It was upon his retirement in 1957, that public interest in the game all but withered and died. It was during the “Mosconi Era” that pool replaced billiards as America’s game of choice. From 1940 to 1957, he had a near-strangle hold on the world title, winning it fifteen times. 16, 1993)Just as “Billiards” was synonymous with “Willie Hoppe,” to many fans, “Pocket Billiards” meant “Willie Mosconi.” If Ralph Greenleaf had rescued pool in the 1920’s, it was Willie Mosconi who kept it alive in its post-World War II decline. He set records in 1929 for high single-game average, 63, and high grand average, 11.02, on a 5- by 10-foot table.Ī colorful showman, Greenleaf continued to attract spectators to exhibition matches until his death of a heart attack in 1950.ĭ. Generally ranked second to Willie Mosconi among the all-time great pocket billiards players, Greenleaf won the world professional title 6 times and defended it 13 times. More than anyone else, he rescued the game of pool, by casting it into the spotlight, with a natural showman’s flair. Professionally, he was virtually untouchable, winning fourteen world titles by 1937. Dazzled audiences with spectacular trick-shot exhibitions, with a huge mirror suspended over the table, to enhance the spectators’ view. Toured vaudeville with his beautiful show-business wife, Princess Nai Tai Tai. (Prior to his emergence, billiards’ popularity was completely dominated by the carom games.) Won his first world title in 1919, and defended it nine straight times. Rescued the game of pool (pocket billiards) from near oblivion. March 15, 1950)The game of pool’s first true showman. His grand tournament average of 1.33 in 1950 is also a record.ĭ. He set records with runs of 20 points in three-cushion league play in 1927 and three-cushion match play in 1945, and he ran a record 25 points in a 1928 exhibition against Charles C. Many of Hoppe’s records still stand, including an unbelievable run of 622 in 18.2 balkline during an exhibition in 1912. He won world championships in 1936, from 1940 through 1944, and from 1947 until his retirement in 1952. The world 18.2 balkline champion in 1907, from 1910 through 1920, from 1923 through 1924, and in 1927, Hoppe began concentrating on three-cushion billiards in the 1930s. in 1926, Hoppe regained it in 1927, the last year competition took place in that form of billiards. After losing the championship to Jake Schaefer Jr. He also held that title in 1908, from 1909 through 1911, and from 1914 through 1926. Hoppe won the world 18.1 balkline championship by beating Maurice Vignaux of France on January 15, 1906. Between 19, he won the World Three-Cushion title eleven times. When Balkline was replaced by Three-Cushion Billiards as the championship game, Hoppe merely retooled his game. For over twenty years, his successes were so numerous, to many fans, “Billiards” simply meant “Willie Hoppe.” Won world titles in 18.1 and 18.2 Balkline, as well as the Cushion Carom world title. Won his first world title at the age of eighteen. 1, 1959)Thought by many to be the greatest all-around billiard player of any era.
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