Joe Balsis facts for kids
| Born | 1921 Minersville, Pennsylvania, U.S |
|---|---|
| Died | 1995 |
| Sport country |  United States |
| Nickname | "The Meatman" |
| Professional | 1964 |
| Tournament wins | |
| World Champion | Straight Pool (1965, 1965, 1966) |
| Ranking info | |
Joseph (Joe) Balsis was a famous American professional pool player. He was born in 1921 in Minersville, Pennsylvania, and passed away on January 2, 1995, in the same town. People often called him "the Meatman". Joe was so good at pool that he was added to the Billiard Congress of America's Hall of Fame in 1982. This is a very special honor for pool players.
Contents
Joe Balsis's Amazing Pool Career
His Early Days Playing Pool
Joe grew up around pool tables. His father, John, owned a billiard room. This room was part of his meat selling business. From a very young age, Joe showed incredible talent. By the time he was just 11 years old, he was skilled enough to play special exhibition matches against professional players. These were like friendly but serious games to show off skills. He played against famous players like Andrew Ponzi and Erwin Rudolph.
When Joe was a teenager, he won four junior titles in a row! After that, he took a break from pool. He joined the Coast Guard and worked as a boat machinist for several years. This was during a time when pool wasn't as popular. But in 1944, he started competing again. He even won the Armed Services Champion title!
Becoming a Professional Player
Joe Balsis officially became a professional pool player in 1964. The very next year, he won the World Straight Pool Championship not just once, but twice! He won it again in 1966. In 1966, he also won the Johnston City All-Around Championship.
Joe continued his winning streak. He won back-to-back titles at the Stardust Open All-Around Championship in 1968 and 1969. He also won the All Japan Championship in 1969. Between 1966 and 1975, Balsis reached the final of the BCA U.S. Open Straight Pool Championship five times. He won this important championship twice, in 1968 and 1974.
Major Pool Titles
- 1965 BRPAA World Straight Pool Championship
- 1965 BRPAA World Straight Pool Championship
- 1965 National Billiards News Achievement Award
- 1966 Johnston City Straight Pool Championship
- 1966 Johnston City All-Around Championship
- 1966 BRPAA World Straight Pool Championship
- 1966 U.S Invitation Pocket Billiard Championship
- 1967 Culver City Straight Pool Invitational
- 1967 Eastern States Straight Pool Championship
- 1968 Stardust Open Straight Pool Championship
- 1968 Stardust Open All-Around Championship
- 1968 U.S. Masters Straight Pool Championship
- 1968 U.S. Open Straight Pool Championship
- 1969 Stardust Open 9-Ball Championship
- 1969 Stardust Open All-Around Championship
- 1969 All Japan Championship 14.1
- 1969 All Japan Championship All-Around
- 1971 Stardust Open Straight Pool Championship
- 1974 U.S. Open Straight Pool Championship
- 1982 Billiard Congress of America Hall of Fame
