Unknown "monster" players

rossaroni said:
His real name was Larry Hill. He was killed in prison. I read this hear a while back.
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Here is a pic of Gabby ...But I think his last name was Brown... hell of a one pocket player... like rossaroni said He was killed in prison..

The guy in the background with the cue on his shoulder is Big Bill Meacham, a very strong player from Colorado
 

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John Novak said:
Here is a pic of Gabby ...But I think his last name was Brown... hell of a one pocket player... like rossaroni said He was killed in prison..

The guy in the background with the cue on his shoulder is Big Bill Meacham, a very strong player from Colorado
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Gabby did NOT get killed in prison.....
 
CJ--Johnny Ross could and would try to press that nerve--he hawked and hawked at me too come play. Once when playing a ring game for 30 a man back in 78, I played all night in the game with him and Eddie O'Connell and Silas Carter--Bill Lawson--and a guy called Peanut--In the morning I was the only one winner. Next time Johhny hawked at me was during a tourny in Greensboro a few weeks later--he never hawked again after those 4 sessions were over--he later said I was the only one to ever beat him from that part of the country---Hope he is doing well--always thought he was a great one taking down the rail---he could hustle
 
Back then endurance was necessary to win the biggest scores,

Chip Roberson said:
CJ--Johnny Ross could and would try to press that nerve--he hawked and hawked at me too come play. Once when playing a ring game for 30 a man back in 78, I played all night in the game with him and Eddie O'Connell and Silas Carter--Bill Lawson--and a guy called Peanut--In the morning I was the only one winner. Next time Johhny hawked at me was during a tourny in Greensboro a few weeks later--he never hawked again after those 4 sessions were over--he later said I was the only one to ever beat him from that part of the country---Hope he is doing well--always thought he was a great one taking down the rail---he could hustle
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Yes, Johnny is one of the all time best, I have to admit. I tried to give him the 8 several times, but he would only play me after I'd been up for three days. Each time I would get ahead then he would come back and beat me.....he never would play after I turned 23, that was when I started playing at another level and could play for 5 days....instead of just 3. ;)

Back then endurance was necessary to win the biggest scores, now adays everyone want's to play with a "time limit".....the game doesn't even get interesting until after the 12th hour. 'The Game is the Teacher'
 
Dick Hinzicker had a poolroom in pcola years ago.

He was the only person on the planet Willie wouldn't play straight pool with or Babe Cranfield or Erving Crane.
He busted Buddy, Rimpe, Mez and every champeen that came down here to play when he was younger. Under 55.
I know. My dad was bringing them in. And Dick was knocking them down. Mez called Willie to ask about Dick. He told Mez whatever you do don't play him striaght pool. Mez laughed and said I am the best in the world. Willie replied you have been warned.
Many players used fake names. They would practice in Mobile and come on over and get busted. Dick usually got the call a day or two early and would practice usually breaking for 9ball if anything. He didn't practice playing ever. Only played for money. Played for the mob before he was 15 and his first game was for $100 when he was working for $.25 a day. He ran 100 and out. Went in the military to get away from them and was a fighter pilot. Stayed here when he got out.
When I saw him shoot for the first time I said that man can't play. Then I saw his stroke. He could barely walk around the table. Gary Pinkowski replied rember he beat me up in the Sarycuse poolroom years ago. Crane and Cranfield wouldn't play him when your dad asked them if they wanted action. They knew him. I didn't but rember him.
Dick Hunzicker beat champeens, busted them and took their cues as collateral for bus tickets out of town. Never sold them for more. He always would hold on to them for the origional owner. A real gentleman.
He said they always came back for their stick. Never wanted more action though.
Nick :)
 
Knew Tucker.

OklaPony said:
Wow, what a thread. I knew I should've started paying more attention to this place a long time ago, lol. I've hardly screwed a cue together in about 4 years or so but I'm starting to get the bug again.

I haven't read the whole thing but saw some of the OK player related posts and a few folks came to mind.

Tom Schultz (RIP), otherwise known as Tommy Tucker or just Tucker. Played in the 60's, 70's, and early 80's. He ran around with Norman Hitchcock but mostly stayed out of the tournies and concentrated more on the practice rooms. He put the cue down for several years then picked it up again in the early 90's. Godzilla stroke. Cancer got him.

I used to see Driller play some pretty pool in OKC.

Someone mentioned Larry Humphries. If memory serves he's actually from Duncan, not Lawton. Haven't seen or heard of him in forever.[/QUOTE=OklaPony;2263273]



I did not know Tom before he started playing pool in the early 90's. I was his 4th wife before I became his widow. Tom and I used to go to the old pool hall on south May Ave in the strip mall. He would often win hands down even in his early fifties. I used to listen to them regale all the stories of his Pool Hall escapades. I enjoyed every minute I was with him right to the end. :cool:

He passed away from Pancreatic Cancer at the age of 59 years on May 12th, 2001.
He had 23 years of Sobriety at the time of his death. He was Cremated May 16th, 2001. A friend of his had built a scale model pool table of different kinds of hard wood to house the ashes. We had a memorial service for him on our lawn at our home. As long as I stayed in Oklahoma City I knew I would not get over his death so I moved to back home to Canada. I thank God for every minute I spent with this wonderful gentleman.:smile:
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torriekit47 said:
I did not know Tom before he started playing pool in the early 90's. I was his 4th wife before I became his widow. Tom and I used to go to the old pool hall on south May Ave in the strip mall. He would often win hands down even in his early fifties. I used to listen to them regale all the stories of his Pool Hall escapades. I enjoyed every minute I was with him right to the end. :cool:

He passed away from Pancreatic Cancer at the age of 59 years on May 12th, 2001.
He had 23 years of Sobriety at the time of his death. He was Cremated May 16th, 2001. A friend of his had built a scale model pool table of different kinds of hard wood to house the ashes. We had a memorial service for him on our lawn at our home. As long as I stayed in Oklahoma City I knew I would not get over his death so I moved to back home to Canada. I thank God for every minute I spent with this wonderful gentleman.:smile:
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What a great post, thank you so much for chiming in!

