Deadball Era Player Other Talents?

[Runscott]

Originally Posted by Chris Counts

Johnny Kling was a world champion billiards champion, while another T206-era catcher, Boss Schmidt, wrestled bears ...

He was accomplished, but I don't think he won any championships playing pool.

[cdn_collector]

Originally Posted by Runscott

He was accomplished, but I don't think he won any championships playing pool.

Am reading a Kling bio right now. I know nothing of the sport of billiards in terms of how titles are won (let alone how the sport was structured 100 years ago), but there are mentions of him having been a world champion. I don't have the book at my side right now, but next time I do I'll try to find a couple of specific references.

Regards,

Richard.

[Bocabirdman]

Originally Posted by Runscott

He was accomplished, but I don't think he won any championships playing pool.

Johnny Kling was indeed the 1909 Continuous Pool Champion defeating Cowboy Charles Weston 800-789 over 4 nights of 200 balls a night. Weston was the defending Champion, Kling the challenger. The Total Purse was $500 plus 75% of the gate. Kling crushed Weston the first night, 202 to 155 and basically limped home from there. He lost the second night 198 to 234, won the third night night 202 to 191 and lost the final night 198 to 209. Johnny had the home crowd advantage as the match took place at the Kling's Academy (Johnny's Billiard Hall) on Walnut Street in Kansas City, MO.

He only held the Title for 5 weeks, losing it the very next month to Thomas A. Hueston, 653 to 800. He did not win a single 200 ball night.

[brianp-beme]

Mike, great info on Kling, and one more tidbit...unless I am mistaken, the player that Kling beat, Charles Weston, is pictured in the T218 set as a billiards player.

Brian

[tedzan]

Shaughnessy graduated Notre Dame and played BB and FB. His Major League career was very brief with Washington and the A's.
He went on to be GM of the Montreal Royals; and, then Frank became President of the International League (1936-1960).

He was inducted into three Canadian HOF's (Football, Baseball, and McGill University Sports)

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TED Z
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LOOKING for this T206 guy to complete my EXCLUSIVE 12 red HINDU sub-set (12 subjects)

SHECKARD (glove)

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[Runscott]

Originally Posted by Bocabirdman

Johnny Kling was indeed the 1909 Continuous Pool Champion defeating Cowboy Charles Weston 800-789 over 4 nights of 200 balls a night. Weston was the defending Champion, Kling the challenger. The Total Purse was $500 plus 75% of the gate. Kling crushed Weston the first night, 202 to 155 and basically limped home from there. He lost the second night 198 to 234, won the third night night 202 to 191 and lost the final night 198 to 209. Johnny had the home crowd advantage as the match took place at the Kling's Academy (Johnny's Billiard Hall) on Walnut Street in Kansas City, MO.

He only held the Title for 5 weeks, losing it the very next month to Thomas A. Hueston, 653 to 800. He did not win a single 200 ball night.

Weston was indeed a great pool player, so that was definitely something to put on the resume; however, it's tough to know all the circumstances surrounding the event. Even today, average players beat really great players for various reasons that you may be able to guess. It can be tough when you are choosing who to back (with real dollars), even when you know who SHOULD win.

[Bocabirdman]

Originally Posted by Runscott

Weston was indeed a great pool player, so that was definitely something to put on the resume; however, it's tough to know all the circumstances surrounding the event. Even today, average players beat really great players for various reasons that you may be able to guess. It can be tough when you are choosing who to back (with real dollars), even when you know who SHOULD win.

I found that data on a website for the Chicago Billiards Museum. I scrolled 20 years of results. Johnny was in there a few times as a semi-finalist or a loser in the finals, but that win was his only one. I would wager that Baseball got in the way. It doesn't take much off-time to lose just enough off your game to lose a match that you should have won...