I have a great question as he played well before my time. Toby was regarded as one of the best if not the best roll out players of all time especially gambling. Does anyone have any stories of him in his prime? I would love to know how he and say Buddy or Jose Parica matched up. I have heard stories that in the late 60’s, early 70’s he have Buddy the 8? How strong is that!
Toby Sweet
- Thread starter Gilbertfan81
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'MAYBE' real young Buddy but not 'prime' Buddy. Toby couldn't beat him much less give him anything. Parica would have torched him. Toby was really good but you're talking about two of the best that ever put a cue together. https://forums.azbilliards.com/threads/how-good-was-toby-sweet-and-does-anyone-have-stories.139247/
Pretty sure Accu-Stats has a couple of videos of him from some of the tournaments back in the 1980s...I recall watching one of him vs. Mizerak I believe. Probably wouldn't tell you much about his money game but would give you a decent idea of how he shot for sure!
MTfish
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Here's links to the YouTube matches:
I really like watching him play. Wish there was more footage of him and would especially like to see more footage of him (or really any of the noted greats) playing roll out. There so many who played that way that say those rules are better, and so little footage (any?) of top players playing that way. It was pretty much dead when I started playing in 93, so I never really saw it played. I'd love to form an opinion on it based on having at least watched some actual matches.
I really like watching him play. Wish there was more footage of him and would especially like to see more footage of him (or really any of the noted greats) playing roll out. There so many who played that way that say those rules are better, and so little footage (any?) of top players playing that way. It was pretty much dead when I started playing in 93, so I never really saw it played. I'd love to form an opinion on it based on having at least watched some actual matches.
In the back round of the top video Johnny Ervolino is playing Lou Butera.
Toby played jam up in S. IL in the late sixties.
Toby was a great player, one of the best for the cash. Perhaps on a par with Wade Crane or CJ Wiley, but certainly not with a Buddy or a Parica.
Toby was still a very tough out even in the mid-1990s, beating Rempe at the Florida Flare Up (a PBT event in Ft Lauderdale) in about 1995.
He was a very graceful player who had a way of making the game look easy.
Toby was still a very tough out even in the mid-1990s, beating Rempe at the Florida Flare Up (a PBT event in Ft Lauderdale) in about 1995.
He was a very graceful player who had a way of making the game look easy.
Second best Toby next to Flaherty, at one hole anyway.
Wade was so good, it was just a pleasure to watch him play.
Also, so smooth. Never anything flashy, just guaranteed shape on the next ball.
That video of him against Toby was a masterclass in how to play 9 ball.
Southern Illinois
middleofnowhere
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Those videos are in the 90s. Early 90s we used to play almost everyday. As good as he seemed to play then, he was just a shadow of his former self. I saw him play in the 60s and you could not play better. His weakness may have been his break though.
Once he had a shot he would run out like 100 percent of the time. In my almost 80 years I never saw anyone move the cue ball better, that was his strength. I would suspect Buddy was as good and probable a little better shot maker.
Toby was fearless and could not be made to quit once you started with him. No matter who you were you knew what you were getting to when you played him. You had to play your best and any falter in your play he would get you.
Imagine playing someone like that. It is frightening. His level of play was so high no one could beat him by much more then a small percent of at all. Any of that percent disappear and they lose.
I have known him for more then 60 years and I am running out of ways to explain how good he was.
Once he had a shot he would run out like 100 percent of the time. In my almost 80 years I never saw anyone move the cue ball better, that was his strength. I would suspect Buddy was as good and probable a little better shot maker.
Toby was fearless and could not be made to quit once you started with him. No matter who you were you knew what you were getting to when you played him. You had to play your best and any falter in your play he would get you.
Imagine playing someone like that. It is frightening. His level of play was so high no one could beat him by much more then a small percent of at all. Any of that percent disappear and they lose.
I have known him for more then 60 years and I am running out of ways to explain how good he was.
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It is and was a totally diff game.
Here's a new way: use is name rather than he.