EKellyHOFpage

'Champagne Eddie' Kelly

The

One Pocket

Hall of Fame

Is pleased to honor

Ed Kelly

'Champagne Eddie'

For his Outstanding Contribution

to the Legacy of

The Game of One Pocket

Elected 2005

'Champagne Eddie' Kelly was born May 17th, 1938 in Waterbury, Connecticut, and it was in Waterbury that he first began to wander into the local poolroom. He found a natural calling for the game, which led him to start a little hustling by the time he was fourteen. After a stint in the Marine Corps, Eddie began to take his game on the road. Around that time he was one of the ‘undiscovered’ players that Titanic Thompson steered around, but it was later road trips with Ronnie Allen that really brought his One Pocket game to a peak.

He captured his first One Pocket title in Johnston City in 1966. In ‘71 Eddie won the One Pocket division in Freddy Whalen’s Los Angeles World’s Tournament, which was one of the richest tournaments in pool at that time. A very strong all-around player, he captured numerous 9-Ball and Straight Pool titles as well, and was inducted into the BCA Hall of Fame in 2003.

In ’93 he came out of retirement to win the Legends of One Pocket tournament in Las Vegas over a huge field of 111 players, which was the largest One Pocket event ever until the Derby City Classic came along.

from an old copy of

The National Billiard News

Photo courtesy Conrad Burkman

Ed came out of retirement and snapped off the title at

Grady Mathews World One Pocket tournament in 1993

Ed Kelly was presented with his One Pocket Hall of Fame plaque

at a special gathering of legendary road players organized by

Diana Hoppe at the close of the 2008 Derby City Classic

Photo courtesy Diana Hoppe

Ed Kelly flanked by the late UJ Puckett (in hat) and fellow

One Pocket Hall of Fame inductee Ronnie Allen (with cue in hand)

Photo courtesy Mike Haines & Bill Porter

If you would like to comment on this feature, or contribute any Ed Kelly stories of your own, please Contact Us, or visit the OnePocket.org Message Board.

About OnePocket.org

Dedicated to the game of One Pocket

Register your support for the game of One Pocket by signing up to join OnePocket.org. It's free, it's easy, and your privacy is assured. All you need is a valid email address.