Willie Mosconi facts for kids
Mosconi (left) with Jimmy Moore at the 1953 World Straight Pool Championship
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| Born | 27 June 1913 Philadelphia, U.S. |
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| Died | September 17, 1993 (aged 80) |
| Sport country |  United States |
| Nickname | "Mr. Pocket Billiards" |
| Tournament wins | |
| World Champion | Straight Pool 19x |
| Ranking info | |
William Joseph Mosconi (born June 27, 1913 – died September 17, 1993) was an American professional pool player. He came from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Many people think Mosconi was one of the greatest pool players ever. Between 1941 and 1957, he won the World Straight Pool Championship an amazing nineteen times! For most of the 1900s, his name was famous in North America for pool. He was even called "Mr. Pocket Billiards." He was one of the first people to join the Billiard Congress of America Hall of Fame. Mosconi invented many cool trick shots. He also set many records and helped make pool popular across the country.
During the 1940s and 1950s, the main game played in pool competitions was called straight pool. It was also known as 14.1 continuous. Many top players thought this game was harder than today's faster game, nine-ball. In 1954, Mosconi set an official world record in straight pool. He made 526 balls in a row without missing!
Contents
Willie's Early Life
Willie Mosconi's family lived above a pool hall that his father, Joseph Mosconi, owned. But Joseph did not want his son to play pool. He wanted Willie to become a Vaudeville performer instead. His father tried to stop Willie by hiding the billiard balls. But Willie was clever! He practiced using an old broomstick and small potatoes from his mother's kitchen.
Young Willie was a child genius at pool. His father soon saw that Willie's talent could help their family earn money. Joseph Mosconi started setting up challenge matches. Willie had to stand on a box to reach the table. Even so, he beat experienced players who were much older than him.
In 1919, a special match was set up. Six-year-old Mosconi played against the World Champion, Ralph Greenleaf. The hall was full of people watching. Greenleaf won that match. But Mosconi played so well that he got a lot of attention. This helped him start his professional career.
Tournaments and Exhibitions
In 1924, when he was 11, Mosconi was the best young straight pool player. He often showed off his amazing trick shots. In the early 1930s, Mosconi took a short break from pool. But he came back a few years later to earn money.
When he returned, Mosconi entered many local tournaments. According to his book, "Willie's Game," he won all of them! Soon, Mosconi was making a living as a professional pool player. Willie said he always played fairly. He never tried to trick anyone. He always won honestly.
In 1933, Mosconi played in the Billiard Congress of America (BCA) World Straight Pool Championship. Erwin Rudolph won the title that year. Willie finished in 5th place.
His playing caught the eye of the president of Brunswick Corporation. This company makes pool tables and equipment. They quickly hired the young star. That same year, Mosconi went on a busy tour across the country. He promoted Brunswick products. Mosconi was joined by his hero, Ralph Greenleaf, who was then the World Champion. In the end, Greenleaf won 57 matches, and the 20-year-old Mosconi won a close 50.
From 1940 to 1941, billiard halls sponsored a series of tournaments. Eight invited players competed. Mosconi was sponsored by a hall in New York City called McGirr's. He was very good in this series. He made 125 balls from the break five times. He was one of the first players to do this back then.
In 1944, Mosconi joined the United States Army. He had already worked in the defense industry for several years. When World War II ended, he returned to playing in tournaments. He also started working with Brunswick again.
After having a stroke in 1956, Mosconi played in fewer tournaments to recover. In 1958, Mosconi came back and won the National Invitational Tournament. He beat Jimmy Moore.
Mosconi stopped playing in tournaments in 1966. He reached the final of the World Straight Pool Championship but lost to Joe Balsis. He still helped promote the game. He advised on and appeared in movies about billiards. He also appeared on game shows and wrote many articles and books about pool. He had a playful rivalry with pool player Rudolf "Minnesota Fats" Wanderone. This kept Mosconi in the public eye through the 1970s and 1980s.
In 1974, Mosconi played against Rex Williams in a challenge match. They played Snooker and different Pocket Billiards games over 17 days. The 60-year-old Mosconi won the challenge. He won 7 out of 18 snooker games. He was very strong in Straight Pool, Nine-Ball, Eight-Ball, One Pocket, and Bank Pool. Mosconi earned $15,000 for winning. This was the biggest prize in cue sports at that time.
Willie as an Author
Mosconi wrote a book about his life called Willie's Game. It was published in 1993.
He also wrote a book to teach people how to play pool. It was called Willie Mosconi on Pocket Billiards. In the book, he gives tips on the basics of pool. It has pictures and diagrams to show how to make shots. It also gives strategies for straight pool. The book was first published in 1948.
His Amazing 526 High Run
Willie Mosconi set a world record in straight pool. He made 526 balls in a row without missing! This happened during a pool show in Springfield, Ohio. It took place on March 19–20, 1954. There is a handwritten and notarized paper with the signatures of over 35 people who saw it happen.
