Willie Mosconi is regarded as one of the most outstanding pocket pool players ever. He is known for his many trick shots and has set numerous world records in his field. His skills, along with his good looks, combined to make him an icon for the sport.
Willie Mosconi was a Philadelphia native, born on June 27, 1913. Joseph, his father was a boxer while Helen O'Reilly was a homemaker. Willie was first introduced to pool when he was young. He began playing in tournaments at the age of six. This led to him becoming a professional player in billiards.
Willie began to play for cash in the 1930s. He made between $10,000 and $15,000 per year. After the Great Depression, his earnings increased greatly. Because of his success, he was capable of helping his family through difficult times. Gloria, his only child, was conceived in 1953. She later went on to become an accountant. Paul, her younger son, became an accountant.
Mosconi embarked on a cross-country tour of exhibitions in the middle 1950s. During this tour, he met Ralph Greenleaf. Although Greenleaf didn't want to play against Mosconi but he accepted. Mosconi had an amazing run while on the tour. He sank 526 consecutive baseballs during the tour. The record was later certified.
Willie Mosconi was eventually able to create instructional books for the game. These books included Willie Mosconi On Pocket Billiards (Ziff-Davis Publishing Company), 1948 and Winning Pocket Billiards (2005).
He published many articles on billiards. He was a consultant to the Brunswick Corporation. He also appeared in a variety of television games.
Mosconi, who died in 1984 of a heart attack, was still actively involved in the promotion and support of the sport. He was also involved in the Brunswick Corporation's 1961 film, "The Hustler", where he played Minnesota Fats. He also served as the technical advisor on the 1961 film.
Willie Mosconi was a key player in the introduction of billiards to new audiences. By the end of his life, he had won thirteen World Championships. He was inducted into The Straight Pool Hall of Fame.
Despite his celebrity, Willie Mosconi resentfully lived in a pool room. To compete in tournaments, he would travel across the country. His opponents included Fast Eddie Felson and Minnesota Fats.
He was a true fan. He wrote articles on pool. He tried disassociating it from the image that it is associated to, namely of drunks. He was a member of American Billiard Congress. He contributed significantly to the growth and development of the sport.
Willie Mosconi was a mentor to Paul Newman as an adult in the art and technique of billiards. He was an instantly recognizable figure both on TV, and in the movies. One of his most memorable performances came in the George Thorogood music video for "Bad to the Bone".
Mosconi died from a heart attack at the age of 64. Ann, his wife, was remarried.