The pool hustlers of the 1900s, most particularly during the early to mid 1900s, were men of character. They also helped to make the pool world change to become a serious sport. Now we have championships in which players can make a lot of money. Those who say they play pool as a career are seen as serious individuals just like gambling on poker games can be. Professionals in the world of poker, cards, and pool are to be taken seriously because of men like Joe Sebastian.
A man by the name of Worst encountered a variety of colourful characters like Joe Sebastian and Willie Mosconi. He has even written about his encounters so that we might understand a little about what they were like.
Joe Sebastian was making a name for himself throughout the pool world. He was a known hustler who always wore a black business suit. There were very rare times when he did not win a game. It just depended on who he went up against. When he decided to approach Willie Mosconi for a game most considered it to be a foolish wager.
If the outcome is anything to declare it certainly was. One thing most remember about Sebastian is his overconfidence. When a man full of himself, even a little, plays pool and gambles on the outcome it usually means he is going to lose just as much as he might win.
So, in walks Sebastian into a bar that Willie Mosconi is at and he decides to place a wager that he can win against such a great player. Mosconi of course took the wager. There was no reason not to given his record and the fact that many already knew how great he was. The thing that could have been in Sebastian’s favour would be nine ball. Mosconi played straight pocket billiards. Sebastian also knew the subtleties making up the game of nine ball. Certainly he had the fame in this game over Mosconi. Sebastian also had someone backing him in the game. It was not his money.
Mosconi was given the right to start and for 11 more times Mosconi continued to clean the table pocketing the nine ball on the break as was appropriate. At this time $300 had already gone to Mosconi. Sebastian wanted to continue, but his backer did not.
Sebastian is credited with saying why should he quit when the backer had yet to see what he could do at the table. How this ended was not reported, but it makes it seem as though Sebastian just did not know when to quit. Other than this story about Sebastian, there is very little to find on the player. It seems Mosconi was definitely more of a legend than Joe Sebastian could ever be. After all when a man loses many games and goes up against someone like Willie Mosconi who pioneered modern pool championships, who can really compare? Still, Joe Sebastian is a name that has been remembered even slightly.