What do you think?
Rate this book
Hustler Days: Minnesota Fats, Wimpy Lassiter, Jersey Red and America's Great Age of Pool
Minnesota Fats was a brilliant pool player, but he was even better at lying about his past. Wimpy Lassiter, the gentleman hustler, started playing at age seven, and for the rest of his life lived for therush of victory and high stakes. Violent and determined, Jersey Red made and lost a fortune at the table.
With a passion for the game evident on every page, R. A. Dyer takes us through the smoky bars and late nights where a win was just as dangerous as a loss. He captures the game’s popularity in the thirties, its dark days in the fifties, and its renaissance and apex in the sixties, fueled by the smashing success of Paul Newman and Jackie Gleason going toe-to-toe in The Hustler. It was an era that culminated in the legendary nationally televised tournaments in Little Egypt, Illinois, where Jersey Red and Wimpy Lassiter went at it for hours. And it was an
era that ended in perhaps the most dramatic scene in all of pool. Just as Jersey Red beat Wimpy Lassiter in 1969, after a decade of bitter rivalry, the police shut down the tournament. Cameras in tow, they arrested eighty hustlers—including the new champion!
From Fats’s first showdown—in Brooklyn, with a Texas-style gunslinger in cowboy boots and revolvers--to world championship clashes, Hustler Days is a rollicking portrait of one of our national treasures.
With a passion for the game evident on every page, R. A. Dyer takes us through the smoky bars and late nights where a win was just as dangerous as a loss. He captures the game’s popularity in the thirties, its dark days in the fifties, and its renaissance and apex in the sixties, fueled by the smashing success of Paul Newman and Jackie Gleason going toe-to-toe in The Hustler. It was an era that culminated in the legendary nationally televised tournaments in Little Egypt, Illinois, where Jersey Red and Wimpy Lassiter went at it for hours. And it was an
era that ended in perhaps the most dramatic scene in all of pool. Just as Jersey Red beat Wimpy Lassiter in 1969, after a decade of bitter rivalry, the police shut down the tournament. Cameras in tow, they arrested eighty hustlers—including the new champion!
From Fats’s first showdown—in Brooklyn, with a Texas-style gunslinger in cowboy boots and revolvers--to world championship clashes, Hustler Days is a rollicking portrait of one of our national treasures.
- GenresNonfictionSportsHistory
296 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2003
3 people are currently reading
91 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
February 15, 2023
The ultimate book on pool hustling and playing pool in general. All the heroes from the past, their style, hustling, tournaments, lives... the author tries to give a psychological explanation why playing pool became so important to many men in the past. As I am an obsessive pool player myself since the mid 80s I couldn't put that book down (there is also a picture section inside). Would have liked to play against some of those legendary larger than life characters. Of course the movie "The Hustler" featuring Paul Newman and Jackie Gleason was discussed en wide detail too. Marvelous must read for every pool fanatic. Pool probably is the greatest game ever. Highly recommended!
November 17, 2014
Give me a well written book about pool hustlers, card sharps, con artists, etc. and I'm in heaven every time. The book engrosses me and I find myself reading through it much quicker than my usual (snail's) pace. I'm fascinated by the mix of psychology and deception tinged to a greater or lesser extent with larceny and the taking advantage of the pigeon's greed.
A con artist uses deception, lies and most of all the sucker's greed to lure him or her into a deceptive scheme. In the hands of an expert it's an elaborate performance with the final goal known only to the perpetrator.
A card sharp will manipulate the cards through sleight of hand to give himself or a confederate an edge. It can be skillful (dealing seconds or bottoms, false shuffles, cuts,etc) or it can be as crude as leaving one card in the box (by accident!). He knows the card isn't there but nobody else does. Usually enough to come out ahead in a long poker game. In Gin Rummy it's devastating. It's out and out cheating.
Of the three endeavors mentioned hustling pool seems least larcenous. There is no cheating, no stacking the deck and no elaborate scenario. The hustler's sole deception is seeming to be just good enough to win most of the time. He will miss shots, throw occasional games, and use enough psychology to get the stakes higher and higher. He wants to look lucky and maybe just a little bit of a better player than the mark. Fascinating. This book encompasses the lives of three legendary players. Wimpy Lassiter, Jersey Red, and BS artist Minnesota Fats, whose talents lay more in self promotion than pool.
A con artist uses deception, lies and most of all the sucker's greed to lure him or her into a deceptive scheme. In the hands of an expert it's an elaborate performance with the final goal known only to the perpetrator.
A card sharp will manipulate the cards through sleight of hand to give himself or a confederate an edge. It can be skillful (dealing seconds or bottoms, false shuffles, cuts,etc) or it can be as crude as leaving one card in the box (by accident!). He knows the card isn't there but nobody else does. Usually enough to come out ahead in a long poker game. In Gin Rummy it's devastating. It's out and out cheating.
Of the three endeavors mentioned hustling pool seems least larcenous. There is no cheating, no stacking the deck and no elaborate scenario. The hustler's sole deception is seeming to be just good enough to win most of the time. He will miss shots, throw occasional games, and use enough psychology to get the stakes higher and higher. He wants to look lucky and maybe just a little bit of a better player than the mark. Fascinating. This book encompasses the lives of three legendary players. Wimpy Lassiter, Jersey Red, and BS artist Minnesota Fats, whose talents lay more in self promotion than pool.
