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This early model Palmer D was acquired by a donation from Sam Engles to the Palmer Collector in December, 2005. It belonged to George Rood, a 91 year-young champion from Marietta, Ohio. George played and beat the best including Willie Mosconi and New York (Minnesota) Fats.

Willie Mosconi

East High Billiards in Springfield is know as the room where Willie Mosconi set the high run record in 1954 of 526 balls. Two years later, Willie returned to East High as as the reigning World Champion to play George Rood in an exhibition match. The first game went to Willie but to the utter astonishment of spectators, George beat Willie in the second. Outraged at the defeat, the temperamental Willie challenged George to a 1500 point match for a $1,000 prize. George accepted the challenge.

What's it like to play Willie Mosconi in straight pool? George lost the lag, broke and Willie ran 150 and out. That's just what it's like. George lost to the greatest straight pool player of all time who was in championship form, 1500 to 780.

The Brunswick Pros

George was the best player in Marietta by age 18 and played the Brunswick touring pros in 125 point straight pool exhibitions at the time. His victories over greats included Erwin Rudolf, Andrew Ponzi, Willie Mosconi, Jimmy Caras, and Arthur "Babe" Cranfield. George was also a gambler and a championship 9 ball player. George never did beat Irving Crane, who he admires greatly.

Action in Norfolk

In 1947 Earl Shriver beat the owner of the Zam-Zam club in Norfolk, Virginia out of a reported $123,000. This attracted the top players to the area including George. He arrived to non-stop action. After beating a couple of locals he beat Johnny Irish for $500, Don Decoy for $1900, and so the word spread.

One of the big guns was John Fitzpatrick, "Rags", who George then played for $100 a game 9 ball. After many hours, Rags lost $2200 and went broke. Finally, Luther Lassiter came to town and George played him $300 a game 9 ball. Lassiter broke and ran the first 5 racks, but George battled back to even before Lassiter's backer pulled up.

The next day, Rags came back for more after a big score. They played $200 a game 9 ball. The action got hot and heavy as George stuck rags for $2,000. The side bets had jumped the action to about $700 a game. Now 9 Ball is not a game you don't want to lose at $700 a pop because you can lose your shirt, your car, and your house without even getting a shot! Rags caught a roll, won13 games in a row, and George and his partner lost the entire $9,200 bankroll they had won in Norfolk. Consider that in 1947 $9,200 would not buy you a house. It would buy you 5 of them. In 1995 dollars that match was for $6,086 a game, or total loss of about $80,000. George was devastated.

"Over the years," George recalled "Rags and I played six or seven times. Other than the second Norfolk session we were about even. But that loss in Norfolk I will never forget. Rags was the best one pocket player, one of the best in 9 ball, and in my opinion the best all around player in the world during that period."

George had many talents in his life, including swimming in the Olympic trials of 1936 and being a nationally known dog handler and show judge. He also owned East High Billiards in Springfield.

The Palmer Collector is looking forward to the publication of the Life and Times of Judge George Rood

story. A special thanks to classic style casemaker Sam Engles for his generous contribution to the Palmer Collector. Excerpts taken from the story "The Life and Times of Judge George Rood" by Todd Recher. The Palmer Collector is pleased to sponsor George at the Derby City Classic in 2006.