Name That Player

[oldspurguy]

name that player

name that player

Most of these are from my memory from the 70's around SE texas and SW louisiana:

Tommy Sanders
Terry Bell
keith McCready
James Christopher
Joey Torma
Jerry Brock
Phillip Hyde
Joe Rocha
Little Oscar
Joe Bob Humphrey
James "Bastrop" Davis
Joe MacNamara
Gilbert Martinez
Pat Fox
Fat Randy (from Tulsa?)
Bob Vanover
"Sparky" Webb
Nicks only: Nana, Mondo, Head

Granted, This is a mixed group, some well known, some obscure.

 

[fred bentivegna]

two more I played and couldnt remember

two more I played and couldnt remember

Most of these are from my memory from the 70's around SE texas and SW louisiana:

Tommy Sanders --dont know him
Terry Bell -- he only played 9 ball
keith McCready -- already on my list
James Christopher -- broke him in Detroit playing 1pkt
Joey Torma -- Dallas Joey, we played in the 70s. A real weasel
Jerry Brock -- top player. dont think we played
Phillip Hyde -- dont know him
Joe Rocha -- we played in the 70s
Little Oscar -- good player. cant remember
Joe Bob Humphrey-- dont know him
James "Bastrop" Davis -- dont know him
Joe MacNamara -- dont know him
Gilbert Martinez -- dont know him
Pat Fox -- dont know him
Fat Randy (from Tulsa?) -- maybe
Bob Vanover -- played him in tournaments only
"Sparky" Webb -- dont know him
Nicks only: Nana, Mondo, Head ?, ?,?


Granted, This is a mixed group, some well known, some obscure.

You added a couple more to my "played 'em" list
The Beard

 

[oldspurguy]

Young Earl Strickland

Young Earl Strickland

I wanted to ask The Beard about something in your interview on this site. When was it that Earl was staying at your pool room. The reason I ask is that I met Earl when he was about 17 or 18 and at that time he was living in Baytown, Texas. I went with him to a little bar called The Spur near Vinton Louisiana. and I know that he stayed in Beaumont awhile where a friend of mine, Ralph Braswell, staked him. And he spent some time playing at whatever the "hot spot" pool hall at the time was in Houston, Texas, Goofy's, Grand Central Station, Honeycomb Gameroom, to name several. I always get a kick listening to Earl being interviewed, loved it when he told some reporter that the only reason he was playing in the tournament was that it was on he TV, and he wasn't getting enough exposure of late, he says, "I used to be a household name".

 

[CaptainHook]

I wanted to ask The Beard about something in your interview on this site. When was it that Earl was staying at your pool room. The reason I ask is that I met Earl when he was about 17 or 18 and at that time he was living in Baytown, Texas. I went with him to a little bar called The Spur near Vinton Louisiana. and I know that he stayed in Beaumont awhile where a friend of mine, Ralph Braswell, staked him. And he spent some time playing at whatever the "hot spot" pool hall at the time was in Houston, Texas, Goofy's, Grand Central Station, Honeycomb Gameroom, to name several. I always get a kick listening to Earl being interviewed, loved it when he told some reporter that the only reason he was playing in the tournament was that it was on he TV, and he wasn't getting enough exposure of late, he says, "I used to be a household name".

I remember him saying that. he was always a household name around here.
Everytime I look at some of my old pool magazines he is in them, and not just in the ad's.

 

[jay helfert]

Freddie,
I just glanced at the list you DID gamble with...Was Bill "Weenie Beanie" Staton on there? If he was, I missed it. On my fiirst two posts, I didn't dare list him becasue I would have been shocked if you 2 didn't lock up.

Also...
Unknown last names:
California California Shorty xxx
Nate Black Nate xxx
Vince Joe Dimaggio from Allingers in Philly xxx
Iceman Black Iceman xxx
Red Jew Town Red xxx
Charley The Ape xxx

***If these phantoms are unknown to EVEN YOU, how, pray tell, are they players "of some reknown." ???

You say you didn't know Bill Stephen, he beat Beanie in the 1994 Roanoke 1 Pocket Championships in May, 1994. Just under Toby Fleharty's speed.

