"Tacoma Whitey"

[Grady]

The Tacoma Whitey thread was getting way too long, so I'm starting anew.
I guess I have to weigh in here because I can't stand to have my old friend misunderstood. Whitey had a pump handle stroke, which all the locals kids emulated. I'd say Whitey played One Pocket about a ball under Ronnie.
When you knew him he was all class despite his having had women and alcohol problems all his life. Nobody bet more or behaved better and he had a ton of gamble. One example of his largesse: He had a standard deal with visiting road players who weren't downright thieves: If Whitey beat you he'd pay your transportation both ways and your expenses while you were there. "Beanie" and I enjoyed such an arrangement with him.
Yeah, I played him but I received the spot of a ball when I was 21 years old and at the time unrefined with my One Pocket skills. We broke even and it was a great learning experience for me.
Joe Diehl and Max were good action, too. All said Tacoma was a marvelous place for pool players during Whitey's heyday.
Let me close by stating that this terrific thread causes me tonight to hoist one in honor of my dear departed friend. It broke my heart when I heard that he had passed.

 

[Dead Money]

Thanks for sharing with us Grady

 

[xidica]

Rep for your grady. Thanks so much.

 

[manwon]

The Tacoma Whitey thread was getting way too long, so I'm starting anew.
I guess I have to weigh in here because I can't stand to have my old friend misunderstood. Whitey had a pump handle stroke, which all the locals kids emulated. I'd say Whitey played One Pocket about a ball under Ronnie.
When you knew him he was all class despite his having had women and alcohol problems all his life. Nobody bet more or behaved better and he had a ton of gamble. One example of his largesse: He had a standard deal with visiting road players who weren't downright thieves: If Whitey beat you he'd pay your transportation both ways and your expenses while you were there. "Beanie" and I enjoyed such an arrangement with him.
Yeah, I played him but I received the spot of a ball when I was 21 years old and at the time unrefined with my One Pocket skills. We broke even and it was a great learning experience for me.
Joe Diehl and Max were good action, too. All said Tacoma was a marvelous place for pool players during Whitey's heyday.
Let me close by stating that this terrific thread causes me tonight to hoist one in honor of my dear departed friend. It broke my heart when I heard that he had passed.

Thanks for the information Grady. I started the thread earlier with hopes of getting just this kind of information. I currently own a pool room in Lakewood, a suburb of Tacoma and like I said in my thread I was trying to to put together some information on our local hero.

In this area Tacoma Whitey's name is well know, however there are very few people left who can recall many of his exploits. Along with owning a pool room I also collect billiard / pool memorabilia and I decorate my room with parts of my collection.

I also, along with collecting memorabilia like to put together accurate information on the items, event advertisements, or players photo's I have collected over the last thirty years.

Below I will include a few photo's from my room.











Thanks again for the information Grady, with your thread and some other useful information from my post / thread I can answer some of the questions people ask.

Have a great Night!!!!!!

Craig W. Rittel - Manwon

 

[manwon]

Here are a few photo's of one of Whiteys Cues!!!!










This is a great cue, and it hits a ton!!!!

Craig

 

[freddy the beard]

Worst looking strokes

The Tacoma Whitey thread was getting way too long, so I'm starting anew.
I guess I have to weigh in here because I can't stand to have my old friend misunderstood. Whitey had a pump handle stroke, which all the locals kids emulated. I'd say Whitey played One Pocket about a ball under Ronnie.
When you knew him he was all class despite his having had women and alcohol problems all his life. Nobody bet more or behaved better and he had a ton of gamble. One example of his largesse: He had a standard deal with visiting road players who weren't downright thieves: If Whitey beat you he'd pay your transportation both ways and your expenses while you were there. "Beanie" and I enjoyed such an arrangement with him.
Yeah, I played him but I received the spot of a ball when I was 21 years old and at the time unrefined with my One Pocket skills. We broke even and it was a great learning experience for me.
Joe Diehl and Max were good action, too. All said Tacoma was a marvelous place for pool players during Whitey's heyday.
Let me close by stating that this terrific thread causes me tonight to hoist one in honor of my dear departed friend. It broke my heart when I heard that he had passed.

The top 3 worst strokes I ever seen were: Cisero Murphy's "curve into a final straight-through"; Tacoma Whitey's pump-handle, what an action-getter; and Chicago Pony Rosen's cork-screw, it looked like he was not even going to hit the cue ball.

the Beard

Give yourself a Xmas present of the GosPool fellas.

 

[jay helfert]

The top 3 worst strokes I ever seen were: Cisero Murphy's "curve into a final straight-through"; Tacoma Whitey's pump-handle, what an action-getter; and Chicago Pony Rosen's cork-screw, it looked like he was not even going to hit the cue ball.

the Beard

Give yourself a Xmas present of the GosPool fellas.

How can you not include Efren when he first came here? All that flowery motion during his practice strokes, and that final big finish. It looked like he was conducting an orchestra.

No wonder everyone wanted to bet against him.

 

[Grady]

Craig's room

Your place is beautiful. Thanks for remembering Whitey and for obviously caring about pool so much. Whitey is part of the rich lore, the tradition of pocket billiards and my life was enhanced by knowing him and having had him as my friend.

 

[cuetechasaurus]

How can you not include Efren when he first came here? All that flowery motion during his practice strokes, and that final big finish. It looked like he was conducting an orchestra.

No wonder everyone wanted to bet against him.

Incardona told a story about when Efren first came here, Billy went up to Jim Rempe and asked him about this new Filipino guy. Jim Rempe said that he was just some guy with a pump stroke, no big deal. Jim played Efren and got barbecued. Later Jim recapped and said that this guy was actually playing the violin...LOL

When Efren first came here, did his stroke used to be different than today? I saw a few videos of him playing, and he used to bend both legs, and his stroke was longer, but it pretty much had a similar rythm like today. Not really a pump stroke, because he didn't lower his elbow much on the backstroke.

 

[jay helfert]

Incardona told a story about when Efren first came here, Billy went up to Jim Rempe and asked him about this new Filipino guy. Jim Rempe said that he was just some guy with a pump stroke, no big deal. Jim played Efren and got barbecued. Later Jim recapped and said that this guy was actually playing the violin...LOL

When Efren first came here, did his stroke used to be different than today? I saw a few videos of him playing, and he used to bend both legs, and his stroke was longer, but it pretty much had a similar rythm like today. Not really a pump stroke, because he didn't lower his elbow much on the backstroke.

Like a guy playing a violin is an apt description. He has toned it down over the years.

 

[manwon]

Your place is beautiful. Thanks for remembering Whitey and for obviously caring about pool so much. Whitey is part of the rich lore, the tradition of pocket billiards and my life was enhanced by knowing him and having had him as my friend.

Thanks Grady, for the kind words. I do place a great deal of energy into promoting pool as a sport to the next generation.

I really like dealing with the kids, by helping them learn to enjoy this sport with a passion that will carry them a life time.

Have a nice day!!!

Craig