Ralph Greenleaf

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Ralph Greenleaf (3 November 1899 in Monmouth, Illinois - 15 March 1950) was a twenty time World Pocket Billiard Champion. The World Pocket Billiard Championships of his era were contested in the game of 14.1 continuous (straight pool) but varied in format from contest to contest and were not a yearly event. Championships were challenge style matches between two players often played over several days to relatively high numbers (1500 points for example).

He was one of the first three members inducted into the Billiard Congress of America Hall of Fame in 1966.

Greenleaf married Amelia Ruth Parker a vaudeville actress known as "Princess Nai Tai Tai" or "the Oriental Nightingale."

He died suddenly at the age of 50 from a heart attack likely caused by years of excessive alcohol consumption.

[edit] World Pocket Billiards Championship Titles

1919 Dec vs Bennie Allen

1920 Nov vs Arthur Woods

1921 Oct vs Arthur Woods

1921 Dec vs Arthur Woods

1922 Feb vs Thomas Hueston

1922 May vs Walter Franklin

1922 Oct vs Bennie Allen

1922 Dec vs Arthur Church

1923 Jan vs Thomas Hueston

1924 Apr vs Bennie Allen

1926 Nov vs Erwin Rudolph

1928 Mar vs Frank Taberski

1928 May vs Andrew St. Jean

1929 Dec vs Erwin Rudolph

1931 Dec vs George Kelly

1932 Dec vs Jimmy Caras

1933 May vs Andrew Ponzi

1937 Apr vs Andrew Ponzi

1937 Nov vs Irving Crane

1937 Dec vs Irving Crane