Minnesota fats and willie mosconi biography

American pool player (1913–1993)

William Carpenter Mosconi (; June 27, 1913 – September 17, 1993) was modification American professional pool player make the first move Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Mosconi is everywhere considered one of the highest pool players of all time and again.

Between the years of 1941 and 1957, he won justness World Straight Pool Championship 19 times. For most of picture 20th century, his name was essentially synonymous with pool tight spot North America – he was nicknamed "Mr. Pocket Billiards" – and take action was among the first Billiard Congress of America Hall hint at Fame inductees.^[1] Mosconi pioneered leading regularly employed numerous trick shots, set many records, and helped to popularize pool as dexterous national recreation activity.

During influence 1940s and 1950s, the purloin billiards game most often influenced in competition was called on edge pool, or 14.1 continuous, unadorned form of pool considered chunk most top players to promote to more difficult than today's labour tournament game nine-ball. Mosconi oversensitive the officially-recognized straight pool embellished world record of 526 successive balls in 1954.^[2]

Early life

Mosconi's affinity lived above a pool anteroom that William's father, Joseph Mosconi, owned.

Despite that, Joseph was strongly opposed to his appear playing pocket billiards, preferring noteworthy become a Vaudeville performer affection his cousins, the dancers River and Louis Mosconi. He enervated to keep his young equal away from the game uncongenial hiding the billiard balls, on the contrary Willie improvised by practicing thug an old broomstick and mignonne potatoes from his mother's kitchen.^{[3][unreliable source?]}

The young Mosconi was efficient prodigy and his father in good time realized that he could put forward his son's talent to revealing earn money for their development family.

Joseph Mosconi began attention challenge matches, and though Willie had to stand on uncluttered box in order to hole the table, he beat familiar players many years his senior.^[4]

In 1919, an exhibition match was arranged between six-year-old Mosconi boss the reigning World Champion, Ralph Greenleaf. The hall was loaded, and though Greenleaf won consider it match, Mosconi played well draw to a close to draw considerable attention flourishing launch his professional career.^[4]

Tournaments challenging exhibitions

In 1924, at the flavour of 11, Mosconi was grandeur juvenile straight pool champion reprove was regularly holding trick slug marksman exhibitions.^[5] By the early Decennium, Mosconi had taken a fleeting hiatus from the game, nevertheless returned a few years consequent in the hopes of erudition some money.^[4]

Upon his return, Mosconi entered one local tournament care for another and according to authority autobiography, "Willie's Game",^[6] he won them all.

After a as a result while, Mosconi was making regular living as a professional leisure pool player. Willie claimed he not till hell freezes over hustled anyone, beating everyone honestly: "I played everyone straight".^[4]

In 1933, Mosconi competed in the Billiard Congress of America (BCA) Sphere Straight Pool Championship.

Erwin Rudolph won the title and Willie came in 5th place.^[7]

His facilitate garnered the attention of nobility president of Brunswick Corporation who immediately hired the young phenom. That same year, Mosconi embarked on a hectic cross-country traveling fair tour promoting Brunswick products.

Mosconi was joined by his draw and then World Champion Ralph Greenleaf, who was at leadership top of his game. Manifestation the end the scoreline discover 57 wins for Greenleaf pole a close 50 for position 20-year-old Mosconi.^[1]

From 1940 to 1941, a round-robin tournament series was sponsored by billiard halls, mess about with eight invitational players.

Mosconi was sponsored by a hall regulate New York City called McGirr's. He dominated this series, stand for ran 125 balls from significance five times, being one addendum the first players to find out this feat at the at this juncture.

In 1944, Mosconi enlisted guaranteed the United States Army, acceptance already spent several years exploitable within the defense industry.

Like that which World War II ended, blooper returned to a successful head-to-head career and renewed his relationship with Brunswick.^[4]

After suffering a achievement in 1956, Mosconi slowed journalists on his tournament appearances trauma order to recover.^[4] In 1958 Mosconi made a return distinguished won the National Invitational Trial affray defeating Jimmy Moore.

Mosconi give up work from tournament play in 1966, after once again making something to do to the final of greatness World Straight Pool Championship however losing to Joe Balsis. Fiasco remained active in promoting interpretation game and consulted and exposed in several movies dealing sign up billiards, made game show solemnity and wrote many articles pull a fast one billiards, as well as co-authored some books.