Terry,

Some of these guys I knew for years and never knew their real names. Black Nate was a high speed player. He made many big scores all over the country. The Iceman was another black champion. A lot of roadmen were not to happy about crossing paths with him in L.A. California Shorty played about the same speed as Ice. Thess guys were NOT shortstops. They were the real deal, and it took a Marvin or Jersey Red speed player to nail them.

Charley the Ape looked like an ape and gambled real high on the bar tables of SoCal in the 60's and 70's. I was in on a big score off him, going partners with Navy Gary, a straight shooting kid from San Diego. It was a little scary getting out with the money, but that's another story. Charley could play and he would bet the moon. He was a notorious big time drug dealer, who was killed in the 80's execution style.

Joe Dimaggio was his real name and he hung around Beenie's joint in Maryland for a long time. Supposedly he died in bed making love to a young gal. He was a strong player as well.

 

[jay helfert]

Paul Miles ?

Doug

I think that was another name that Paul Baker from Iowa used on occasion. About 5'7" and clean cut. He would be in his 60's now. Also played scratch golf.

 

[jay helfert]

I usually go on my lunch hour 12-1 almost everyday. Today I barely made it to work, I have a sinus infection. I'm going home to Swig some cough medicine and pass out, staying home Tuesday as well, should be up & running wed.

We had alot of action Fri night, Buddy was supposed to stop in, but he was beat from playing in the Thursday night tourney at Planet 9Ball, and was trying to get some rest before Strokers Fla tour on Sat. So I wound up hangin out with Creole Freddie, he had me crackin up with all his stories about the old days.

I was busy with Mothers day stuff all weekend besides feeling like crap and I don't even know if the Gold Crown is done, they were supposed to re-cover it
saturday or sunday and install new rails and pockets also.

Hope to see you soon.

Mike

Get "Kreole" Freddie Yates to post some stuff on here. He knew every player who ever played in the South.

 

[jay helfert]

Terrific, Steve.
The next promotion I was thinking about, and this thing with Danny sort of addresses it, was to compare my roster with other road men's rosters to see who played more different players. I would be apt to bet on myself as to who played more.
Score one for Ted Elias, a real top player from Cleveland. We never hooked up.

the Beard

He was actually from Toledo. But more of a 14.1 player. Johnny Ervolino ironed him out one time for a big number.

 

[jay helfert]

I don't remember, Doug but I believe it was the state championship. Could have been 80 or 81 also. This was one of the participants with his corporate partner in the rear.

Hubbart and Terry Bell.

 

[jay helfert]

This post has nothing to do with this thread, but its a good place to vent my frustration. I put this up on AZforums re a post by a New Yorker to Grady, offering to stake John Schmidt, or Tony Robles, or another monster against Grady in a 1000 point straight match for 25k. The guy's "daring" offer inspired this response from me. What bothered my ego was the lack or response to my post. I thought it was one of the most sarcastic/funniest post I had ever done. I thought that I would at least get a few East Coasters mad. Nothing even from Grady, who I was defending on the forums for about the tenth time without one single acknowledgement for my support for the old guard. Come to think of it, I dont recall any post of his where he deigned to even mention me by name in any capacity. We do know each other, really. Are my feelings hurt? Yeah, maybe a little.

the Beard



Originally Posted by freddy the beard on AZ forums
I can't pass up this opportunity to comment on what we used to call a "New York Gamble," which was no gamble at all. After Jersey Red, Boston Shorty, Irvolino, Richie Ambrose etc. left NYC, in order to get a pool bet in NY your body had to be decomposing. When I was on the road in NYC, I got zero money games. Zero. Me. I've been know to get action in the game room at the Sistine Chapel. I was in McGirrs one night, practicing on the main table. A hustler walked up to me and asked me if I played 1pkt. I said yes. He asked me if I wanted to play for $10 a game. I said yes. He said, "Ha Ha, see you later." and walked away. Steve, your offer to back young 300 ball runners against someone on social security sounds strangely nostalgic.
So that all the Jersey guys dont feel left out, your gamble quotient was probably about 5% higher than NYC, and that did include Allen Hopkins, who when I played him bank pool in Chicago, swore he would play me for days (while he had me stuck), but when I raised the bet and got even, he hopped like Bugs Bunny. He and his backer were even amazingly immune to the barrage of insults that I heaped on their East Coast heritage after they quit. Truthfully, all the great East Coast players and I were great pals throughout the years, but that don't mean I'd want any of them marrying my sister.
Rave on, Grady and don't let ego trick you into falling for one of those NY traps.
And a race to 1000 points? Gosh, Steve, that's really looking to lock things up. Does Grady have to flunk a physical too?

