The Washington times., 1928-10-27

showing q rev IrlckS Of HIS -
Cam, Washington stars, in exi
GreenIeaf has been the world
champion for ten years, barring two
-Iapses when he dropped his title
only to win It back within several
months, and since he first won the
crown he has played an average
OF $50 exhibition matches a year.
According to his own estimate he
has played 4,5O0 exhibitions in 10
years. He has lost THREE.
He doesn't remember the names
of the local stars" who trimmed
him. wherever he has played his
opponent or opponents have been
the best the city could produce.
GreenIeaf. 4 highly intelligent
chap, who has counted 2S summers,
n1arvels himself that he hasn't lost
more often.
YOU'D think that pocket
billiard player. no matter Row
good, occasionally would strike
man who'd catch him off
stroke, or who'd go wild and
make it awfully tough for him.
"WelI, perhaps I've been for.
tunate. In all the several thousand
exhibition matches I've played I've
lost only three. / wish I could re-
member the names OF the chaps
who won. But you know how it IS.
Your here tonight and gone to-
morrow. Names parade in the mem 4
orv ana they get 80 mixed up that
YOU can't say quickly who did this
and who did that. I can still see
the faces OF them, but can't re-
member the names of the players
who beat me and the towns they
were in are all uncertain, too.
with me It's travel. travel, travel
for nine months in the year, and be-
lieye il or not. it's tough job. even
though nv work is play. Sometimes
get sick of playing pocket billiards.
But the reaction is craving 10
grasp a cue.
Greenleaf. when a youth OF ID, won
the world championship in an open
tournament in 1919. There was no
recognized king of pocket billiardists
when the tournament opened, in the
Parkway Building In Philadelphia;
The war naturally had created
chaotic conditions in the racket.
Greenleaf had been coming along
since he was a lad of nine. His daddy
was quite player and there was
Monmouth. III. At the age of ten
Ralph was the leading pocket billiard
star OF his town il not of his state.
His fame spread afar, in fact,
and a match was arranged be-
tween hi..l and Walter Wilson, OF
MarshaIItOWn, Iowa. who also
was a state celebrity. Wilson
won. 200 to 29S. and Ralph Wept
bitterly according to his own
story. But his revenge was COM
nIete. Two months later, in re-
turn contest at MarshaIltown,
Ralph inundated his rival by
winning, 800 to 14O.
The kid became better and better.
He won all sorts of amateur honors
and then launched out as a pro.
washington billiardists remember
Ralph Grenleaf as a prodigy. He APP
reared here at Frank Sherman's
and drew a gallery that packed the
house.
since 1919 Greenleaf has been
shorn of his world title twice. In one
instance he was i'll when the time
came to defend It. In the other he
was beaten in a challenge match by
Erwin Rudolph. This was in 1927.
Both times he regained the crown
in the year he lost it. In open tourna-
ment play he has lost two matches,
but in each instance he won the tour
nament.
Greenleaf hopes to retire
within three years. He Is quite
independent. He looks forward
to a day when he might play
pocket billiards as q pastime.
Transforming is not agreeable.
he is happily married and he
owns chicken farm. 1t COM
prises 1870 acres In Talbot county,
Maryland, with two miles Of
waterfront on Chesapeake Bay.
There are approximately 4,JOO
chickens.
Mrs. Greenleaf is bugs about the
place and I've had some happy |
times there" says Ralph.
II feel retirement coming on
continues the youngish old man"
because it's becoming harder and
harder to keep up the competitive
spirit without which a man can't
very we'll be q champion in any
sport"