Another of Fats, in Indianapolis

Another of Fats, in Indiapolis
Originally uploaded by jakedyer.

Kenneth O'Keeffe sent in this photo of Fats at an 1974 Indianapolis bank pool tournament.

Credit: Susan Kunz and Kenneth O'Keeffe.

Childhood home of Minnesota Fats

9-5-2005-13
Originally uploaded by jakedyer.

This is the apartment building where I believe Minnesota Fats grew up. I found in during a trip to New York City during the summer of 2005. I knocked but nobody was home.

The childhood home of Minnesota Fats

9-5-2005-14
Originally uploaded by jakedyer.

This is his home, in Washington Heights, New York. I came across it during the summer of 2005.

Gary Carlson sends in this great story about Fats.

I was about 22 or 23 at the time (1964? 1965?) living in Decatur, IL. My friend, Bob Arthur mentioned there was a pool tournament in a town outside of Carbondale. So we got into his '58 Chevy Impala and away we went. I think we paid maybe $5 (???) to get in and then there was another charge to watch the action in the back room. I recall "Daddy Warbucks" playing someone else a handicap game. Warbucks used his hat as a bridge while the other fellow used a toilet brush from the restroom. They played $100 a game.

In 1966 I attended graduate school at Southern Illinois University and went to Johnston City once or twice for the tournament. I also played in a rock band which was hired for one weekend at the Jansco's place.

My major was chemistry and I would work sometimes until 1-2am in the lab. Afterwards, I would frequently go to a small pool hall with 3 or 4 tables and good hamburgers. I was usually the only one there. I didn't really know much about the game or it's characters. One night a fat guy at the counter asked if I wanted to play a game since we were the only customers. He'd been laughing with the counter man and already knew I was very much an amateur. I said OK and he asked if I played for money. I said I guessed a buck would be OK. He said "A whole buck?" I said "If that's too much, how about 50 cents?" He laughed and said he'd try to fit it into his budget. He beat me pretty badly for 2 games and I quit a buck down. He bought me a hamburger and left. Later, the counter man told me it was Minnesota Fats and he lived nearby in Dowell, Illinois. It wasn't until some years later that I appreciated who he was.

Minnesota Fats In Indianapolis

Minnesota Fats In Indianapolis
Originally uploaded by jakedyer.

Kenneth O'Keeffe, who sent in this excellent photo of Minnesota Fats, writes: "These were taken in 1974 in Indianapolis, Indiana at a bank pool tournament. Fats is playing a man from Cincinnati named Anderson, whom I believe won.

Credit: Susan Kunz and Kenneth O'Keeffe.

Minnesota Fats with friend

Minnesota Fats with friend
Originally uploaded by jakedyer.

This is a photo of Fats with a friend, John Ogolini I believe, taken probably in Fats' home in DuQuoin.

Minnesota Fats

MinnesotaFats
Originally uploaded by jakedyer.

This is a photo of Ross Parker Simon's dad, left, and the famous Rudolf Wanderone Jr., AKA Minnesota Fats.

Pool exhibition program

Pool exhibition program
Originally uploaded by jakedyer.

Here's a photo from Dale R. LeMieux of a flyer for an exhibition he saw with Minnesota Fats at the Pontiac Silverdome, then home of the Detroit Lions. The event was in the 1970s. Note: the top and side of the paper has Fats' autograph.

Dale writes: "The event was called The Billiard Bash and it was a benefit of the TRI-COUNTY EASTER SEAL SOCIETIES. This event featured Minnesota Fats as the one to beat. For a contribution of fifty dollars you were able to play him. I took my father there just to see Minnesota Fats ... (and) we were sitting in the audience watching, (and) I told my father that I was going to go down and talk to Fats. My father encouraged me to do so and said I probably would never get another chance.

As he was still standing there alone I went up to him and asked him about the movie THE HUSTLER. (Fats) talked to anyone who would listen. He talked for a while just like he had known me forever and I really enjoyed it because I had always really liked him (one of the few that liked him more than I liked Mosconi). Then as play of another person started he continued to talk to me as the person broke the balls and ran some balls in their game of eightball.

Now it was Fats turn to shoot and when he got to the eightball a heckler starts in on Fats telling him he was no good at playing pool and that anyone can beat him. Fats says to the man "I'll tell you what I'll dooo. I'll bet you a thousand dollars that I will bank the eight three in the side." The man said no more and was from then on quiet. Fats then with no hesitation banked the eight three rails into the side pocket. I think he said: "I['ll just send old Elsie home anyway" and then he shot it in."

After the exhibition we were still sitting in our seats when Fats and a few big guys he had around him came back in the room and ... as he was walking by he reached down and tapped me on the shoulder and said to me: "I will see you later Dale." That was the last time I saw Rudolph Wanderone in person.

Personal note... I have always disliked the way people (pool players) at least in this area after Fats got older and sicker tell of how they beat him. It also happened in this area with a great player I knew Cornbread Red ( Billy Burge). Now that he is gone it seems that everyone beat him. I know that I never beat him and he was one of the greats, He was colorful and liked to talk as well. I for one will miss both players.

The voice of Evelyn Wanderone, first wife of Minnesota Fats

This is an audio clip of a small portion of an interview with Evelyn Wanderone, Fats' first wife. This is probably the last recorded interview with Evelyn Wanderone before she passed away. It was conducted in a DuQuoin nursing home, around 1999.

Pool exhibition program

Pool exhibition program
Originally uploaded by jakedyer.

Here's a photo from Dale R. LeMieux of a flyer for an exhibition he saw with Minnesota Fats at the Pontiac Silverdome, then home of the Detroit Lions. The event was in the 1970s. Note: the top and side of the paper has Fats' autograph.

Dale writes: "The event was called The Billiard Bash and it was a benefit of the TRI-COUNTY EASTER SEAL SOCIETIES. This event featured Minnesota Fats as the one to beat. For a contribution of fifty dollars you were able to play him. I took my father there just to see Minnesota Fats ... (and) we were sitting in the audience watching, (and) I told my father that I was going to go down and talk to Fats. My father encouraged me to do so and said I probably would never get another chance.

As he was still standing there alone I went up to him and asked him about the movie THE HUSTLER. (Fats) talked to anyone who would listen. He talked for a while just like he had known me forever and I really enjoyed it because I had always really liked him (one of the few that liked him more than Mosconi). Then as another person started he continued to talk to me as the person ran some balls in their game of eightball.

Now it was Fats turn to shoot and when he got to the eightball a heckler starts in on Fats telling him he was no good at playing pool and that anyone can beat him. Fats says to the man "I'll tell you what I'll dooo. I'll bet you a thousand dollars that I will bank the eight three in the side." The man said no more. With no hesitation Fats banked the eight three rails into the side pocket. I think he said: "I'll just send old Elsie home anyway" and then he shot it in.

After the exhibition we were still sitting in our seats when Fats and a few big guys he had around him came back (to where we were) and ... as he was walking by he reached down and tapped me on the shoulder and said to me: "I will see you later Dale." That was the last time I saw Rudolph Wanderone in person.

Personal note... I have always disliked the way people (pool players) at least in this area after Fats got older and sicker tell of how they beat him. It also happened in this area with a great player I knew Cornbread Red ( Billy Burge). Now that he is gone it seems that everyone beat him. I know that I never beat him and he was one of the greats, He was colorful and liked to talk as well. I for one will miss both players."