Mosconi age 7 w/Greenleaf 1919 exhibition 12x16 poster Start Price USD 14.75 Current Price USD 14.75 Time Left - Bid Count 0 Buy It Now Price - Reserve Price - Start Time Thursday, December 04, 2008 End Time Saturday, December 20, 2008 Location Kent, WA See more about 'Mosconi age 7 w/Greenleaf 1919 exhibition 12x16 poster' Description dxmitc2 Store Child Prodigy Willie Mosconi, age 7, in the Famous Exhibition Match against Ralph Greenleaf, 1919 Premium large 12x16 photo poster This beautiful large 12"x16" reproduction photo poster features the 7-year-old prodigy Willie Mosconi playing pool against the defending World Pocket Billiards Champion Ralph Greenleaf in Philadelphia in 1919. This famous exhibition match was arranged by Willie's father Joseph Mosconi, a former prizefighting boxer. Joseph had realized his son's gifted ability at billiards and decided to use it as a way to help the family financially. He began advertising challenge matches at the poolhall he owned underneath their home in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Young 6-year-old Willie had to stand on a wooden box to reach the table, but he very often defeated the experienced players who lined up to play him. In 1919, their most famous exhibition match was arranged between Willie and the new World Pocket Billiards Champion, 19-year-old Ralph Greenleaf (born in November 1899 in Monmouth, Illinois). Greenleaf had just won his first of many World Championship titles. The poolhall was packed, and though Ralph won the match, Willie played well enough to draw considerable attention and lay the foundation for a long outstanding career in professional billiards. This "photo poster" is nice and big--12 inches tall by 16 inches wide--essentially the size of two sheets of printer paper side-by-side. This high quality poster was professionally printed on very thick 100lb. premium card stock, similar to the thickness of standard photograph paper. This great poster comes to you carefully rolled in clear plastic tubing, then wrapped in bubble-wrap, and shipped in a thick round secure cardboard mailer tube. WILLIAM JOSEPH MOSCONI (1913-1993) is highly regarded as one of the best billiards players of all time. Known as "Mr. Pocket Billiards", Willie Mosconi had a near-stranglehold on the World Title from 1940 to 1957, winning it 15 times in that 17-year period. One of the most astounding of Mosconi's many records is his yet-unbroken exhibition high run of 526 balls. RALPH GREENLEAF (1899-1950) started to play billiards in Monmouth, Illinois when he was seven, became city champion at twelve, and finished fourth in his first world's championship four years later. Generally ranked second to Willie Mosconi among the all-time great pocket billiards players, Greenleaf won the world professional title 6 times and defended it 13 times. He held the championship from 1919 through 1924 and also won it in 1926, '28, '29, '31, '32, and '37. He set records in 1929 for high single-game average (63), and high grand average (11.02), on a 5x10-foot table. A talented trick-shot artist and colorful showman, Ralph Greenleaf continued to attract spectators to exhibition matches until his death in 1950. Check out my other items and save with a combined shipping discount! • • • • • • • • • • • • • USA shipping and handling via First Class mailing tube is $3.20 for this poster • OR you can choose Priority Mail box shipping for $5.95 for up to one pound--you can add a combination of up to 10 more posters and photos under this price. Insurance is optional • I always try my best to combine items for discounted shipping for multiple purchases within the same 3 day period, as long as you pay for them all together at the same time. • International shipping is calculated based on destination. Payment by PAYPAL must be received within 10 days after listing ends • I have had great success with my shipments arriving quickly and safely; I am NOT responsible for lost packages that do not include insurance • If there is a problem with your item, please email me prior to leaving any feedback and I will do my best to resolve the situation • If you are not satisfied with your purchase, returns or exchanges are accepted with prior email authorization. In a few circumstances, shipping fees might not be refunded • I reserve the right to cancel unwanted orders for any reason and/or close this listing early • Please do not bid if you do not intend to pay and abide by my terms • Thank you, good luck and happy bidding! Place a Bid!