Willie Mosconi

Willie Mosconi (born June 27, 1913, Philadelphia, Pa., U.S.—died Sept. 16, 1993, Haddon Heights, N.J.) was an American pocket billiards player who was men’s world champion 15 times between 1941 and 1957. His gentlemanly appearance and demeanor helped to establish pocket billiards as a reputable pastime.

The son of a billiards parlour owner, Mosconi showed a precocious talent for the game. When his father forbade him to play, hoping that he would pursue a career in vaudeville, young Mosconi practiced with potatoes and a broomstick. He began playing professionally in 1931 or 1932 in order to help support his family during the Great Depression. He first won the pocket billiards world championship title in 1941, winning again in 1942, 1944–45, 1947–48, and 1950–57. Mosconi was known for his accurate, rapid-fire shooting. During one exhibition tournament he had a run (series of consecutive successful shots) of 526 balls. He assisted in the making of the motion picture The Hustler (1961), executing fancy shots and advising the actors on the game.

In 1957 Mosconi was forced to resign from the game after suffering a stroke. He rapidly regained his strength and skill, however, and returned to compete and win regularly. He served as a consultant for the Brunswick Corporation, a manufacturer of sports equipment, and appeared in many demonstration games on television. Mosconi wrote Winning Pocket Billiards (1965) and an autobiography, Willie’s Game (1993).