Okay Freddie, tell us how you really feel! This is some funny sh-t. My experiences of New York back in the day was a little different. When I lived there for a few months in the mid 60's, I was still on a learning curve.

They made me feel welcome in the 7-11, as long as I played Red, Shorty, Blackie, Ambrose or Ervolino every night. I was playing guys even who should have been giving me the 7,8 and the Breaks. Talk about being a bad gamemaker.

Well, I finally moved on to Guys and Dolls, which was full of normal poolplayers, not world champions. In there I was hustled by old men to play 14.1 and got crucified. They would run 32 and play safe, 28 and play safe, and 46 and out if I got anywhere close to winning. Oh and a 13 year old Frankie got into my pocket too.

I moved on to McGirrs and Broadway and managed to find a few obliging players of color who were quite willing to play me some Bank Pool. Another one of my good moves. My record in NYC was not worthy of minor league status. I can only remember winning once or twice in the months I was there. But I learned a lot and it made me a better player later. NO PLACE was as hard to make money in than New York.

 

[fred bentivegna]

He had a different name

He had a different name

Terry,

Some of these guys I knew for years and never knew their real names. Black Nate was a high speed player. He made many big scores all over the country. The Iceman was another black champion. A lot of roadmen were not to happy about crossing paths with him in L.A. California Shorty played about the same speed as Ice. Thess guys were NOT shortstops. They were the real deal, and it took a Marvin or Jersey Red speed player to nail them.

Charley the Ape looked like an ape and gambled real high on the bar tables of SoCal in the 60's and 70's. I was in on a big score off him, going partners with Navy Gary, a straight shooting kid from San Diego. It was a little scary getting out with the money, but that's another story. Charley could play and he would bet the moon. He was a notorious big time drug dealer, who was killed in the 80's execution style.

Joe Dimaggio was his real name and he hung around Beenie's joint in Maryland for a long time. Supposedly he died in bed making love to a young gal. He was a strong player as well.

You got the part about him dying in bed with a young broad right, but his first name was Vince and I have forgotten his last, but it definitely wasnt DiMaggio. After all, he lived with me in the early 60s in Ft Lauderdale. Sometimes my own last name doesnt come to me for a spell. He played top speed 1pkt on 5 x 10 tables. I used to love playing with Ice, Nate and Shorty when I stayed in LA. Ice even beat Artie playing 1pkt in Detroit at the Rack. I always suspected foul play but Artie would never admit to it, and truthfully, business was never Artie's forte (aside from "catching" once in awhile.)


the Beard

 

[gulfportdoc]

You got the part about him dying in bed with a young broad right, but his first name was Vince and I have forgotten his last, but it definitely wasnt DiMaggio.

So this guy, Joe Dimaggio: his last name definitely wasn't Dimaggio, and his first name was Vince. Y'all have been talking with pool players too long...

Doc

 

[jrhendy]

Charlie The Ape

Charlie The Ape

Charley the Ape looked like an ape and gambled real high on the bar tables of SoCal in the 60's and 70's. I was in on a big score off him, going partners with Navy Gary, a straight shooting kid from San Diego. It was a little scary getting out with the money, but that's another story. Charley could play and he would bet the moon. He was a notorious big time drug dealer, who was killed in the 80's execution style.

