Willie Mosconi

Willie Mosconi, born William Joseph Mosconi in Philadelphia on June 27, 1913, and died on September 17, 1993, was an American professional pool player widely considered one of the greatest of all time. Raised above his father's pool hall, he was a prodigy who played challenge matches while standing on a box to reach the table. Between 1941 and 1957 he won the World Straight Pool Championship nineteen times and in 1954 set the officially recognized straight pool high run record of 526 consecutive balls. Nicknamed Mr. Pocket Billiards, he pioneered trick shots, helped popularize pool as a national recreation and was among the first inductees of the Billiard Congress of America Hall of Fame.