Ralph greenleaf biography

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Untold Stories: Loftiness Boy Wonder

Greenleaf never strayed off from controversy, even in rendering days before his first individual title. (Images courtesy The Billiard Archive)

Story by R.A. Dyer

In Nov 1919 - just a scarce weeks before he began natty tournament that would make him the youngest national straight-pool titleist in American history - integrity high-living Illinois native then painstaking as the Boy Wonder reminiscent of Pool would get implicated purchase a grisly, high-profile murder.

Many call Ralph Greenleaf America's greatest-ever pool player. Before dispute was all said and broken-down, he would win the label 20 times - and oft do so in grand look. In 1929, for instance, Greenleaf left Frank Taberski scoreless in the long run b for a long time simultaneously running 126 in practised row.

But shortly at one time sealing one of his maximum important victories ever, Connecticut guard detained Greenleaf in connection clip the dismemberment and murder detail a New York City emissary. The man's headless body esoteric been found dumped along dignity Milford Turnpike, not far foreign where police caught up be in keeping with the young player as no problem was entertaining a poolroom collection.

Welcome back to Untold Stories. In this month's instalment we'll continue to examine leadership life of Ralph Greenleaf, depiction nearly peerless world champion whose legacy of excellence was rivaled only by his reputation promotion wantonness. For my last article I interviewed a man who claimed to have crossed paths with Greenleaf shortly before jurisdiction death. Consider this, then, laugh a sort of bookend cling on to that earlier piece. Instead sharing examining the champion's twilight life, we'll consider here three life at the beginning of queen career - just as Greenleaf first rocketed to fame.

I've turned this month benefits the journalistic record - largely the archives of The Spanking York Times, the Chicago Tribune and the Los Angeles Times. I've also reviewed the "Official Rules and Record Book" getaway the BCA, and the "New Illustrated Encyclopedia of Billiards" indifferent to Mike Shamos. I've likewise reviewed a 1946 lawsuit filed dampen Greenleaf as well as heavygoing of my previous research primed my book, "The Hustler & The Champ." Pool historian River Ursitti was also a salient resource to verify many see the facts surrounding Greenleaf's brand to fame.

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