Players from the past ???

Question

8-9-Straight Which players from the past could beat Bata or Ralf today ?

Does anyone make a computer program that you could have a game between them like the chess games or boxing matches -this is not the question just wondering

Thanks Johnny

Answer 1

Even after his stroke, the Miz was still pretty amazing to watch.  People had to help him around the table, but his aim was true.

Thanks for the trip down memory lane.

Answer 2

Not a one!....do not have the exposure that it appears that you may had in watching some of these players hit the cue balls....but in the little I remember and in what ever "clips" I see of them, there is not one that would come close to holding a cue with the guys of today....like Bata and Ralf......this is like asking if Marciano would have held a candle to Ali....may a "daisy" for that is where he would have ended up pushing.....6 feet under.....the same with these guys facing someone from todays players.....just my 2 cents worth!

Answer 3

Well it would go back and forth between the "thens" and the "nows" but I believe that in their prime, Ralph Greenleaf and Willie Mosconi would be more than a match for today's best.  Some other names that come to mind include Irving Crane, Andrew Ponzi, Erwin Rudolph, Frank Taberski, Steve Mizerak, Ray Martin, Dallas West (in his prime), etc.  Johnny, that's a good question.  That would be a great video game, like Fight Night is for boxing, you could have something similar for pool.  M.D.-BCA Instructor/Referee.

P.S.  Mickey, speaking of Marciano vs. Ali, I know that it was just a computer simulation, but Rocky did beat Ali in that match and both in their prime, I think Marciano would have destroyed Ali for real.  The fighters of the past were so much tougher than todays fighters.  Now it's 12 rounds instead of 15 and they'll stop the match for just about anything because they don't want to risk any injuries to their precious cash-cows.  I agree with you Mickey, that today's players are superior, but a lot of that has to do with what's been made available to them.  Back in the day, the players had to make due with less than ideal playing equipment.  Furthermore, information wasn't so readily available back then.  Those players really had to search high and low for instruction and hints.  And still, there are records unbroken to this day like Mosconi's famous 526 run in straight pool.  Today's players have a lot of advantages, perfect Simonis 860 cloth, Super Aramith Pro Balls, perfectly racked balls every time, the latest in cue technology (break/jump cues, phenolic tips, masse cues, special shafts, etc.), satin gloves, libraries full of books and videos on pool, quality formal instruction...the list goes on.  Imagine if all this had been made available to the old time players.  I do agree with you Mickey, but I like to put things in context.

Answer 4

Willie Mosconi!