Herb Hardt
Encyclopedia
Herbert Hardt was an American semi-professional carom billiards player from Chicago, Illinois. A bank clerk by day, Hardt took second place at the 1952 United States Eastern Regional Three-cushion Billiards
Championship, thereby qualifying to play as one of ten contestants worldwide in the U.S.-hosted World Three-cushion Billiards Championship of the same year. Hardt came in dead last at the world championship, though he was competing against the best players in the world.
.
In 1951 Herbt competed in the United States national billiards championship (three-cushion billiards
) held in Chicago. On the first day of the tournament, February 16, 1951, Hardt beat Harold Worst 50-45 in 43 innings.
In February 1952 he was reported to be one of an eleven-man field playing in the Chicago sectional billiards tournament (three-cushion), and to have a 3–0 record at that time. The two winners of the tournament would graduate to the eastern regional championship, to be held in Buffalo, New York
, in turn competing for a spot in the 1952 world tournament to be held in San Francisco, California
where they would face defending champion, Willie Hoppe
. Hardt made it to the Buffalo regional and won his first three matches in the round robin tournament, with only two more players in his path, including Irving Crane
, six-time world champion at straight pool
. Although Hardt thereafter lost twice to Crane—first to even the standings of the men, three wins to one loss each, and a second time in 50 to 35 in 71 innings—he sewed up second place for a spot in the world tournament.
The ten champions slated to play in the round robin format tourney to begin on March 6, 1952, were Hardt, Masako Katsura
(first woman to ever play for any world billiard crown), Kinrey Matsuyama
, favorite and defending champion Willie Hoppe, Mexican champion Joe Chamaco, New York's Art Rubin, Los Angeles' Joe Procita, Ray Kilgore of San Francisco, Jay Bozeman, of Vallejo
and Binghamton's
Irving Crane.
The championship between the invitees was to take place at Welker Cochran
's 924 Club, with 45 total games to be played (each player to play every other once) over the 17 day tournament ending on March 22, 1952. Hardt came in dead last, winning only one game against Art Rubin with a final score of 50 to 35 in 49 innings.
Three-cushion billiards
Three-cushion billiards is a form of carom billiards, and one of the most popular and challenging cue sports in the world.The object of the game is to the off both and contact the at least 3...
Championship, thereby qualifying to play as one of ten contestants worldwide in the U.S.-hosted World Three-cushion Billiards Championship of the same year. Hardt came in dead last at the world championship, though he was competing against the best players in the world.
Early career
On February 18, 1932 it was reported that the prior night former national amateur champion, A. J. Harris had beaten Hardt 50 to 49 at three-cushion in Madison, WisconsinMadison, Wisconsin
Madison is the capital of the U.S. state of Wisconsin and the county seat of Dane County. It is also home to the University of Wisconsin–Madison....
.
In 1951 Herbt competed in the United States national billiards championship (three-cushion billiards
Three-cushion billiards
Three-cushion billiards is a form of carom billiards, and one of the most popular and challenging cue sports in the world.The object of the game is to the off both and contact the at least 3...
) held in Chicago. On the first day of the tournament, February 16, 1951, Hardt beat Harold Worst 50-45 in 43 innings.
In February 1952 he was reported to be one of an eleven-man field playing in the Chicago sectional billiards tournament (three-cushion), and to have a 3–0 record at that time. The two winners of the tournament would graduate to the eastern regional championship, to be held in Buffalo, New York
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
, in turn competing for a spot in the 1952 world tournament to be held in San Francisco, California
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
where they would face defending champion, Willie Hoppe
Willie Hoppe
William Frederick Hoppe , known predominantly as Willie Hoppe , was an internationally renowned American professional carom billiards champion, who was posthumously inducted into the Billiard Congress of America Hall of Fame in 1966.-Biography:Hoppe was born in Cornwall on Hudson, New York on...
. Hardt made it to the Buffalo regional and won his first three matches in the round robin tournament, with only two more players in his path, including Irving Crane
Irving Crane
Irving Crane , nicknamed "the Deacon", was an American pool player from Livonia , New York, and ranks among the stellar players in the history of the sport...
, six-time world champion at straight pool
Straight Pool
Straight pool, also called 14.1 continuous or simply 14.1, is a pocket billiards game, and was the common sport of championship competition until overtaken by faster-playing games like nine-ball...
. Although Hardt thereafter lost twice to Crane—first to even the standings of the men, three wins to one loss each, and a second time in 50 to 35 in 71 innings—he sewed up second place for a spot in the world tournament.
1952 World Three-cushion Billiards Championship
The 1952 World Three-Cushion Billiards tournament was reported to have "The greatest billiard field since before World War II". First place earned a $2,000 purse, plus thousands in exhibition fees. Following behind to eight places were prizes of $1,000, $700, $500, $350, $300, $250 and $250 respectively.The ten champions slated to play in the round robin format tourney to begin on March 6, 1952, were Hardt, Masako Katsura
Masako Katsura
, nicknamed "Katsy" and sometimes called the "First Lady of Billiards", was a Japanese carom billiards player who was most active in the 1950s. Katsura trailblazed a path for women in the sport by competing and placing among the best in the male-dominated world of professional billiards...
(first woman to ever play for any world billiard crown), Kinrey Matsuyama
Kinrey Matsuyama
was a Japanese billiards player. A Time article from 1952 referred to Matsuyama as a Japanese Willie Hoppe. By 1952 Matsuyama's last visit to the United States was in 1936. Matsuyama coached Masako Katsura. Matsuyama died on December 20, 1953 from a heart ailment. Matsuyama had had plans to move to...
, favorite and defending champion Willie Hoppe, Mexican champion Joe Chamaco, New York's Art Rubin, Los Angeles' Joe Procita, Ray Kilgore of San Francisco, Jay Bozeman, of Vallejo
Vallejo, California
Vallejo is the largest city in Solano County, California, United States. The population was 115,942 at the 2010 census. It is located in the San Francisco Bay Area on the northeastern shore of San Pablo Bay...
and Binghamton's
Binghamton, New York
Binghamton is a city in the Southern Tier of New York in the United States. It is near the Pennsylvania border, in a bowl-shaped valley at the confluence of the Susquehanna and Chenango Rivers...
Irving Crane.
The championship between the invitees was to take place at Welker Cochran
Welker Cochran
Welker Cochran was an American professional carom billiards player who won world titles in two different disciplines, balkline and three-cushion billiards.-Biography:He was born in Manson, Iowa...
's 924 Club, with 45 total games to be played (each player to play every other once) over the 17 day tournament ending on March 22, 1952. Hardt came in dead last, winning only one game against Art Rubin with a final score of 50 to 35 in 49 innings.