Willie Hoppe
Encyclopedia
William Frederick Hoppe (October 11, 1887 – February 1, 1959), known predominantly as Willie Hoppe (surname rhymes with "poppy"), was an internationally renowned American
professional carom billiards champion, who was posthumously inducted into the Billiard Congress of America Hall of Fame
in 1966
.
on October 11, 1887. He won 51 world titles between 1906 and 1952, in three forms of carom billiards: three-cushion, (four sub-disciplines of) balkline
and cushion caroms
. He died on February 1, 1959 in Miami, Florida
.
, 622 points in 18.2 balkline
, and a run of 25 points in three-cushion
. He once made a tournament average of 1.333, a world record (at that time, but since broken).
Hoppe published his first book, Thirty Years of Billiards, in 1925, and followed this up many years later with the introductory work, Billiards As It Should Be Played, in 1941. Hoppe's peculiar style of stroke was a result of his career as a child prodigy. He barely reached the table and had to stand on a box. In Billiards As It Should Be Played Hoppe emphatically advised players not to use his way of directing the cue.
After winning the world title in 1952, Hoppe retired from title play and became a goodwill ambassador
for the sport by conducting a series of exhibition matches. Hoppe was the only pocket billiards player to ever put on an exhibition in the White House. He performed before President Wiliam Taft in 1911.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional carom billiards champion, who was posthumously inducted into the Billiard Congress of America Hall of Fame
Billiard Congress of America Hall of Fame
This is the list of people inducted into the Billiard Congress of America's hall of fame. Many of these were inducted based on their excellence as world-class players , while others were inducted for their contributions to the game or the billiards industry .The year of induction is listed after...
in 1966
1966 in sports
1966 in sports describes the year's events in world sport.-Alpine skiing:* FIS Alpine World Ski Championships –** Men's combined champion: Jean-Claude Killy, France** Women's combined champion: Marielle Goitschel, France-American football:...
.
Biography
Hoppe was born in Cornwall on Hudson, New YorkCornwall on Hudson, New York
Cornwall-on-Hudson is a riverfront village in Orange County, New York. The estimated population in 2007 was 3,066. The village was founded in 1609 by famed explorer Henry Hudson...
on October 11, 1887. He won 51 world titles between 1906 and 1952, in three forms of carom billiards: three-cushion, (four sub-disciplines of) balkline
Balkline and straight rail
Balkline is the overarching title of a large array of carom billiards games generally played with two and a third, red , on a -covered, 5 foot × 10 foot, less table that is divided by on the cloth into marked regions called...
and cushion caroms
Cushion caroms
Cushion caroms sometimes called by its original name, the indirect game, is a carom billiards discipline generally played on a cloth-covered, 5 foot × 10 foot, pocketless table with two cue balls and a third red-colored ball...
. He died on February 1, 1959 in Miami, Florida
Miami, Florida
Miami is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, the most populous county in Florida and the eighth-most populous county in the United States with a population of 2,500,625...
.
Professional career
Hoppe won 51 world titles between 1906 and 1952. He was also known for various long-standing high , including scoring 2,000 contiguous points in straight railBalkline and straight rail
Balkline is the overarching title of a large array of carom billiards games generally played with two and a third, red , on a -covered, 5 foot × 10 foot, less table that is divided by on the cloth into marked regions called...
, 622 points in 18.2 balkline
Balkline and straight rail
Balkline is the overarching title of a large array of carom billiards games generally played with two and a third, red , on a -covered, 5 foot × 10 foot, less table that is divided by on the cloth into marked regions called...
, and a run of 25 points in three-cushion
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...
. He once made a tournament average of 1.333, a world record (at that time, but since broken).
Hoppe published his first book, Thirty Years of Billiards, in 1925, and followed this up many years later with the introductory work, Billiards As It Should Be Played, in 1941. Hoppe's peculiar style of stroke was a result of his career as a child prodigy. He barely reached the table and had to stand on a box. In Billiards As It Should Be Played Hoppe emphatically advised players not to use his way of directing the cue.
After winning the world title in 1952, Hoppe retired from title play and became a goodwill ambassador
Goodwill Ambassador
Goodwill Ambassador is a collective term sometimes used as a substitute honorific title or a title of honor for an Ambassador of Goodwill; but, most appropriately for a generic recognition, it is a job position or description that is usually indicated following the name of the individual recognized...
for the sport by conducting a series of exhibition matches. Hoppe was the only pocket billiards player to ever put on an exhibition in the White House. He performed before President Wiliam Taft in 1911.
Titles and tournament wins
- World 18.1 Balkline Champion (1906, 1908-1911, 1914-1927)
- World 18.2 Balkline Champion (1907, 1910-1920, 1923, 1924, 1927)
- World three-cushion Champion (1936, 1940-1943, 1947-1952)