Jacob (Jake) Schaefer, Sr. (1855–1910), nicknamed "the Wizard", was a professional carom billiards player, especially of the straight rail and balkline games, and was posthumously inducted into the Billiard Congress of America Hall of Fame in 1968.[1]
He was born in 1855. He was the father of fellow billiards pro Jacob Schaefer, Jr. (1894-1975).[1]
He became one of the world's top balkline players, to such an extent that some of the more challenging versions of balkline were invented to level (unsuccessfully) the playing field against him. He won matches and titles around the world, including the March 11, 1908 World 18.1 Balkline Championship versus Willie Hoppe, 500 points to 423, even though gravely ill at the time.[1] He died in 1910.
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