John Schmidt - Part 1 (Breaking Barriers, Building Grit)
In this episode of Legends of the Cue, Allison Fisher, Mark Wilson, and Mike Gonzalez sit down with one of pool’s modern legends—John Schmidt, affectionately known as “Mr. 600.” Schmidt etched his name in billiards history by surpassing Willie Mosconi’s fabled 526-ball straight pool record, a mark that stood unchallenged for 65 years. But as listeners quickly learn, his story is far richer than a single number.
From his humble beginnings in Keokuk, Iowa—born on a bridge, no less—to a childhood shaped by blue-collar toughness and resilience, Schmidt’s path was anything but conventional. Growing up in small towns, delivering newspapers, dreaming of a BMX bike, and competing in youth sports, he eventually stumbled into pool almost by accident. What started as casual games with his younger brother in California soon lit a fire that would carry him into the heart of America’s pool halls.
Schmidt recalls the fascination of seeing a cue ball draw back for the first time, his early struggles as a self-described “walking ATM” for seasoned players, and how observation, grit, and money matches forged his competitive edge. With candid humor, he paints vivid scenes of smoky pool rooms, $10 sets that felt life-or-death, and the intoxicating blend of gambling and learning that shaped his formative years.
Throughout, Schmidt’s love for golf, respect for mentors like Bobby Hunter, and admiration for fellow champions add color to a narrative that is as much about character as it is about cueing balls. Listeners are given an intimate look at the roots of a man whose resilience, fearlessness, and relentless drive would eventually propel him onto the world stage.
This is the first of four conversations tracing Schmidt’s remarkable journey—equal parts grit, heart, and history.
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Music by Lyrium.
About
"Legends of the Cue" is a pool history podcast featuring interviews with Pool Hall of Fame members, winners of major championships and other people of influence in and around pocket billiards. We also plan to highlight memorable pool brands, events and venues. Focusing on the positive aspects of the sport, we aim to create and provide an engaging and timeless repository of content that listeners can enjoy now and forever. Co-hosted by WPBA and BCA Hall of Fame member Allison Fisher, Mosconi Cup player and captain Mark Wilson, our podcast focuses on telling the life stories of pool's greatest, in their voices. Join Allison, Mark and Mike Gonzalez for “Legends of the Cue.”
Pool Professional
John Schmidt is one of the most compelling figures in modern cue sports, a champion whose story blends Midwestern toughness, road-warrior grit, and an almost monastic devotion to the craft of running balls. Known around the world as “Mr. 600,” Schmidt is the man who authored the historic 626-ball straight pool (14.1) run, eclipsing Willie Mosconi’s legendary 526 mark that had stood for more than six decades. But the number only hints at the journey.
Born April 12, 1973, in Keokuk, Iowa, Schmidt’s beginnings were humble, blue-collar, and formative in the way they taught him to compete and endure. In the Legends of the Cue conversations, he comes across as a kid shaped by small-town life, everyday responsibilities, an early understanding that nothing is given, and a stubborn desire to earn what he wanted. That toughness shows up later in his pool life not as bravado, but as an ability to keep going when the money is low, the rooms are hostile, and the pressure is real.
Before pool became the obsession, Schmidt was also deeply connected to golf, a thread that never really leaves his story. It isn’t merely a footnote; it’s part of his identity and, at key moments, a refuge and reset button when the pool road took its toll. In his own telling, the competitive instincts and self-discipline required in golf, managing emotion, committing to a process, staying present over long stretches, translate naturally to what elite pool demands.
Schmidt didn’t grow up as a junior prodigy with a formal program and a sponsor pipeline. He came to pool later than many …Read More