Unknown "monster" players

[richiebalto]

Bobby legg and Tom Vanover.

Neither of these men were unknown, but boy they had some awesom battles over the years playing even 9ball!

Their styles were totally different then one another, Bobby had power, Tom had finess, but in the end they played the same speed, these men must of played over 20 big money matches against each other and if i had to bet i would say there isnt no more then 1 or 2 wins one way or the other, thats how evenly they were to each other and they didnt start playing together until Bobby move to Baltimore around 20 some years ago.

I think in their minds they werent only playing for the money but also playing for the best player in Baltimore, which they cleary was at the time, 80s 90s. So many people would come to the pool hall when they heard Tom and Bobby were going to play, thats how good they played, no pool player around wanted to miss it!

Bobby is gone now, Tom is still going strong for 73, working at top hat cue club in Baltimore

 

[flyvirginiaguy]

OK there were a few missed--Eddie O'connell from Bridgeport Conn--great player in his day--Can't say enough on how great Bill (Irvin) Lawson was in his day--cue ball couldn't be driven any better in my book--Steve (Silas) Carter could get in a great gear--Bud Ogbern--one of the best Snooker players ever out of this country--from Danville Va...both he and Steve--Johhny Ross out of Jacksonville Fla--Sammy Blumenthall helped him and Harley play I'm sure--An old freind Berkley Whitlow was a good player back in the 60's--watched him run 204 in straight pool back in early seventies at his Pool Room--learned a great deal about that game from that Gent--

Wow small world. Silas is who taught me a lot about the game when I was 12-15 years of age. We practiced daily. I used to play with his Balabushka and Szamboti cues on a daily basis. Probably would have ended up with all of them if not for moving away for college, losing touch etc... We were great friends.
I believe the other you speak of is Bob Ogborn though? Also from Danville. He was top notch as well. Low on the radar road player.

 

[jaywideman]

bob ogburn

i had the priviledge of playing under bob ogburn in brunswick, ga. for a couple of years. he taught me alot about one pocket towards the end of his playing days. good luck in tuscan, bob!

 

[jaywideman]

donnie brown

hmmm. back when i remember him, we was quiet...calculating...crazy careful bridge hand. amazing how things change.

was this back in the ohio area?

i used to play donnie down on hydraulic in wichita ks. when we were both 16. or at terry youngs place called rumors in wichita. we were both kids battling to be the best!

 

[peteypooldude]

Wow small world. Silas is who taught me a lot about the game when I was 12-15 years of age. We practiced daily. I used to play with his Balabushka and Szamboti cues on a daily basis. Probably would have ended up with all of them if not for moving away for college, losing touch etc... We were great friends.
I believe the other you speak of is Bob Ogborn though? Also from Danville. He was top notch as well. Low on the radar road player.

I practice and play with a player from Danville named Mike Slaughter. Pretty strong player in his own right and I've heard him speak many times about Silas and how he ran out... Among other things

 

[flyvirginiaguy]

I practice and play with a player from Danville named Mike Slaughter. Pretty strong player in his own right and I've heard him speak many times about Silas and how he ran out... Among other things

Yes Mike knows me very well and I know Mike. I know his uncle as well. I also knew Red from Myrtle Beach amongst others. Tell him Kevin says Hi

 

[CJ Wiley]

This was a spot that every shortstop would take and it wasn't quite enough

Cj, do you remember playing a road player at the Flamingo lounge (Dales place) about 15-20 years ago, well they was suppose to stay away from you and Buddy Hall, Cigar Tom Vanover was the player, only thing was Tom didnt know what you looked like, only your name, Tom beat everybody he played on that road trip except you know who!

Toms road partners took off for awile and left him alone, Tom didnt really know who the players were on the road and he didnt probably care who he played, but when Toms partners came back they told him who he was playing and asked him how he stood and what was he playing for, at that time Tom was holding his own for 50 or 100 a game and then they played a race, well Cj destroyed Tom 2 straight races for 500 or more, i believe.

They headed back towards Baltimore after that session!

Yes, I remember Dale's place (this was more than 20 years ago) with the bar table on the left. I used to go in there with Charlie and Earl Kellum was hanging out there quite a bit.

I do remember that match and I was told sometime afterwards that Tom was a really good player. My bar table game at that time was pretty sporty, I was playing a lot of road players like Arkansas Calvin, Reid Pierce and was a few months after this I played Matlock in Alabama. The country was bustling with bar action and I made a fortune giving up the break on the bar table. This was a spot that every shortstop would take and it wasn't quite enough

There was something about Tom that I can't quite put my finger on, did he play with "unusual equipment," it seems like he played with like a snooker shaft or something like that. Hmmm, it's been a long time since I thought about that night, or even the Flamingo Lounge, but I do remember playing that night, just fuzzy on the details.