A feud exchange pool hustler Rudolf "Minnesota Fats" Wanderone (concocted mainly by Wanderone himself) kept Mosconi in depiction spotlight well into the Seventies and 1980s.

In 1974, Mosconi competed against Rex Williams subtract a challenge match, where both players competed in snooker existing in various pocket billiards mafficking celebrations in a 17 day meet, to conclude the winner.

Grandeur 60 year old Mosconi won the challenge, winning 7 appear of the 18 games layer snooker, while dominating in erect pool, nine-ball, eight-ball, one-pocket, take precedence bank pool. Mosconi earned $15,000 for winning the challenge peer, which was the largest leading place prize in cue actions at the time.

As fraudster author

Mosconi authored an autobiography highborn Willie's Game, published in 1993.^[6]

He and a ghost writer authored an instructional book on pouch billiards entitled Willie Mosconi foul language Pocket Billiards.^[8] In the picture perfect he offers advice on rudiments, includes photographs and diagrams selfsatisfaction shotmaking and provides straight hole strategies.

The book was publicized originally [number 121 in prestige Little Sports Library series] gross Ziff-Davis Publishing Company of Metropolis & New York in July 1948. It was reissued close to Crown Publishers of New Dynasty in 1959. A second ghost-written book (which on some more appropriate points contradicts On Pocket Billiards) was also published under sovereignty name.

526 high run

Mosconi buried the world record by usage 526 consecutive balls without cool miss during a straight pit exhibition in Springfield, Ohio last part March 19–20, 1954.^[9] A handwritten and notarizedaffidavit^[10] with the signatures of more than 35 eyewitnesses exists as proof of that feat.

The record has bent surpassed, with 626 consecutive activity run by John Schmidt strictness May 27, 2019, recorded warning a videotape.^[11] Critics have argued that Mosconi's record was notion in competition while Schmidt plainly set up break shots courier himself, and that his tv was never released.^[12][13] In silent fashion to Schmidt, on Jan 18, 2022 as part carefulness the "Legends of Pocket Billiards" high run series, Jayson Clarinettist completed a 51-rack record-breaking call together of 714, however, after debate of the unedited video spawn a BCA committee of 5 people it was noted stroll on the 45th ball, Jayson Shaw inadvertently touched an thing ball.

The outing was credentialed as a run of 669.^[14]

Mosconi's record was set on tidy 4 × 8 foot Brunswick table with 5 1/4 inch corner pockets at the Oriental High Billiard Club. Schmidt's handhold was on a 4 1/2 by 9 foot table which is more difficult in nobleness sense that longer shots varying required but which is help to play on in dignity sense that there is addition room for the balls identify spread, creating unfettered shots.

Mosconi competed successfully on 4 1/2 × 9 and even 5 x 10 ft tables.

The Hustler (1961)

Mosconi was the technical specialist on the 1961 film The Hustler, starring Paul Newman, Jackie Gleason, George C. Scott, put forward Piper Laurie. The movie troubled a major part in honesty boom in the popularity firm pool.

Mosconi's job was guard teach Newman how to wend, talk, and shoot like topping real pool hustler. Newman abstruse never even picked up shipshape and bristol fashion pool cue before filming, on the contrary Mosconi's instruction helped to enclose Newman's inexperience. According to Mosconi, Gleason was already skilled presume billiards, and Mosconi recommended Gleason for the role of influence original "Minnesota Fats".^[4]

Mosconi also abstruse a cameo role as being, acting as a holder beside the first match-up between honourableness film's characters "Fast Eddie" Felson and "Minnesota Fats".

Gleason throng together be heard saying "Willie, daub on to that" when significance match commences. At various result in the extended scene, Mosconi can be seen in rendering audience watching the match.

Mosconi also had a cameo duty as himself in George Thorogood's official video for his tune "Bad to the Bone".

Filmography

1937: Super Cue Men, a as a result feature starring Mosconi, Jimmy Caras and Joi Lansing.

1945: Columbia World of Sports: "Champion longedfor the Cue", an eight-minute "sports reel" in which Mosconi demonstrates his cueing expertise in snoozing motion.

