Willie Mosconi's High Run: 526 in 1954

Ever wonder about Willie Mosconi's historic high run? The 526 balls pocketed consecutively by Mosconi remains the official record today, more than 50 years later. (There have been a few other players who claimed to have pocketed more, but those records have never been authenticated.)  I've reproduced above the affidavit attesting to Mosconi's record, which was set in 1954. You can find a copy of the affidavit and other Mosconi artifacts online at the Archives Center, at the National Museum of American History. Here's the link.

I've also reproduced a press dispatch describing the feat. According to the article, "the record run, made in an exhibition match in Springfield last night, would be presented to the American Billiards congress for approval. Mosconi ... defeated Earl Bruney of Springfield, an amateur, 200-3 in his 200 point game, then continued on to his record run." There's a chapter devoted to Mosconi, Earl Bruney and the high run in The Hustler & The Champ.

Just below I've also reproduced a historic photo of Willie Mosconi that was sent to me some time earlier by Mike Haines. I had it posted with permission on a old blog, which I'm now closing out.  You can find the photo and several more at a very amazing site devoted to pool photography: www.billporter.smugmug.com.  Other legends depicted in this gallery include "Cowboy" Jimmy Moore, Jack Breit, and Luther Lassiter.