Yeah, I feel bad for those CADILLAC salesmen (which is what Crane was), making $50-$100K a year!:grin:
Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com
Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com
alstl said:
Who was the oldest champion
- Thread starter softshot
- Start date
Terry Ardeno said:
Gotcha, Terry. You're right, I was thinking of Joe's win in the US Open in 1968, and forgot about his World championship in 1965. Looks like Balsis at 44 is the answer to the original poster's question, though, so I'll take a little credit. Thanks for the assist.
I still have seen the original question answered unless it was the Ray Martin at 35 answer.
As I read the original question it was...
Who was the oldest person winning his FIRST world championship? Not who was the oldest person to win a championship.
As I read the original question it was...
Who was the oldest person winning his FIRST world championship? Not who was the oldest person to win a championship.
Cadillac salesmen have always made more than other car salesmen...with the possible exception of Mercedes & BMW nowadays.
Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com
Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com
alstl said:
catscradle said:
I think Efren's first world championship was in '99 which would make him around 44 at the time. It wasn't his first championship but I think it was his first world championship.
His all around win at Derby City last year also ranks high on the list of accomplishments for a player in his 50's.
catscradle said:
Catscradle,
See post #18 for the correct answer. SJM was the first one to accurately answer the question as originally posed. (Joe Balsis)
The other great players mentioned in this thread were noteworthy because of their advanced age while STILL winning major championships.
alstl said:
Alsti,
Efren had already won the World 8 Ball Championship in 1992. (And 1995 & 1996 as well)
His birthday is August 26, 1954.
I thought Rico's first 3C World Championship was when he was in his 50's like someone else posted. Ceulemans had a stranglehold on the title for like two decades.Terry Ardeno said:
And what about snooker and English Billiards? I thought I read that there have been first time world champions in those disciplines in their 50's as well.
Fred
Terry Ardeno said:
Thanks. Though below your response there seems to be some 3C posts which indicate an even older age. I suspect the OP was asking about pool, but a first (or any other) championship at 50+ is impressive regardless of the discipline.
catscradle said:
Catscradle, Maldito & Fred,
You guys may be right about the 3C aspect, as that's a discipline that I never collected much data or stats on. The only thing I know about 3 cushions is that it's played on 4 cushions!
I have biographical data on the better 3C champions, but no tournament stats. Robert Byrne is an expert at 3C and knows it's history well, as does Bob Jewett. SJM, Jay, myself and some others know a little about the pocket billiards players and tournaments. And SJM is most likely AZB's foremost historian on women's players and tournaments.
Terry Ardeno said:
Your kind words appreciated, Terry.
If the original poster's question is considered for women players only, it's a very difficult one. After all, there was no clear women's world championship until the 1960's and, even then, some would argue that the US Open 14.1 women's champion would not qualify as having won a world title. If one does consider winners of that title to have been world champions, then the answer would be Dorothy Wise, who first captured it when she was in her early 50's. If not, I think the answer would be Robin Bell Dodson, who won her first world championship at, I believe, age 34.
Voodoo Daddy
One Pocket 101
Terry Ardeno said:Catscradle, Maldito & Fred,
You guys may be right about the 3C aspect, as that's a discipline that I never collected much data or stats on. The only thing I know about 3 cushions is that it's played on 4 cushions!
I have biographical data on the better 3C champions, but no tournament stats. Robert Byrne is an expert at 3C and knows it's history well, as does Bob Jewett. SJM, Jay, myself and some others know a little about the pocket billiards players and tournaments. And SJM is most likely AZB's foremost historian on women's players and tournaments.
I also know that Kobayashi won some titles in his 60's playing 3-C. He was a great champion from Japan and I remember Harry Sims speaking of him wisely.
