Danny DiLiberto

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Danny DiLiberto (born February 19, 1935 in Buffalo, New York) is an American professional pool player, nicknamed "Buffalo Danny".

A veteran player from the Johnston City era, a teacher, an author, and today working as a commentator for Accu-Stats, DiLiberto is an active member of the pocket billiards community. He was elected into the One Pocket Hall of Fame in 2004 for his "outstanding contribution to the legacy of the game of one pocket".[1]

Early boxing days[]

Before DiLiberto became interested in pocket billiards, he was a professional boxer from 1957-1959 with a 14-0-2 record, with 12 knockouts, until he was forced into retirement after breaking his hands four times. Muhammad Ali's trainer Angelo Dundee remarked that “Danny was a heck of a fighter”, “Whoever I put in front of him he knocked out. If it weren’t for his brittle hands he would have been a champion." In 2006, he was inducted into Buffalo's Ring 44 Boxing Hall of Fame for his accomplishments in the sport.[2][3] He is also known for having rolled a perfect game of bowling.

Professional career[]

DiLiberto was a member of the International Pool Tour and is still involved in the game today as a commentator for since 1989.[4]

The 1981 BCA National Eight-Ball Championship was a memorable victory for DiLiberto when he faced Nick Varner in the finals. Running out the deciding match was most appropriate for DiLiberto in what was until then a neck-and-neck race to 7 for the win.[5]

A book was written by pool journalist Jerry Forsyth about Danny DiLiberto entitled "Road Player, the Danny DiLiberto Story".[6]

On October 20, 2011, DiLiberto was inducted into the Billiard Congress of America's Hall of Fame. The ceremony took place alongside the 36th annual US Open 9-Ball Championships.

Upon winning the 1981 BCA National 8 Ball Championship, DiLiberto became the only player in history to have won major tournaments in all four categories of professional pocket billiard: straight pool, one pocket, 8 ball, and 9 ball.

Mr. DiLiberto has the unprecedented distinction of winning major pool tournaments in 4 different decades: the 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s.

Titles[]

  • 1960 and 1961 Straight Pool City Championship
  • 1962 Straight Pool New York State Championship
  • 1963 Straight Pool, U. S. Masters
  • 1969 U.S. Masters Straight Pool Tournament
  • 1972 Tournament of Champions, Johnston City, Illinois
  • 1972 World All Around Champion, Johnston City, Illinois
  • 1981 BCA National Eight Ball Tournament
  • 1982 Busch Southern Nine Ball Classic
  • 1983 Florida All-Around One Pocket Division
  • 1984 Classic Cup Nine Ball Tournament
  • 1985 World One Pocket Tournament
  • 1985 Eastern States Straight Pool Tournament
  • 1985 World Mixed Couples Nine Ball Tournament
  • 1989 Western States Nine Ball Tournament
  • 1996 Senior Tour Nine Ball Tournament
  • 1997 French Open Nine Ball Tournament
  • 1998 French National Nine Ball Tournament

References[]

  1. ^ "2004 One Pocket Hall of Fame", OnePocket.org. Retrieved 5 June 2008
  2. ^ "DANNY DILIBERTO". Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame. Retrieved 29 June 2017.
  3. ^ "Hall of Fame". Ring 44 Buffalo Veteran Boxers Association. Retrieved 29 June 2017.
  4. ^ "Danny DiLiberto Player Profile"[permanent dead link], InternationalPoolTour.com, International Pool Tour, Retrieved 5 June 2008
  5. ^ "Campos and DiLiberto in BCA Bash", page 19, October 1981 The National Billiards News. Retrieved 6 June 2008
  6. ^ "Road Player, The Danny DiLiberto Story", Amazon.com. Retrieved 5 June 2008.
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