June 14, 2009
Golden Age of pool playing in the U.S. 1950s-70s; Jersey Red, Willie Mosconi, Minnesota Fats, and more. for Perm. Lib.
August 19, 2017
Fun read, but definitely for billiard players. Not something I'd recommend if you weren't already interested.
January 21, 2021
In Hustler Days, you get a feel of what it was like to be in pool halls back in a bygone era.
Minnesota Fats, Wimpy Lassiter and Jersey Red are all legends of the game, and you learn about them in this book by R.A. Dyer. The author does a good job in telling their stories as well as showing readers the pool prowess of each man, and you learn about how for some people back then, billiards was their life.
Obviously, this is more geared towards pool fans, but those who do not play pool might find it interesting. If you like pool, this is one you will likely find interesting.
Minnesota Fats, Wimpy Lassiter and Jersey Red are all legends of the game, and you learn about them in this book by R.A. Dyer. The author does a good job in telling their stories as well as showing readers the pool prowess of each man, and you learn about how for some people back then, billiards was their life.
Obviously, this is more geared towards pool fans, but those who do not play pool might find it interesting. If you like pool, this is one you will likely find interesting.
January 9, 2026
I love learning about different subcultures and found the pool / hustler underworld very interesting - particularly so since I’m in my first pool league session and just rewatched Color of Money.
The subtext about how we can measure “success” in life on the felt and away from it was thought provoking. I agree that Jersey Red seems to be the real winner amongst these characters.
The subtext about how we can measure “success” in life on the felt and away from it was thought provoking. I agree that Jersey Red seems to be the real winner amongst these characters.
September 6, 2008
Let's Go!
The hustler's cry of challenge from the dim not so distant past is the imperative of this book.
R. A. Dyer takes the reader on a reverent romp through a chapter of forgotten or little known history. This story is from a segment of America that did its best to hide for most of the first half of the 20th century. Then, as it was about to wane forever, a renaissance driven by a Hollywood movie gave rise to a new chapter chronicled here through the stories of three important figures and many additional characters.
If the reader has even fleeting memories of the days of Minnesota Fats, Willie Mosconi, Steve Mizerak, or the story of the film "The Hustler", here you will find the rest of the real stories. Or at least a some of them in one version or another.
The geography of this high stakes world is also fascinating where big money changes hands in locations little or unknown today in the early 21st century. From the still lightly traveled and some still dusty back roads of the Midwest, to areas of Texas that have changed, to once vibrant military communities that are now a shadow of the once time glory the anonymous haunts of the pool hustlers is brought to life.
A great read if incomplete or to centric to a few specific tournaments or mini-biographies. The scope of the period of the wandering hustler is but a segue to get to the great early tournaments and the return of billiards. A very informative backdrop to today's professional pool scene, now inhabited by and showcasing women players.
Highly recommended even with omissions and a very selected view of the world of a not too distant past.
The hustler's cry of challenge from the dim not so distant past is the imperative of this book.
R. A. Dyer takes the reader on a reverent romp through a chapter of forgotten or little known history. This story is from a segment of America that did its best to hide for most of the first half of the 20th century. Then, as it was about to wane forever, a renaissance driven by a Hollywood movie gave rise to a new chapter chronicled here through the stories of three important figures and many additional characters.
If the reader has even fleeting memories of the days of Minnesota Fats, Willie Mosconi, Steve Mizerak, or the story of the film "The Hustler", here you will find the rest of the real stories. Or at least a some of them in one version or another.
The geography of this high stakes world is also fascinating where big money changes hands in locations little or unknown today in the early 21st century. From the still lightly traveled and some still dusty back roads of the Midwest, to areas of Texas that have changed, to once vibrant military communities that are now a shadow of the once time glory the anonymous haunts of the pool hustlers is brought to life.
A great read if incomplete or to centric to a few specific tournaments or mini-biographies. The scope of the period of the wandering hustler is but a segue to get to the great early tournaments and the return of billiards. A very informative backdrop to today's professional pool scene, now inhabited by and showcasing women players.
Highly recommended even with omissions and a very selected view of the world of a not too distant past.
May 8, 2009
Second pool based book of the year and looking for more! This tells the story of three of the major players in pool history: Minnesota Fats, Wimpy Lassiter and Jersey Red. I'm fascinated by this lost world of pool halls--especially before the 1950s--when these men criss crossed the country in search of one thing: suckers. Great.
August 20, 2008
this is a good, simple read about the golden age of pool. it contains storys about some of the best pool players of the age, minnesota fats, jersey red, and wimpy lassiter. good, quick read.
July 23, 2009
heroes.
September 28, 2009
5 stars if you're at all interested in pool, pool players, gambling or were taken with The Color of Money or The Hustler. If not, then it's more of a 3 star book.
December 16, 2012
For anybody who ever "shot stick" this is a rare glimpse into the glory days of American Pool and Pool Halls.
First Edition w/Dust Jacket
First Edition w/Dust Jacket
March 29, 2015
Cigar filled back rooms full of wagers- easy read about the glory days of pool. Tracks the stars like Minnesota Fats and Jersey Red.
August 27, 2016
A good book about the real pool hustlers. Imbibed with all the highs & lows that that life brings.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews