tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-46593808046556554472011-11-27T16:08:31.914-08:00This is one of a series of pool history blogs hosted by author R.A. Dyer. Check back regularly for the newest interview excerpts, documents and other archival material related to pocket billiards history. For more information, visit <a href="http://www.poolhistory.com">www.poolhistory.com</a> or the main <a href="http://untoldstoriesbilliardshistory.blogspot.com/">Untold Stories</a> pool history blog.R.A. Dyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18203284748098418423noreply@blogger.comBlogger61100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4659380804655655447.post-67278325761833621112009-08-07T06:40:00.001-07:002009-08-07T06:40:17.604-07:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_O9QfkoahRfc/SnreTwpHfKI/AAAAAAAAAL4/aPJfXVoHGIc/s1600-h/Johnny+Archer.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 275px; height: 182px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_O9QfkoahRfc/SnreTwpHfKI/AAAAAAAAAL4/aPJfXVoHGIc/s400/Johnny+Archer.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366846337021607074" /></a>Who is America's best ever pool player? The poll on the top right of the <a href="http://untoldstoriesbilliardshistory.blogspot.com/">pool history blog</a> lists some all-time favorites, including recent <a href="http://untoldstoriesbilliardshistory.blogspot.com/2009/06/archer-and-fisher-go-to-hall-of-fame.html">Hall of Fame inductee Johnny Archer</a>. I've left Willie Hoppe off the list because he was known as one of the best-ever billiards players, as opposed to one of the best-ever pool players. Neither have I included one of my personal favorites, <a href="http://untoldstoriesbilliardshistory.blogspot.com/2009/07/very-early-efren-reyes.html">Efren "Bata" Reyes</a>. As he's from the Philippines, I figured I'd save him for a future poll of the greatest international players. I've also tried to get a good mix of players from different eras. (Van Boening vs. Greenleaf?!) Vote early. Vote often. I'll leave the poll up for awhile. Also, if you have a write-in candidate, feel free to comment at the bottom of this post. I'll tally up the write-ins later, along with those listed on the ballot.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4659380804655655447-6727832576183362111?l=untoldstoriesragsfitzpatrick.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>R.A. Dyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18203284748098418423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4659380804655655447.post-69768938266285862932009-05-13T05:40:00.000-07:002009-05-13T05:53:47.024-07:00Rags was one of the greatest one-pocket players ever. He was rightfully honored in the <a href="http://www.onepocket.org/2006NewsArchive.html">One-Pocket Hall of Fame </a>in 2006. There's also some information about Rags in the appendix of the <span style="font-weight:bold;">REVISED</span> paperback edition of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Hustler-Days-Minnesota-Lassiter-Americas/dp/1592286461/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/104-0525202-3198352?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1186851305&sr=8-1">Hustler Days</a>.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4659380804655655447-6976893826628586293?l=untoldstoriesragsfitzpatrick.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>R.A. Dyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18203284748098418423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4659380804655655447.post-48951780141199202232007-08-19T20:09:00.000-07:002007-08-19T20:10:32.424-07:00<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/48600084074@N01/2452432/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://photos3.flickr.com/2452432_9993424ef1_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a> <br /> <span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/48600084074@N01/2452432/">John1956</a> <br /> Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/48600084074@N01/">jakedyer</a>. <br>Rags was considered by by some as the greatest one-pocket player that ever lived.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4659380804655655447-4895178014119920223?l=untoldstoriesragsfitzpatrick.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>R.A. Dyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18203284748098418423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4659380804655655447.post-37958011193924122422007-08-19T20:06:00.000-07:002007-08-19T20:08:52.270-07:00<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/48600084074@N01/2453260/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://photos1.flickr.com/2453260_d1f235c747_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a> <br /> <span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/48600084074@N01/2453260/">John &quot;Rags&quot; Fitzpatrick</a> <br /> Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/48600084074@N01/">jakedyer</a>. <br>The always well-dressed Rags lines up a shot.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4659380804655655447-3795801119392412242?l=untoldstoriesragsfitzpatrick.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>R.A. Dyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18203284748098418423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4659380804655655447.post-61662421375486818832007-08-19T20:05:00.000-07:002007-08-19T20:06:36.560-07:00<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/48600084074@N01/2453259/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://photos1.flickr.com/2453259_876cd339f3_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a> <br /> <span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/48600084074@N01/2453259/">John &quot;Rags&quot; Fitzpatrick.</a> <br /> Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/48600084074@N01/">jakedyer</a>. <br>A childhood photo.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4659380804655655447-6166242137548681883?l=untoldstoriesragsfitzpatrick.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>R.A. Dyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18203284748098418423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4659380804655655447.post-6076253867732446102007-08-19T19:54:00.000-07:002007-08-19T20:03:41.968-07:00<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/48600084074@N01/2452433/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://photos3.flickr.com/2452433_1b6ee79acf_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a> <br /> <span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/48600084074@N01/2452433/">PoolTableGroup</a> Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/48600084074@N01/">jakedyer</a>. <br>This picture, provided courtesy the family of Rags Fitzpatrick, shows the Washington D.C. pool great with some of the best players ever.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4659380804655655447-607625386773244610?l=untoldstoriesragsfitzpatrick.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>R.A. Dyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18203284748098418423noreply@blogger.com0