Willie Mosconi can be considered one the greatest pocket-pool players of all time. He is known for his many trick shots and has set numerous world records in his field. His talents and great looks combined made him an icon in the sport.
Willie Mosconi arose in Philadelphia on June 27,1913. Joseph, his dad, was a fighter boxer. Helen O'Reilly, Helen's mother, was homemaker. Willie was first introduced to pool when he was young. At the age of six, he began participating in tournaments. His experience in tournaments led him to becoming a professional billiards player.
Willie first started to play for cash during the 1930s. He earned between $10,000 and $15,000 a year. His earnings increased dramatically after the Great Depression. He was able to support his family during difficult times because of his success. His daughter, Gloria, was born in 1953. Later she became an accountant. Paul, her son became an accountant.
Mosconi went on a cross country exhibition tour in the 1950s. He met Ralph Greenleaf, a friend during the tour. Greenleaf declined to play against Mosconi. However, he accepted. Mosconi enjoyed a tremendous run on the tour. He sank 526 consecutive balls during the tour. Later, the record was officially certified.
Willie Mosconi wrote instructional books on the game eventually. These books included Willie Mosconi on Pocket Billiards (Ziff-Davis Publishing Company, 1948) and Winning Pocket Billiards (Crown Publishers, 1959).
He wrote numerous articles on billiards. He was also a consultant for Brunswick Corporation. He appeared on numerous television games shows.
Before his death from a heart attack in 1984, Mosconi was still active in promoting the sport. In addition to his work with Brunswick Corporation, he was also a stakes holder for "The Hustler", starring Minnesota Fats. He was also the technical adviser for the 1961 movie.
Willie Mosconi played a major part in bringing billiards to new generations. He won thirteen World Championships before he died. He was inducted in the Straight Pool Hall of Fame.
Despite his fame Willie Mosconi didn't like the life of a poolhall. To compete in tournaments, he would travel across the country. His opponents included Fast Eddie Felson and Minnesota Fats.
He was a great fan. He also wrote articles about the game of pool. He tried to disassociate it from the image of drunks that it is associated with. He was a member of the Billiard Congress of America. He played a major role in the expansion of the game throughout the world.
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 was in the George Thorogood video for the song "Bad to the Bone."
Mosconi was 64 when he died of a heartattack. Ann, his wife of 64 years, remarried.