Willie Hoppe Early Photo

[aelefson]

Hi-

I purchased this cabinet photo scanned below at the Hartford Papermania show this past weekend. On the back, the following is written "Willie Hoppe wonderful 13 year old billiards...? who promised to become the champion...?" (I cannot read some of the writing).

Is this a picture of Willie Hoppe at age 13? The mount is from a Chicago photographer. He grew up in NY but according to Wikipedia did start touring at a young age. If needed, I can provide a higher resolution scan. I tried searching online but only found images of Hoppe beginning in the 1910s. This photo would be circa 1900. Does anyone know if Hoppe toured Chicago at that age? Does anyone have any pictures of Hoppe pre 1910? Do you think this is him?

I really appreciate any help with this, and I am very thankful for all of the help you folks have provided to me and others in the past.

Thanks,
Alan

[bgar3]

There is what seems to be a German language web site that comes up when you hit the image of Hoppe's book Thirty Years of Billiards, on the google images, that shows a photo of Hoppe at 11 years old. Seems to be very similar,but I am not great on photo ids. The photo may actually be from the book.

[Duluth Eskimo]

Hoppe is considered to be one of if not the greatest billiard player of all time. He was a tremendous player at a very young age. This is a quote from a billiard forum I found. I wouldn't consider myself an expert, but I have a Hoppe signed photo and other items in my collection amongst other billiards guys.

"At the young age of five, Willie Hoppe started learning how to play billiards. He played on the pool table in the hotel that his father owned and operated. Because he was so short, he would stand on a box in order to reach the table. By the age of nine, he became known as the "Boy Wonder" and by age fourteen, he was playing billiards professionally with men three times his age."

[Duluth Eskimo]

Here's a photo I found as well as a young man

[aelefson]

Thanks guys! I really appreciate the help.

Alan

[1880nonsports]

I looked through my only two billiard related books - but want to say I'm jealous of your visit to the paper show. Some good memories and good finds. There was even the day the fire department came in and said there were too many people!!!! Imagine that.........