Before Charlie ended up in Orange County & became a big time stake horse & gambler, he was a small time hustler that hung around the pool room at Bahama Lanes in Pasadena. He hustled cards and played pool for small stakes. In the early sixties I beat him out of $120 playing 5 & 9 and he actually bit the end off a house cue when he dogged an easy 5 and then he stiffed me for the last game. I gave him $20 more back and got the hell out of there. When he moved to Orange County it was like he was reborn as a big time gambler/gangster. He was in big action everywhere, and made a ton of money staking Keith at the original Hard Times in Costa Mesa. He played gin very high and was thought to be a very good player. I do not know this for sure, but was told from a reasonably reliable source that he had a strong move in gin. He had his favorite seat and there was a hole in the wall behing whoever he was playing Someone behind the wall would signal the bartender who would signal Charlie. Sounds a little farfetched, but not unbelievable if you knew Charlie. I'm sure Keith would know if he cared to fess up. Come to think of it, Keith beat me playing gin at that same joint. Hmmmm

 

[fred bentivegna]

Nickname, Doc

Nickname, Doc

So this guy, Joe Dimaggio: his last name definitely wasn't Dimaggio, and his first name was Vince. Y'all have been talking with pool players too long...

Doc

Joe Dimaggio was his nickname, Doc. I think he played baseball as a kid. He certainly didnt look like Joe Dimaggio. He hated easy action. If he beat you 2 or 3 in a row he would offer you a spot, even before you might have asked for one. When he was with me and Sugar Shack Johnny he drank, ate, and smoked much more than he earned.

the Beard

 

[gulfportdoc]

When he was with me and Sugar Shack Johnny he drank, ate, and smoked much more than he earned.

Except for the eatin' part it sounds kinda like m'self 30 years ago...

Doc

 

[jay helfert]

Charley the Ape looked like an ape and gambled real high on the bar tables of SoCal in the 60's and 70's. I was in on a big score off him, going partners with Navy Gary, a straight shooting kid from San Diego. It was a little scary getting out with the money, but that's another story. Charley could play and he would bet the moon. He was a notorious big time drug dealer, who was killed in the 80's execution style.

Before Charlie ended up in Orange County & became a big time stake horse & gambler, he was a small time hustler that hung around the pool room at Bahama Lanes in Pasadena. He hustled cards and played pool for small stakes. In the early sixties I beat him out of $120 playing 5 & 9 and he actually bit the end off a house cue when he dogged an easy 5 and then he stiffed me for the last game. I gave him $20 more back and got the hell out of there. When he moved to Orange County it was like he was reborn as a big time gambler/gangster. He was in big action everywhere, and made a ton of money staking Keith at the original Hard Times in Costa Mesa. He played gin very high and was thought to be a very good player. I do not know this for sure, but was told from a reasonably reliable source that he had a strong move in gin. He had his favorite seat and there was a hole in the wall behing whoever he was playing Someone behind the wall would signal the bartender who would signal Charlie. Sounds a little farfetched, but not unbelievable if you knew Charlie. I'm sure Keith would know if he cared to fess up. Come to think of it, Keith beat me playing gin at that same joint. Hmmmm

That's interesting because Charley tried more than once to get me to play Gin with him. I can play a little Gin, but somehow it had an uncomfortable feel to the way he asked me. He was a little too anxious and didn't ask me how I played or anything. These are bad signs. I figured he was some kind of mechanic, and I had been cheated before by hold-out specialists and second/bottom dealers.

 

[fred bentivegna]

Cigars only, Doc

Cigars only, Doc

Except for the eatin' part it sounds kinda like m'self 30 years ago...

Doc

No comparison to you, Doc. Dimaggio only smoked CIGARS.

the Beard

 

[Smorgass Bored]

Just Curious

Just Curious

Have any of you old timers ever heard of, played or have any stories about a Jimmy Catrono out of Queens Billiard Acedemy ?
Doug

 

[fred bentivegna]

Spelled with an "a"

Spelled with an "a"

Have any of you old timers ever heard of, played or have any stories about a Jimmy Catrono out of Queens Billiard Acedemy ?
Doug

Jimmy Catrano, (might have been spelled, Cattrano) never played him, but I know he was a terrific straight pool player. Upper echelon speed.

the Beard

 

[jay helfert]

Have any of you old timers ever heard of, played or have any stories about a Jimmy Catrono out of Queens Billiard Acedemy ?
Doug

Jimmy Cattrano I believe is the correct spelling. He died about 10-15 years ago and was not that old, maybe early 50's. He was a very good 14.1 player (who wasn't in New York) but his best game was certainly Three Cushions. He played with the best U.S. players and won a few titles. He seemed to lose interest in competing early on though, and wasn't seen to often at U.S. Championships.

I think he busied himself running his family poolroom.