"Busdriver" Ronnie

BackPocket9Ball

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Joined
May 25, 2004
Messages
233
From
Philadelphia
I was at USA Billiards in Laurel, MD this past weekend, and I had the pleasure of meeting and matching up with a one pocket legend from the Washington DC metro area and one of the best black one pocket players from the 60s and 70s, "Bus Driver" Ronnie. He's 68 years old, but his stroke his silky smooth and he still plays great.

His picture can be found under the "Hall of Fame" link on this website, under the link "Record Book". If you scroll down the page, in the left hand margin there is an image of a poster for the "1991 Legends of One Pocket - Philadelphia Style". His picture is in the upper right hand corner of the poster.

does anyone have any stories about him? He told me that he learned the game when he was a kid in the late 50s and early 60s from "Rags" Fitzpatrick. He mentioned Strawberry, Black Nate, and Beanie (along with himself) as being among the strongest one pocket players in the Baltimore-DC area (and the country) 25 - 30 years ago.
 

Matt_24

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Jul 18, 2005
Messages
159
BackPocket9Ball said:
I was at USA Billiards in Laurel, MD this past weekend, and I had the pleasure of meeting and matching up with a one pocket legend from the Washington DC metro area and one of the best black one pocket players from the 60s and 70s, "Bus Driver" Ronnie. He's 68 years old, but his stroke his silky smooth and he still plays great.

His picture can be found under the "Hall of Fame" link on this website, under the link "Record Book". If you scroll down the page, in the left hand margin there is an image of a poster for the "1991 Legends of One Pocket - Philadelphia Style". His picture is in the upper right hand corner of the poster.

does anyone have any stories about him? He told me that he learned the game when he was a kid in the late 50s and early 60s from "Rags" Fitzpatrick. He mentioned Strawberry, Black Nate, and Beanie (along with himself) as being among the strongest one pocket players in the Baltimore-DC area (and the country) 25 - 30 years ago.

I played some with Bus Driver at Champion Billiards in Shirlington when he would come out there. He is a one pocket specialist, plays great 9 ball, and straight pool. Loves the action. We practiced some straight pool one day. I ran 24 balls and played what I thought was a safe. Ronnie found a dead ball in the stack, ran 100 balls, then looked over at me and asked if I wanted him to keep going. Nuff' said.

Ronnie played HARD for fun or for the money (he preferred playing for the money). He played me cheap one pocket even for like 10 a game. He played like it was 1000 a game. I won 2 HARD earned games out of a bunch and felt very proud of those wins against this guy, who really is a legend in these parts. Nice guy too with a funny personality. At the time he shot with a really nice Black Boar cue.
 

laces

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Joined
May 28, 2004
Messages
8
I have played a lot of sessions with him and been friends with him for quiet a while. Not only does he know more about the game than just about anyone I have met but he probably knows more about you than you know about you.
 

tonygreen

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Aug 26, 2011
Messages
391
He probably knows more about you than you know about you

He probably knows more about you than you know about you

laces said:
I have played a lot of sessions with him and been friends with him for quiet a while. Not only does he know more about the game than just about anyone I have met but he probably knows more about you than you know about you.
Bus Driver Ronnie can play. Does anybody have any contact info for him?
 

JAM

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Jun 24, 2004
Messages
1,041
tonygreen said:
Bus Driver Ronnie can play. Does anybody have any contact info for him?

I can get a hold of him if I have to. I've got my sources. :D

Whether betting on him or against him, it's always cool running into Bus Driver Ronnie. The one thing about it, no matter how much time goes by, when I do run into him, we both get a broad smile on our faces. Been through a lot of battles on a field of green. Ronnie and I go a long way back. We're good friends. :)
 

Blackboar19

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Jan 18, 2024
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USA Billiards pumped out a lot of really good pool players because as kids we could play those legends (Reggie, Tom Tom, Cigar Tom, Papageorge, Bus Driver Ronnie, Strawberry) for just table time, and learn a lot for a little. I’m really glad I found this group, lots of cool stories here.
 

Tom Wirth

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Jul 5, 2004
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From
Delray Beach, Florida
Ronnie was, as so many others know, a great competitor. Very knowledgeable and easy to get along with. In all the years I've known Ronnie I've never seen him in an argument of his making. On the contrary, Ronnie has a way of keeping himself and others on an even keel. I am proud to claim Ronnie as a good friend and I hope he and his loved ones are healthy and happy.

Tom
 
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NH Steve

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Apr 25, 2004
Messages
12,283
From
New Hampshire
Ronnie is a fantastic guy. I wish I had seen him play in his heyday but I can say I am very happy to know him.
Ronnie was, as so many others know, a great competitor. Very knowledgeable and easy to get along with. In all the years I've known Ronnie I've never seen him in an argument of his making. On the contrary, Ronnie has a way of keeping himself and others on an even keel. I am proud to claim Ronnie as a good friend and I hope he and his loved ones are healthy and happy.

Tom
Everyone seems to agree - consummate gentleman and excellent (and smart) player!!
 
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Tom Wirth

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Jul 5, 2004
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Delray Beach, Florida
Ronnie was far more than a pool player. I also recall a conversation with him where he told me he spent a great deal of time with inner city kids teaching them Basketball.
 
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