Tucker was really good to me, not sure why but we just kind of hit it off I guess even though I was 20 years his junior... I think I was at about the 4 year mark in my sobriety when we met. He always managed to find a way to call me on my sobriety day no matter where I was working at the time. Seems like he had missed calling me that year and I found out through a mutual friend that he was bad off. So, I called him and it turned out to be the last time we spoke as it was close to the end... he said the Doc opened him up, took a look, and just closed him right back up again. I remember being amazed at the grace with which he was handling the situation as he explained to me the course of events that led him to the realization of his impending demise.

He was a little rough on the exterior but had a heart of gold and was deceptively brilliant, to boot. Still miss him lots...
 
A great player on a bar box maybe on any table was Don McCoy think from the quad cities. Only seen him play once and played lights out on crappy old cloth on a valley bar table.
 
I did not know Tom before he started playing pool in the early 90's. I was his 4th wife before I became his widow. Tom and I used to go to the old pool hall on south May Ave in the strip mall. He would often win hands down even in his early fifties. I used to listen to them regale all the stories of his Pool Hall escapades. I enjoyed every minute I was with him right to the end. :cool:

He passed away from Pancreatic Cancer at the age of 59 years on May 12th, 2001.
He had 23 years of Sobriety at the time of his death. He was Cremated May 16th, 2001. A friend of his had built a scale model pool table of different kinds of hard wood to house the ashes. We had a memorial service for him on our lawn at our home. As long as I stayed in Oklahoma City I knew I would not get over his death so I moved to back home to Canada. I thank God for every minute I spent with this wonderful gentleman.:smile:[/QUOTE]

Wow , I'm happy for both of you that you found each other , even if it was only for a short time.
Hope my wife remembers me as fondly
 
frankncali said:
Tommy Sanders name comes to mind. NOt totally unknown but not
very well known for sure.

In todays world many players have no idea who Mark Tadd is/was or
Greg/Craig Stevens.
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I'd like to talk about today's world. In today's world where it's something like $10 an hour to play pool, I don't see how anybody can put in the time to get good unless they work in a poolroom or own one. And it's not a relative thing either. Back when minimum wage was $2 an hour, pool was 25 or 50 cents a rack. That's 1/4 to 1/2 an hour's wage. At $10 an hour to play pool (I could be off, I'm guessing, haven't played in a while), a person would have to be making $20 to $40 an hour to compare to yesterday's prices. I realize once you get good enough you can play for the time and at least get that back. But to get there, man, it's like you have to be already rich just to play the game. Am I that far out of the loop or am I almost on the mark here?

TJ
 
I played most, beat just a few

have to say I enjoyed this thread, there is very few I haven't played, and very, very few I beat but enjoyed the action. That is something few understand about guys like me and Harry Platis, it's all about the action.
 
DoubleA said:
Players who are largely "unknown" but possess close to champion speed? Would love to hear some stories. I will throw one name out there as an example(Vernon Elliot). He doesn't play anymore, but when he did, he was a "monster". Some of you know him and his reputation. would like to hear about him and any others that you know. Not trying to knock any action, I'm talking mainly about the "old timers".
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Mike Johnson from Memphis, was a good player and beat Vernon Elliott. He was not better than Vernon but got a spot, playing 9 ball and won (5 ball, Bernie didn't like the game, I heard, but the backer wanted Bernie to play). Vernon didn't know who Mike Johnson was and Mike didn't know who Bernie was. Mike said he would have NEVER played Vernon Elliott, he's a legend in the pool world. They adjusted the game 4 times but then Bernie's backer backed off. Mike won close to 20 thousand as the story goes. I believe they played in the mountains of TN around Johnson City TN. Mike was in his prime and played pro players all the time with them taking the 7 as a spot. Mike said the 7 is fair, with almost all pro players. I'm not stealing only making a fair game. Mike said, I beat some players and I lose to some with the 7 as a spot. Keith McCready ran with Mike and knows more about him than I do. Mike was from Memphis. Mike OD in 1985, he was a young man. May he R.I.P.
 
Any one here of Johnny Fields... Our friend Geno machino is alway favored under Johnny In the Midwest...
I don't believe Johnny ever took the road. He has a family and other priorities in life.
But he's a monster!
 
DoubleA said:
Let me throw another name out there that some may have heard of(Weldon "Jr" Rogers). Also one of the very best one-handed players ever. before you ask, yes he has two hands.
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I met Wldon when I was young, about 25 and noticed everyone got quiet when he walked in back in Denver. He got ito a 9 ball game but I just do not remeber who it was.
He and CJ were pretty tight and he could shed a lot more light on him.
 
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