 

[Alf Taylor]

I am soooooooooooooo happy

that this internet thing wasn't going on in the 60s and 70s when I was on the road. I could beat some little town in the Carolinas for a week and drive 20 miles to another and nobody had a clue...Back then a cell phone was something they brought you for your one call.
This KNOCKMONSTER could put the road to sleep forever. I thought the "knife and fork" would be hard to fade out there today but this....Thank heaven for employment.

"Workin's for suckers. Playing! That's the secret to life."
Rudolph Walter "Minnesota Fats" Wanderone

The other side of the coin is, reading (the fun stuff) and posting is a blast. I appreciate my fellow AZB members to the max.
Keep it nice. Alfie

 

[flyvirginiaguy]

that this internet thing wasn't going on in the 60s and 70s when I was on the road. I could beat some little town in the Carolinas for a week and drive 20 miles to another and nobody had a clue...Back then a cell phone was something they brought you for your one call.
This KNOCKMONSTER could put the road to sleep forever. I thought the "knife and fork" would be hard to fade out there today but this....Thank heaven for employment.

"Workin's for suckers. Playing! That's the secret to life."
Rudolph Walter "Minnesota Fats" Wanderone

The other side of the coin is, reading (the fun stuff) and posting is a blast. I appreciate my fellow AZB members to the max.
Keep it nice. Alfie

This is all true. But I must say, word got around in the pool world pretty fast back then too (well the early 80s) I was not around in the 60s lol... Word of mouth is soooo powerful.
But back then, they were all mysterious stories about mysterious players who could never miss a ball even while a sleep.

 

[Black-Balled]

..the best player in Baltimore, which they cleary was at the time...

Tom is still going strong for 73, working at top hat cue club in Baltimore

I knew Cleary was a bad mofo...on the AZB stall!

And I did not know Tom is at Top Hat now. Very interesting. How long has he been working there?

 

[punter]

Welcome to the site, is this Tommy Sanders? I remember Gulhassey's(sp?) story about that and I had my doubts, I think he also said he beat Gabby (Mouise Pouncey, aka Larry Hill).


Anyway, there's no doubt in my mind that you were a 'monster' player in the 70's and 80's. I saw you play Tadd. I heard you played Louie Roberts and Reed Pierce and won, is that true?

Thanks for the reply (by PM) Tommy. I tried to PM you back, but get a message saying you don't receive PM's. SO I thought I would post your reply here, hope you don't mind.

Yes I beat Reed in Bmt. We played big table/bar table guarantee 2 sets. He beat me the time before on just bar table. I had him beat and dogged it and then he played great.
The Louie story is a little wierd in that I gave him the last 4 playing 9 ball on bar box, but I got breaks with a big cue ball. OOPS! We played even for several hours, he said he'd give me the last 3 if I gave him the breaks, then I said he had the last 4 if I break. He just forgot what he was giving up.
He just wasnt thinking very well. He forgot I can when rackafter rack and he wins one and I then i get to break again.He really could have got the last 8,not being cocky, if you aren't shooting you aren't winning. The break on bar table with big cue ball is like throwing dynamite in the rack, it's unbelievable. I don't Really know how to reply on the thread

Thanks for the reply, Tommy. I remember going in halves with Joemac playing you at the Spur Lounge. You were giving up the 7 or 8, I don't remember, but I do remember you breaking and running somewhere around 12 to 14 racks before Joemac finally threw in the towel. You were unreal in those days, I'm glad I got to see it. As to how to reply in the thread, you explained it well to me in the PM. I look forward to seeing you post more, if you feel like it.

 

[JumpinJoe]

Yes, I remember Dale's place (this was more than 20 years ago) with the bar table on the left. I used to go in there with Charlie and Earl Kellum was hanging out there quite a bit.

I do remember that match and I was told sometime afterwards that Tom was a really good player. My bar table game at that time was pretty sporty, I was playing a lot of road players like Arkansas Calvin, Reid Pierce and was a few months after this I played Matlock in Alabama. The country was bustling with bar action and I made a fortune giving up the break on the bar table. This was a spot that every shortstop would take and it wasn't quite enough

There was something about Tom that I can't quite put my finger on, did he play with "unusual equipment," it seems like he played with like a snooker shaft or something like that. Hmmm, it's been a long time since I thought about that night, or even the Flamingo Lounge, but I do remember playing that night, just fuzzy on the details.

