Willie Mosconi

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Willie Mosconi (1913–1993) was a professional pool player. Born and raised in Philadelphia, he won the World Straight Pool Championship an unmatched fifteen times between 1941 and 1957, and in 1954 ran 526 consecutive balls without missing, a world record that still stands. Nicknamed “Mr. Pocket Billiards,” Mosconi appeared on several television shows, including I’ve Got a Secret and What’s My Line?, and was an advisor for the 1961 film The Hustler starring Paul Newman. He has been inducted into the Billiard Congress of America Hall of Fame and the Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame. In 1994, the Mosconi Cup international pool tournament was founded in his honor.