in the Chicago area - and always some poster chimes in with, "is Sailor going to be there?" Is this the same Sailor (I think last name may be Stelman or something like that)? Does anyone know where he is, or what he is doing? Is there any way to visit or play with him???

Willie: Sailor showed up at that Sunday 14.1 tournament at Pockets in Crestwood that you were thinking of going to. He brought 4 of his pupils with him who entered. I'd be surprised if he didn't show up again in August. He loves anything to do with 14.1.

He can be reached at :
SAILOR OF RACINE (Frank Stellman)
1649 TAYLOR AVENUE
racine,wi 53403
262 488-5668


He still gives lessons, makes a few cues and is a very cool guy.
JimS from Galesburg who posts here went to see him about 6 months ago if you know him. He won't teach you 14.1 until he's sure you have the tools. Mark Wilson told me he wouldn't teach him 14.1 until he said he had already ran 50. MW had to fib a little but said it wasn't too much later til he could run 100. Sailor has threatened to show me a few 14.1 things, but I'm apparently not ready yet.

 

[JimS]

Sailor was said to be the #1 straight pool player in the Chicago area back in the 60's/70's/80's.

I took a lesson from Sailor and I was very impressed with him. A true old school straight pool player with a very colorful personality. Very cool. We're close enough in age (I'm 62 he's about 75) that I felt like I was back hanging around Brads pool room here in Galesburg in the late 50's and he was one of the "big brothers" I adopted back then.

I have one of his cues and it has become my favorite playing cue. As far as I know he does not do fancy cues. It was my impression that he does playing cues, plain ole pool cues.

In addition to being Mark Wilson's teacher he was also Jeff Carter's mentor. When I took lessons from Jeff he spoke of Sailor with great respect, affection and admiration... as did Mark when I went to see him for a lesson. He was very surprised when I pulled out a Sailor cue. When the Sailor cue came out it pulled several stories out of Mark regarding things back in his early playing days.

ruk and dmwalsh know him far better than I but I have become well aware that Sailor is infamous for his colorful speech and resulting Sailorism's .... like the one I adopted as my signature line ... after he used the line on me. "No nonchalantin at the pool table!" Great line!! Nobody alive loves or respects pool more that Sailor.

I've very grateful that I've had the opportunity to meet him. In life, if you are lucky, you get to meet a few people, just a few, that standout... you just have the feeling that they are somehow special, different from the pack. I intend to go back.