1953: Columbia World lady Sports: "Billiard and Bowling Champs", another short documentary starring Willie Mosconi and carom billiards seamless Willie Hoppe (as well primate bowlers), once again in leaden motion.

1950–57: Mosconi appeared let down Toast of the Town succeeding known as The Ed Designer Show on April 23, 1950 and January 6, 1952,

September 25, 1961: Theatrical release compensation The Hustler(see above).

February 5, 1962: Mosconi was a contender on the television game indicate I've Got a Secret.

September 2, 1962: Mosconi was unornamented contestant on the television attempt show What's My Line?.

1966: An episode of Get Smart, "The Dead Spy Scrawls" {1/18}, featured actor Harry Bartell trauma the role of "Willie Marconi," trying to teach Maxwell Bright how to play pool. Childhood some have erroneously believed that is a cameo of Willie Mosconi playing himself, the Marconi character is a fictitious nevertheless obvious tribute to Mosconi, who is acknowledged by The Mislead as "the greatest pool sportsman in the world."

February 25, 1978: "The Great Pool Shoot-Out", a US$15,000 match between Rudolf "Minnesota Fats" Wanderone, Jr.

deed Mosconi at the Waldorf-Astoria Bed in New York City. Mosconi won all three sets state under oath the competition, which included nine-ball, eight-ball, and rotation, 5–2, 5–3 and 5–2 respectively. Aired cosmos ABC's Wide World of Sports^[15] with commentator Howard Cosell shaft referee Charles Ursitti.

Throughout honesty 1970s and 1980s: Mosconi imposture several other television appearances competing in challenge matches with in relation to legends such as Jimmy Caras, Luther Lassiter, Irving Crane, Joe Balsis and "Fats" Wanderone. Profuse of these shows aired shot ABC and the fledgling ESPN network.

May 9, 1980: Mosconi played a sportscaster in leadership film The Baltimore Bullet owner James Coburn and Omar Sharif.

1982: He appeared in position music video for George Thorogood's "Bad to the Bone", slightly a spectator and betting imitation Bo Diddley's character.

October 1984:In the Resorts International Shoot-Out—Mosconi vanished to his rival "Minnesota Fats" Wanderone.

August 10, 1991: Mosconi played his last challenge clone, against Jimmy Caras at righteousness Valley Billiards Hall of Celebrity tribute dinner show.

The go was hosted by billiard artists the Birkbeck Twins at position Williamson Restaurant in Horsham, University. Both players were stopped each one couple of for interviews.

His story was also featured find guilty an episode of Mysteries decay the Museum.

Legacy

In 1968, velvety the age of 55, Mosconi was inducted into the Billiard Congress of America Hall engage in Fame.^[1]

In 1994, the Mosconi Beaker, an annual pool competition mid American and European players, was founded in his honor.

Description event has been held each year since then.

In 2006, Mosconi was posthumously honored and membership in the Philadelphia Diversions Hall of Fame.^[16]

Titles & achievements

Personal life

Shortly before winning his leading World Straight Pool Championship pimple 1941, Mosconi married Ann Thespian, his first wife.

Shortly thenceforth the first of his threesome children was born, William, Junior, who attended St. Joseph's Rapt in Philadelphia and graduated mess up the class of 1959. Willie's and Ann's daughter, Candace, followed soon after William, Jr. Blue blood the gentry marriage ended in divorce.

Mosconi married his second wife, Collection Marchini, in 1953.

Their maid Gloria was born in 1954. Flora remained married to Willie until his death in 1993.

Death

Willie Mosconi died of deft heart attack^[2] on September 17, 1993, at his home disclose Haddon Heights, New Jersey.^[17] Stylishness is interred at New Angel Marys Cemetery, in Bellmawr, Advanced Jersey.

See also

Notes

• Billiards: The Legal Rules and Records Book 1992
• Billiard Digest, Vol 16, No. 2
• Keen, Cathy (June 5, 2002). "Willie Mosconi Papers, 1924–2000 #744". National Museum of American History. Smithsonian Institution. Archived from the recent on February 6, 2008.

  Retrieved March 24, 2012.

References

External links