Joe Balsis
Encyclopedia
Joseph Balsis (1921, Minersville, Pennsylvania
– 1995), nicknamed "the Meatman", was a professional pool
(especially straight pool
) player, and was inducted into the Billiard Congress of America
's Hall of Fame in 1982.
of his father, John (who was in the meat business). The young Balsis was skilled enough by age 11 to play exhibition matches against professional players including Andrew Ponzi and Erwin Rudolph
. In his teens, he won four consecutive annual junior titles, then left the game and joined the Coast Guard as a boat machinist for several years during pool's temporary decline. In 1944, he took up competition again, winning the Armed Services Champion title.
Jansco Brothers' Stardust Open "All-Around" title.
Minersville, Pennsylvania
Minersville is located in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, four miles west of Pottsville. Anthracite coal deposits are plentiful in the region. In 1900, 4,815 people lived here; in 1910, 7,240, people lived here; and in 1940, 8,686 people lived here...
– 1995), nicknamed "the Meatman", was a professional pool
Pocket billiards
Pool, also more formally known as pocket billiards or pool billiards , is the family of cue sports and games played on a pool table having six receptacles called pockets along the , into which balls are deposited as the main goal of play. Popular versions include eight-ball and nine-ball...
(especially 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...
) player, and was inducted into the Billiard Congress of America
Billiard Congress of America
Billiard Congress of America is a governing body for cue sports in North America , the regional member organization of the World Pool-Billiard Association...
's Hall of Fame in 1982.
Early life
Joe grew up playing in the billiard roomBilliard room
A billiard room is a recreation room, such as in a house or recreation center, with a billiards, pool or snooker table...
of his father, John (who was in the meat business). The young Balsis was skilled enough by age 11 to play exhibition matches against professional players including Andrew Ponzi and Erwin Rudolph
Erwin Rudolph
Erwin Rudolph was an American pocket billiards player from Cleveland, Ohio and a four-time world champion. One of his great feats was running 125 points in 32 minutes .-Biography:...
. In his teens, he won four consecutive annual junior titles, then left the game and joined the Coast Guard as a boat machinist for several years during pool's temporary decline. In 1944, he took up competition again, winning the Armed Services Champion title.
Professional career
In 1964 Balsis began competing professionally, winning the US Open in 1968 and 1965 Billiard Room Proprietors Association Tournament, the 1966 World All-Around Championship, and both the 1968 I personally saw Joe play in a straight pool tournament against "Weeny Beeny" Staton. On the opening break, Staton did not get two balls to a rail. Balsis proceeded to run 150 balls in a row and won, 150 to -2.19691969 in sports
1969 in sports describes the year's events in world sport.-Alpine skiing:* Alpine Skiing World Cup:** Men's overall champion: Karl Schranz, Austria** Women's overall champion: Gertrud Gabl, Austria-American football:...
Jansco Brothers' Stardust Open "All-Around" title.