Top Ten American Born 14:1 Players
- Thread starter RunoutJJ
- Start date
I assume you mean players that are still active, so here's my top ten in no particular order:
1- Mike Sigel
2- Nick Varner
3- Tony Robles
4- Danny Harriman
5- John Schmidt
6- Mike Zuglan
7- Pat Fleming
8- Earl Strickland
9- George SanSouci
10- Johnny Archer
I was going to include Jose Garcia but I'm not sure if he was born in the U.S. or not.
1- Mike Sigel
2- Nick Varner
3- Tony Robles
4- Danny Harriman
5- John Schmidt
6- Mike Zuglan
7- Pat Fleming
8- Earl Strickland
9- George SanSouci
10- Johnny Archer
I was going to include Jose Garcia but I'm not sure if he was born in the U.S. or not.
Good List
This is a good list. If this an active list, I would say that one guy who should be on this list every time is Dick Lane. He is as solid a straight pool player as the come. My old friend Dallas West still plays pretty sporty, and Ray Martin knows more tricks than most of the young guys on the list. JMHO.
All time
Ralph Greenleaf, Willie Mosconi, Irving Crane, Mike Sigel, Steve Mizerak, Nick Varner, Jimmy Caras, Ray Martin, Eddie Kelly, Luther Lassiter
Living
Mike Sigel, Nick Varner, Ray Martin, Eddie Kelly, Allen Hopkins, Dallas West, Jim Rempe, Dan DiLiberto, John Schmidt, Danny Harriman
Active
John Schmidt, Danny Harriman, Johnny Archer, Charlie Williams, Tony Robles, Bobby Hunter, Dan Barouty, Bob Maidhof, Steve Lipsky, Max Eberle
Ralph Greenleaf, Willie Mosconi, Irving Crane, Mike Sigel, Steve Mizerak, Nick Varner, Jimmy Caras, Ray Martin, Eddie Kelly, Luther Lassiter
Living
Mike Sigel, Nick Varner, Ray Martin, Eddie Kelly, Allen Hopkins, Dallas West, Jim Rempe, Dan DiLiberto, John Schmidt, Danny Harriman
Active
John Schmidt, Danny Harriman, Johnny Archer, Charlie Williams, Tony Robles, Bobby Hunter, Dan Barouty, Bob Maidhof, Steve Lipsky, Max Eberle
I am honored to be included on any list; it's a tremendous accolade that I will never forget.
That said, Dave Daya and Bobby Chamberlain are up there as well. I really think the top 5 or so active is easy; after that, it starts getting murky.
That said, Dave Daya and Bobby Chamberlain are up there as well. I really think the top 5 or so active is easy; after that, it starts getting murky.
I was very close to including both Lipsky and Barouty, they play the table as well or better than Ginky but I was thinking about how Ginky plays in big game situations under pressure and I had to go with him. He won the 1999 14.1 national championship against a great field and I believe his high run is 343.
Agreed that I would have Lou on the "Living" list if not also on the all-time roster.
That "All-Time" list is strong and a tough one to crack, but I sure would like to give an honorable mention to Cisero Murphy.
I would never argue about Cisero Murphy being on that list. He was definitely one of the greats.
I was watching an old match on TV recently with Murph. He may have been the first player to use SPF. LOL. I noticed he had a definite pause at the back before the through stroke.
I would also consider bumping someone to put Arthur "Babe" Cranfield on the list of all time greats.
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Thanks for the feedback.
I considered Babe Cranfield in the "all-time" category. Also considered Allen Hopkins, but both narrowly missed the cut. The ten on my list are the greatest legends ever, and yes, some who missed the cut are also legendary, Cisero Murphy and two-time US Open 14.1 champion To Jennings among them.
Cranfield might be second only to Sigel if the "all-time" list is restricted to lefties.
As for Lou Butera, he narrolwy missed my cut in the "living" category. Very close call, but I'd back all ten in my living category over Lou in his prime. I'd probably put Pete Margo 11th and Lou Butera 12th, and both were absolute world beaters.
In the "active" category, I must admit that the omission of Dennis Hatch was an oversight.
PS Blackjack, Bobby Hunter is on my list.
I considered Babe Cranfield in the "all-time" category. Also considered Allen Hopkins, but both narrowly missed the cut. The ten on my list are the greatest legends ever, and yes, some who missed the cut are also legendary, Cisero Murphy and two-time US Open 14.1 champion To Jennings among them.
Cranfield might be second only to Sigel if the "all-time" list is restricted to lefties.
As for Lou Butera, he narrolwy missed my cut in the "living" category. Very close call, but I'd back all ten in my living category over Lou in his prime. I'd probably put Pete Margo 11th and Lou Butera 12th, and both were absolute world beaters.
In the "active" category, I must admit that the omission of Dennis Hatch was an oversight.
PS Blackjack, Bobby Hunter is on my list.
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I'm sorry, but I find it hard to believe you would pass up a Hall of Fame player like Lou Butera in favor of Danny Harriman and Pete Margo. Yes, Danny is an excellent player and he definitely belongs on your "Active" list. Pete was also a great player in his day. However, neither could match Lou in his prime. I know it is difficult to compare players in a thread like this, but I have to respectfully disagree with your choices, as I'm sure you disagree with mine.
I like your all-time list except for one thing..where's Joe Balsis? That guy was a winning machine. I was looking over the tournament records for the 1960's and it seems that every major 14.1 event had Balsis either winning or coming in second...he never seemed to have a bad tournament.
Hey, Bobby, hope you're well.
Yeah, I gave serious consideration to Balsis. Joe is a unique story. He was a great junior player who stopped competing, only to return in his forties to what you have accurately described as sustained excellence. If I look at my last three, however, Ray Martin, Eddie Kelly and Luther Lassiter, I can't say i have any regrets. Ray won three world 14.1 championships, Eddie Kelly was a world 14.1 champion and had a good track record in 14.1 at Johnston City, and Lassiter, though not quite the pattern player that most of the others on my "all-time" list were, was tough to beat. Still, Joe would not look out of place on my list.
Joe was one of my personal favorites, too, and when he got to the final of the 1980 PPPA 14.1 World Championships at age 59, only to lose to Mike sigel in the final, it was electrifying.
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