This record has been beaten by other players since then. For example, John Schmidt made 626 balls in a row in 2019. However, some people say Mosconi's record was set during a real competition. Schmidt's record was set up for a video.
Mosconi's record was made on a 4 by 8 foot Brunswick table. The corner pockets were 5 1/4 inches wide.
The Hustler Movie (1961)
Mosconi was a special helper for the 1961 movie The Hustler. The movie starred Paul Newman, Jackie Gleason, George C. Scott, and Piper Laurie. This movie made pool much more popular. Mosconi's job was to teach Paul Newman how to act and shoot like a real pool player. Newman had never played pool before the movie. But Mosconi's teaching helped hide that he was new to the game. Mosconi said that Jackie Gleason was already good at pool. He suggested Gleason for the role of "Minnesota Fats."
Mosconi also appeared in the movie himself. He played a person who held the money for the first match. This was between the characters "Fast Eddie" Felson and "Minnesota Fats." You can hear Gleason say, "Willie, hang on to that," when the match starts. Mosconi can be seen watching the match in the audience.
Mosconi also appeared in the music video for George Thorogood's song "Bad to the Bone."
Willie on Screen
- 1937: Super Cue Men, a short film starring Mosconi and Jimmy Caras.
- 1945: Champion of the Cue, a short film where Mosconi shows his amazing cue skills in slow motion.
- 1953: Billiard and Bowling Champs, another short film with Willie Mosconi and carom billiards great Willie Hoppe.
- 1950–57: Mosconi appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show three times.
- September 25, 1961: The movie The Hustler was released.
- February 5, 1962: Mosconi was a guest on the TV game show I've Got a Secret.
- September 2, 1962: Mosconi was a guest on the TV game show What's My Line?.
- 1966: An episode of Get Smart called "The Dead Spy Scrawls" featured a character named "Willie Marconi." This character was a tribute to Mosconi.
- February 25, 1978: "The Great Pool Shoot-Out," a $15,000 match between Rudolf "Minnesota Fats" Wanderone, Jr. and Mosconi. Mosconi won all three parts of the competition. It was shown on ABC's Wide World of Sports.
- 1970s and 1980s: Mosconi made many other TV appearances. He played in challenge matches against other pool legends. Many of these shows were on ABC and ESPN.
- May 9, 1980: Mosconi played a sportscaster in the movie The Baltimore Bullet.
- 1982: He was in the music video for George Thorogood's "Bad to the Bone."
- October 1984: Mosconi lost to his rival "Minnesota Fats" Wanderone in the Resorts International Shoot-Out.
- August 10, 1991: Mosconi played his last challenge match against Jimmy Caras. This was at a special dinner show.
Willie's Legacy
In 1968, when he was 55, Mosconi was put into the Billiard Congress of America Hall of Fame. This is a very special honor.
In 1994, a yearly pool competition was started in his honor. It is called the Mosconi Cup. American and European players compete in it. This event has happened every year since then.
In 2006, Mosconi was also honored with a spot in the Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame.
Titles and Achievements
- 1941 BAA World Straight Pool Championship
- 1942 BAA World Straight Pool Championship
- 1944 BAA World Straight Pool Championship
- 1945 BAA World Straight Pool Championship
- 1946 BAA World Straight Pool Championship
- 1947 BAA World Straight Pool Championship
- 1948 BCA World Straight Pool Championship
- 1950 BCA World Straight Pool Championship
- 1951 BCA World Straight Pool Championship
- 1952 BCA World Straight Pool Championship
- 1953 BCA World Straight Pool Championship
- 1953 14.1 Record High Run. 322 Consecutive Balls
- 1953 14.1 Record High Run. 355 Consecutive Balls
- 1953 14.1 Record High Run. 365 Consecutive Balls
- 1954 BCA World Straight Pool Championship
- 1954 14.1 Record High Run. 526 Consecutive Balls
- 1955 BCA World Straight Pool Championship
- 1956 BCA World Straight Pool Championship
- 1958 National Straight Pool Invitational Tournament
- 1968 Billiard Congress of America Hall of Fame
- 1974 Snooker-Pool Challenge Match vs. (Rex Williams)
- 1978 ABC Sports Pool Challenge Match vs. (Minnesota Fats)
- 1982 ESPN Legends of Pocket Billiards Tournament
- 2006 Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame
Willie's Family Life
Before winning his first World Straight Pool Championship in 1941, Mosconi married Ann Harrison. They had two children, William Jr. and Candace. Later, their marriage ended.
In 1953, Mosconi married his second wife, Flora Marchini. Their daughter Gloria was born in 1954. Flora and Willie were married until he passed away in 1993.
His Passing
Willie Mosconi died from a heart attack on September 17, 1993. He was at his home in Haddon Heights, New Jersey. He is buried at New Saint Marys Cemetery, in Bellmawr, New Jersey.
