Steve Mizerak

Steve Mizerak, born Stephen Mizerak Jr. in Perth Amboy, New Jersey, on October 12, 1944, and died on May 29, 2006, was an American pool player considered one of the best straight pool players of all time. Nicknamed the Miz, he dominated the game in the 1970s, won over seventy tournaments and had a high run of 421 balls. He won the World Straight Pool Championship twice, including a record four consecutive BCA U.S. Open Straight Pool Championship titles. The son of a New Jersey state champion who opened a pool hall in Metuchen, he first played billiards at four, gave exhibitions at six and by thirteen had run 100 balls at straight pool.