Who was the oldest champion
- Thread starter softshot
- Start date
Probably Ray Martin when he was about 35. He won it again several years later. Harold Worst won the Stardust All Around at 37 and Luther Lassiter won many important tourneys (14.1 and 9-Ball) in his late 40's and early 50's. Irving Crane beat Jim Rempe for a major 14.1 title when he was nearly 60. Jimmy Caras came out of retirement to win the U.S. Open 14.1 at age 57. And Onifrio Lauri won a major 9-Ball Championship at age 69!
Mailman?(Gabe) is 72 and is playing stronger than anyone else I know who is his age, he aint a champion-never was but his age isnt much of a factor.
Ed Kelly won Gradys 1 Pocket tournment in 1993 in Reno, and Corn Bread took 2nd in that tournment and they were old then and that tournment had all the talent, it is the best tournment I ever atteneded. Make no mitake Grady has his shit together when he has the support to put on a tournment.
Ed Kelly won Gradys 1 Pocket tournment in 1993 in Reno, and Corn Bread took 2nd in that tournment and they were old then and that tournment had all the talent, it is the best tournment I ever atteneded. Make no mitake Grady has his shit together when he has the support to put on a tournment.
If I recall correctly, like Lassiter, Lauri died at the table.jay helfert said:
jay helfert said:
Great post Jay.
Crane was 59 when he won his last World 14.1 Championship in 1972.
Alfredo DeOro was 50 when he won his last World Championship in 1913.
Ed Kelly won a major One Pocket event in 1993 at age 55!
Nick Varner was 51 when he won his last World 9 ball Championship and 51 when he won the One Pocket event at Derby City.
And Luther Lassiter was 53 when he won the 1971 Johnston City 14.1 Championship.
Bob Jewett said:
You're right, Bob. Onofrio Lauri (June 28, 1896-April 11, 1971) died while shooting pool. Apparently, he knew he was dying, as he suposedly turned towards a friend while bent down for a shot and said "this is my last shot" and then just died on the spot. The official cause was a heart attack.
I have seen another source that states he died on April 1, 1971, but I believe that was a mis-print, as several others that I have give his death date at April 11.
Voodoo Daddy
One Pocket 101
Mike Lebron...US Open Champion....was at least 50
Voodoo Daddy said:
LeBron was born on March 31, 1934 and was 54 when he won the 1988 U.S. Open 9 Ball Championship. In 1991, when he won the inaugral Challenge of Champions, he was 57.
Good catch, V-Daddy
Fatboy said:
Super strong field in that One Pocket tourney, over 100 players (I was one of them). Kelly was in his early to mid 50's (maybe 53 or 54) and Red was older! And they both played great. I wish we had that match on video!
Terry Ardeno said:
Crane beat Lou Butera in the finals. I kept score! And the following year Lou returned the favor beating Crane in the finals. I didn't keep score.
Crane was in his 60's when he beat Rempe for the PPPA title, several years later (maybe 1977).
so there is still hope for me..
Eddie Taylor At Age 83 Told Me That He Could Still Bank 6-8 In A Row Consistently !!
Also,,,,,,he Got Married That Same Week As Well !!!
Also,,,,,,he Got Married That Same Week As Well !!!
jay helfert said:Crane beat Lou Butera in the finals. I kept score! And the following year Lou returned the favor beating Crane in the finals. I didn't keep score.
Crane was in his 60's when he beat Rempe for the PPPA title, several years later (maybe 1977).
You got a pretty good memory, Jay.
In 1972, Crane beat Butera in the finals of the World 14.1 Championship 150-101.
In 1973, Butera beat Crane in the finals of the World 14.1 Championshi 150-63. (Do you remember when he ran 150 & out against Hopkins in the prelininaries?)
The other part of Crane winning one of the PPPA titles is not so accurate.
Since no World 14.1 Championship was held in 1975, the (breakaway from the BCA) PPPA held their 1st championship in 1976, which was won by Larry Lisciotti, who beat Steve Mizerak.
In 1977, Allen Hopkins beat Pete Margo for the title.
Here's the rest of them....
1978 Ray Martin beat Allen Hopkins
1979 Mike Sigel beat Joe Balsis
1980 Nick Varner beat Mike Sigel
1981 Mike Sigel beat Nick Varner
1982 Steve Mizerak beat Danny DiLiberto
1983 Steve Mizerak beat Jimmy fusco
1984 NO TOURNAMENT WAS HELD
1985 Mike Sigel beat Jim Rempe
1986 Nick Varner beat Allen Hopkins
Crane also won the World Series of Billiards in 1978 at age 65! According to the BCA, this was "...a combination of 14.1 and 9-ball against a strong field of outstanding competitors."Terry Ardeno said:
Doc
gulfportdoc said:
Yep, he was amazing! He was one of those super-human type talents that somehow maintained a very high skill level of a perishable skill. Him and Alfredo DeOro had exceptionally long careers at the top level of play.
softshot said:
I suspect it's Joe Balsis, who played brilliantly as a junior but then retired from the game, only to return to competition in his early 40's. Nearly all his major professional titles came in his 40's and 50's. I believe he won his first World 14.1 title in 1968, when he would have been about 47.
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sjm said:
SJM,
Joe Balsis (June 23, 1921-January 2, 1995) won his first World 14.1 Championship in 1965. In 1968, Balsis beat Danny DiLiberto in the finals of the U.S. Open 14.1 Championship.
In 1966, Balsis won the 14.1 as well as the "all-around" titles at Johnston City.
At the Stardust tournaments, he won the 1969 9 ball title, the 1968 and 1971 14.1 titles as well as the 1968 & 1969 'all-around" titles.
He was also runner up to Crane in the 1966 U.S. Open 14.1 Championship.
*By the way, you correctly read the initial post. I read it too quickly (and wrongly) and was naming "the oldest" champions. It was who was the oldest player to win their FIRST championship, as you alluded to.
Terry Ardeno said:
Yep, and according to his interview on azbtv he only practiced 3 or 4 days a week. During his 150 and out vs Balsis he seems unaware that there is even a crowd watching. I don't know if that was just his personality or if he was that deep in concentration but even at the end of the match he doesn't really acknowledge the applause of the crowd.
It's a shame that a guy who was one of the greats had to sell cars to make ends meet.