Who is the most well known Pool Player in the history of the USA??

manwon said:
I have been thinking about this since I read another thread recently on this forum by a well respected forum member and instructor Roger Long. His main question in that thread asked if pool was poorly promoted or if league players and the general public just do not care who the professional players.

So who do you think is the most well known Pool Player in the History of the USA and why do you think they are so well remembered?

Thanks for everyones time and opinions in advance.
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I paid someone to do an informal poll in their town a few years ago. I can't find the email with the results but essentially "that asian chick" was the most well known player followed by that "that british chick".

Minnesota Fats, Steve Mizerak, Mosconi, were all virtually unknown EXCEPT in the sporting goods store where a few employees knew the names because they were on some of the pool equipment they sold.
 
cueman said:
Minnesota Fats without a doubt is the best known in recent history. The reason is that he tireless promoted himself and was very entertaining.
Next would be Willie Mosconi. His record spoke for him and still speaks for him.
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I agree cueman, and the next two would be Buddy Hall and Earl Strickland, and if I was from the very much older generation I would add Greenleaf, Lassiter and Hoppi.


David Harcrow
 
The question is "Who is the most well known pool player in the history of the USA?

Answer: Hands down, Fatty.

It reminds me of when I was younger, when someone would drive too fast, or a little reckless, you would oftentime hear, "Who do you think you are, Mario Andretti?"

Minnesota Fats was to pool, what Mario Andretti was to racing. :thumbup:

Yeah, for the general public, Fats has to be the most well known pool player of all time.

Best,
Brian kc
 
I would have to say Marty Herman or Jason Hunt. I'm torn as to which of the 2 is the more famous!!! :cool:
 
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Minnesota Fats was a true celebrity in every sense of the word in this country from the mid 60's until his death in the early 90's. His face was recognizable by the masses and his name was equally well known. He was constantly on television and in the news.

In more recent times, Jeanette Lee aka The Black Widow, is by far the most well known pool player in the USA. She is a minor sports celebrity, no where near the stature or fame achieved by Fats. Some people know her by "The Black Widow" but most just say "that Asian chick." Very few know her real name.
 
it would be fats and jeanette lee

everytime you talk to leaguers or people who really dont know much about pool from anywhere they always remember the black widow, and that fat guy from a old movie.

men who dont even play pool know who the black widow is.
 
Most known.

manwon said:
I have been thinking about this since I read another thread recently on this forum by a well respected forum member and instructor Roger Long. His main question in that thread asked if pool was poorly promoted or if league players and the general public just do not care who the professional players.

So who do you think is the most well known Pool Player in the History of the USA and why do you think they are so well remembered?

Thanks for everyones time and opinions in advance.
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Not my favorite by any means, but Rudolph Walderone should get the nod on this one.
 
Willie and Fats, IMO, are the two most famous pool players, thanks to ESPN, but recognition of these two legends is waning as time goes on. :frown:

Mizerak and Jeanette Lee are also well known, but not as well known as Efren Reyes is in Philippines, as an example. There's a lot of mainstream Americans who have never heard of either of them, believe it or not. :embarrassed2:

When I explain my passion for pool to my colleagues, who have no idea about the pool, it's a tough thing to describe to Americans. They usually have visions of the stereotypical pool hustler in a smoke-filled opium den, frequented by scallywags and scoundrels. They definitely do not envision the well-dressed international globetrotter tournament soldier of today.

The first pro tournament I went to was in the early 2000s. I was like a kid at Disneyland, seeing all of the people I read about in magazines up front and close. I was particularly enamored with Buddy Hall and his lovely wife. People flocked with cameras and pen in hand to get autographs and pictures taken with Buddy and all the other players at the event. In essence, they were celebrities in their own right on pool turf. Back home, though, they're just the average Joe, like you and me. :smile:
 
Masayoshi said:
Easily Mark Twain because he did a whole bunch of stuff not related to pool
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There is a high likelihood that this is actually correct.

Not fair to ask the original question here though. Generally, we all know Mosconi ran 526, while the public does not.
 
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Minnesota Fats is probably the most well known name, but Jeanette Lee might be the most recognizable person.

I say it's a tie! :D
 
It depends upon who you ask.
A twenty year old is not likely to know who Fats was, Jackie Gleason, Willie Mosconi or any of the legends of the past unless he is a serious pool enthusiast. A twenty year old would most likely know who Jeanette Lee is. ;)
 
Among non-players I'd still have to go with Fats. The other greats are well known in the pool playing community but not elsewhere, with the possible exception of Jeanette Lee.
 
Thought I would share these images, since you mentioned all three...

trustyrusty said:
I doubt it would be anyone with any real particular SKILL in pool....

Michael Jordan shoot pool?
former/current President?
as mentioned, Samuel Clemens?
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I asked non pool players for 30 years what name they thought of when I said pool . It was 95 to 1 Minnesota Fats
 
Who is the most well known Pool Player in the history of the USA?

The question asks who IS the most well known, not was.

However, I think the most well known in U.S. history was someone prior to Fats and Lee etc.

Back when billiards and pool were much more popular, proportionately more of the population was aware of who the leading players and champions were. In other words, if there were some way to count up the numbers, I get the impression that more people "knew" who Willie Hoppe was in his day, than knew who Minnesota Fats was in his day.

just something to consider
 
Mr. Bond said:
Who is the most well known Pool Player in the history of the USA?

The question asks who IS the most well known, not was.

However, I think the most well known in U.S. history was someone prior to Fats and Lee etc.

Back when billiards and pool were much more popular, proportionately more of the population was aware of who the leading players and champions were. In other words, if there were some way to count up the numbers, I get the impression that more people "knew" who Willie Hoppe was in his day, than knew who Minnesota Fats was in his day.

just something to consider
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I remember seeing part of a 1930s movie in which a guy was impressed that the blonde gal knew that Hoppe was the balkline champion (as opposed to some other form of cue sport). Of course that's when NYC probably had 2000 billiard parlors.
 
AS said before it has to be on generations and not of all time... Pool has not been big enough to have Hank Aarons, Ty Cobbs, George Bretts and Sammy Sosa's. People know of the greats from baseball past for up to 4 generations as in pool... There is only one maybe two well known names that people assocated with pool in each and every generation and the rest are lost. Greenleaf, Crane, Hoppe.... Mosconi... Fats.. Fast Eddie (The hustler movie) and Jeanette Lee because of name and presence that she has. Sad but true. I think we really need a showman that dazzles the crowd with the talk of the talk. Say what you want about fatty but he made people laugh with his very quick witted comments and snappy one-liners.. Yes most PLAYERS will admit that he was a bag of hot air but to the ball slamming public he was the man and that's all that mattered :cool:
 
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