Danny DiLiberto
| Born | 19 February 1935 Buffalo, New York |
|---|---|
| Sport country |  United States |
| Nickname | "Buffalo Danny" |
| Professional | 1960 |
| Pool games | Straight pool, one-pocket, nine-ball, eight-ball |
| Best finish | Runner-up 1982 World Straight Pool Championship |
Danny DiLiberto is an American retired professional pool player nicknamed "Buffalo Danny".
A veteran player from the Johnston City era, a teacher, an author, and previously 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
[edit]Before DiLiberto became interested in pocket billiards, he was a professional boxer from 1957-1959 with a 14-0-1 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 Boxing Hall of Fame for his accomplishments in the sport.[2][3]
Professional career
[edit]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.[4]
DiLiberto was a member of the International Pool Tour.[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.
DiLiberto had won tournaments in four different divisions of professional pocket billiards: straight pool, one pocket, 8 ball, and 9 ball.
From 1989 to 2020 DiLiberto was a commentator for Accu-Stats Video Productions.
Career titles & achievements
[edit]- 1961 New York City 14.1 Championship
- 1962 New York State 14.1 Championship
- 1965 Florida State 14.1 Championship
- 1966 Florida State 14.1 Championship
- 1968 Florida State 14.1 Championship
- 1969 U.S. Masters Straight Pool Championship
- 1972 Ohio State 14.1 Championship
- 1972 Johnston City Straight Pool Championship
- 1972 Johnston City All-Around Championship
- 1974 Florida State 14.1 Championship
- 1981 BCA National 8-Ball Tournament
- 1982 Busch Open 9-Ball
- 1983 Florida Open 9-Ball
- 1983 Florida One Pocket Championship
- 1984 Classic Cup IV 9-Ball
- 1985 Austin One Pocket Championship
- 1985 Eastern States Open 14.1
- 1989 Western States Open 9-Ball
- 1996 Senior Tour Nine Ball Tournament
- 1997 French National Nine Ball Tournament
- 1998 French National Nine Ball Tournament
- 2004 One Pocket Hall of Fame
- 2006 Buffalo Boxing Hall of Fame
- 2011 Billiard Congress of America Hall of Fame
- 2017 Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame
References
[edit]- ^ "2004 One Pocket Hall of Fame", OnePocket.org. Retrieved 5 June 2008
- ^ "DANNY DILIBERTO". Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame. Retrieved 29 June 2017.
- ^ "Hall of Fame". Ring 44 Buffalo Veteran Boxers Association. Retrieved 29 June 2017.
- ^ "Campos and DiLiberto in BCA Bash", page 19, October 1981 The National Billiards News. Retrieved 6 June 2008
- ^ "Danny DiLiberto Player Profile"[permanent dead link], InternationalPoolTour.com, International Pool Tour, Retrieved 5 June 2008
- ^ "Road Player, The Danny DiLiberto Story", Amazon.com. Retrieved 5 June 2008.
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