Ralph Greenleaf
Mr. Billiard in the year of 1920, defended his crown three times by three different opponents and battered down all opposition and emerged the Champ of Champions. Custodian of The Pocket Billiard Crown.
Professional Billiards had an off year in 1920, for different reasons. Some of the best billiard minds stated that Mr. Billiard could make so much more money by touring all the large city and states, playing exhibitions with the best they could match against him.
Another group of Billiard Experts claimed that he had grown up and his magic with the cue was so soft and his light touch gave him a control over the cue ball and his position was a marvel of cue greatness. At this particular time, or era, the Cue Star’s most super execution was Huston Allen DeOrro, Remember, the later, was a title holder – Pocket Billiards – 12 years seven times–Three Cushion, 19 Times 12 and 7. The all time south paw was the legend of the times. He showed that magic of his and the handsome Illinoian and the competition back off and crossover to the three cushion competition. I know one star, all my life, and he told me many times that he would play against any and all players except Mr. Billiard.
I asked him why he would not play against Mr. Billiard, and his reply to me was “He is not human, we all miss, but he never misses.” He practically hand cuffs his opponents name plate on the wall. There is always talk in the audience and he loved to needle or out-nerve his opponents, and was at his best when a mistake would loose the game, when each player would need a few balls. For him to do the wrong thing at this time, the margin of error was ZERO….
In the fall of 1920, on October 15th, a lamb from New England, came down to New York City to the New Strand Billiard Academy. The owner was Charlie Klein. The address of the academy was the Strand Theatre Bldg. A sign appeared there….“THE LEGEND THE MAGIC STROKE AND MASTER WITH THAT WHITE BALL WILL PLAY POCKET BILLIARDS.”
Arrangements had been made and completed for Ralph Greenleaf, Champion, to play a week long series of exhibition matches beginning, Sunday continuing through the following Sunday. This is Greenleaf’s first public appearance in this city, this year, on Sunday, Monday, and Wednesday, continuing through the following evening, the champion will play 1000 points match against Everett Ingraham, The Champion of New England. They play Block of 125–5 x 10 table Old Style Balls Afternoon and Evening. Results…Mr. Billiard left him in New York city and on January 10 left on an 18 week tour with Mr. Hoppe and R. Cammefax, C. Peterson, McCourt and Jerome Keogh.
He was called upon to defend his crown three times and each time was successful, defeating Franklin, 125 to 31; Woods, 125 to 53, and Maturo 125 to 43. These games were played in Chicago.