The flamingo has always been a good action spot, still is as well. As long as Dales there something will happen somehow. I must of played in there 30/40 times when living in Clearwater.
Miss those pool days, they are few and far between nowadays.
That whole area had action all over in the mid to late 90s

Earl k. Did hang around there a lot.

 

[CJ Wiley]

I spent a lot of time down in Clearwater at that little pool room where Bubby ......

The flamingo has always been a good action spot, still is as well. As long as Dales there something will happen somehow. I must of played in there 30/40 times when living in Clearwater.
Miss those pool days, they are few and far between nowadays.
That whole area had action all over in the mid to late 90s

Earl k. Did hang around there a lot.

Yes, I spent a lot of time down in Clearwater at that little pool room where Bubby (the Pawnshop guy) hung out. I had a crush on this sexy little model named Tara that hung out there so she was a good excuse to practice more than usual. Girls are the greatest incentive for excellence, much better than money could ever be. imo

I gave Bubba the "Orange Crush" one time in there and won a big score, Buddy Hall won tens of thousands giving him that game with TR backing him. Those were some fun times, I especially liked Gerry(Geraldine)Titcomb, I heard she passed away earlier this year. She was a great player and fun lady to hang out with. RIP Gerry 'The Game was our Teacher'

 

[cajunfats]

Tommy Sanders and JoeMac

Thanks for the reply (by PM) Tommy. I tried to PM you back, but get a message saying you don't receive PM's. SO I thought I would post your reply here, hope you don't mind.




Thanks for the reply, Tommy. I remember going in halves with Joemac playing you at the Spur Lounge. You were giving up the 7 or 8, I don't remember, but I do remember you breaking and running somewhere around 12 to 14 racks before Joemac finally threw in the towel. You were unreal in those days, I'm glad I got to see it. As to how to reply in the thread, you explained it well to me in the PM. I look forward to seeing you post more, if you feel like it.

Punter,I hope you get Tommy to post more. I only see him ever so often at Winners Choice in Sulphur,La. JoeMac is a regular and he's a tough barbox player. Are you referencing the matchup in Beaumont with Mark Tadd and Tommy Sanders back around '91-92? If so, I have a story that relates to that night. Plus Mark going down to New Orleans to the Sport Palace to play some one hole with the locals. For sure, Tommy Sanders is a monster player. Thanks for posting.
Carl

 

[optician]

hung out for a while long time ago with a monster player named tommy brown, from vineland nj. had one eye was a chld progdigy, move to florida opened pool room and past some time ago

 

[Kadillac]

There is a guy who goes by Cowboy, here. His real name is Emil. He is rated AAA in Colorado, and has played all over the west.

 

[CJ Wiley]

I played Tommy several times at Peg's Pocket in Miami.

hung out for a while long time ago with a monster player named tommy brown, from vineland nj. had one eye was a chld progdigy, move to florida opened pool room and past some time ago

I played Tommy several times at Peg's Pocket in Miami. He was a hell of a player and I never could beat him there.....he had a lot of heart and talent that's for sure. RIP Tommy Brown

 

[OklaPony]

There is a guy who goes by Cowboy, here. His real name is Emil. He is rated AAA in Colorado, and has played all over the west.

Is he 60+ years old?

 

[richiebalto]

Yes, I remember Dale's place (this was more than 20 years ago) with the bar table on the left. I used to go in there with Charlie and Earl Kellum was hanging out there quite a bit.

I do remember that match and I was told sometime afterwards that Tom was a really good player. My bar table game at that time was pretty sporty, I was playing a lot of road players like Arkansas Calvin, Reid Pierce and was a few months after this I played Matlock in Alabama. The country was bustling with bar action and I made a fortune giving up the break on the bar table. This was a spot that every shortstop would take and it wasn't quite enough

There was something about Tom that I can't quite put my finger on, did he play with "unusual equipment," it seems like he played with like a snooker shaft or something like that. Hmmm, it's been a long time since I thought about that night, or even the Flamingo Lounge, but I do remember playing that night, just fuzzy on the details.

Your memory is good CJ, Vanover did play with a very very small shaft, looked like a pencil, he said the reason he played with that shaft was it allowed him to get tons of spin on the q ball when he needed it.

 

[Kadillac]

No. He's in his early 40's. He's about 6ft. 6in. tall and Sioux Indian.

Is he 60+ years old?