Omaha daily bee., 1909-05-16
CUE PROGRESS OF AMATEURS
Big Strides Since Their First Billiard
Tourney,
HAVE FURNISHED SEVERAL PROS
From the Old Straight Ball TO the
1872 BaIk Line Game and Ave-
RACES Keep Pace with the
Harder style.

NEW YORK, May 15.-From a grand
average of 11.@ at the old three ball
straight rail game to a grand average of 20
at the 1872 balk line game is a far cry
in billiards. That, however, is the
amateurs nave done since they have been
playing tournaments for the championship.
1t representa- a period Of twenty-one years.
Many amateurs with the cue have come
and gone in that time, and of those in the
recent championship tournament at the
German Ldederkranz in this city not one
was in the public arena twenty or even
twelve years ago. The professionals make
a much better showing in the length Of
their public life. But billiards is their
business.
The veterans of the last tournament were
Conklin of Chicago and DR.. Mial Of this
city. Conklin has been playing steadily
since 1900. DR.. Mial played in a tourna-
ment that year with Conklin, but he has
not kept 1t up year after year since like
Conklin. Ferdinand Poggenburg, who did
not play in the last tournament, is a vet
| eran campaigner of the cloth and worries,
and his first appearance in a tournament
antedates that of either Conklin or Mial.
Other leading amateurs. Edward Gardner,
Wilson Foss, Martin Mullon, Arthur Town
send and Byron Stark among them still
play the game, but none except Gardner
has been seen in public in some years.
working At 1t Now.
Albert Cutler of Boston, WIZ used to
play in the amateur Journeys, has become
a professional, as has Frank Keeney, who,
however, doesn't play professionally, but
has a billiard room. Al Taylor has turned
professional too; likewise Calvin Demarest.
the young Chicagoan, who as an amateur
was the most skilful cueist ever in the
amateur field. His records show that. He,
however, hasn't made any more improve
ment as a player than Cutler, who. though
not one of the best amateurs. has improved
to such an extent that he is one of the
leading professionals, and the best profess
sional billiards is considerably ahead Of
the best amateur playing.
Step by step the advance made in the
science of gathering caroms by the ANA
teurs can be followed. AS the game has
been made more difficult, so they have
risen to it's requirements. The first anna
teur championship OF America was played
In New York in May, 1887, and was at the
three ball straight rail game. The winner
was Orville eddie, jr., whose best run
was 1Ss, best single average. 1878 and
grand average, HOS. The other players
we're Alexander Morten, DR.. II. d. Jen-
ninEs, who is still an active player; j. K.
Soule, c. 7. Jones and l. r. Flanagan.
The games were of 300 points. In a tour
nament the next year under the same con-
ditions Oddie won again, beating C. Balm
bridge, DIR. Jennings and Morten. His
grand average that time was only 1853.
First at Balk Line.
The first known 14.2 tournament foI
kamateurs'' took place In Slosson's room in
New York In 1893. Byron Stark was first,
DR.. 4. b. Miller second and DR.. A. i.
Ranney third. There had, however, been
a match at l4.2 previous to that in which
Oddie won with an average of 40 for 400
points. The field had broadened out by
1898. in which year Maurice DAILY promotes
a handicap 1A2 tournament. There were
seven competitors-TOwnsend, Stark, who
won; E. Gardner. Keeney, Miller. Ranney
and ~Poggenburg, Townsend made the best
single average, $50; the best grand average,
6.S7, and the best run. 81. Those averages
wouldn't amount TO much in the latter day
tournaments.
Before the National Association of Anna
teur Billiard Players assumed complete
control OF tournaments the Amateur Attn
letic union had a say. and in 1895 the first
Amateur Athletic union class B tournament
at 142 was held. There was a genera
though slight Improvement in the quality
OF the play. Byron Stark, who won, made
a grand average of ia and a best single
average of 1884. Those who battled against
him for the prize were Al Taylor, ]. De-
Nun, Smith, ~Poggenburg. Miller. Hevner
and Hendrick. The best run was n, put
together by Taylor.
In the Amateur Athletic union class A
ranks were Martin Mullen. Wilson Foss
and Wsyman McCreery. They were rated
In a class by themselves. In 1898 they
played the first class A tournament. fin
ishing as named. Averages were not In &C.
cord with the finish. McCreery, who fin.
ished third, made the best run. 1888; the
hest single average, 1879. and the besI
grand average, SIS Foss' figures were
1S, lfS. sH. Mullen's were %. 1925 $50
National Association Record.
The National Association OF Amateur
Billiard Players first tournament was hel.