John Schmidt - Part 2 (Finding His Footing in the Pool World)
In part two of our four-part deep dive with “Mr. 600” John Schmidt—the man who broke Willie Mosconi’s legendary 65-year-old straight pool record—we follow his remarkable transition from ambitious newcomer to rising professional.
Schmidt pulls no punches as he recalls the leap of faith that sent him on the road with little more than $1,200, a cue, and an old Honda Accord. Along the way, he gained priceless lessons on tough equipment, in hostile rooms, and against opponents of every caliber. He shares how a brutal initiation into one-pocket at the hands of gambling legend Jack Cooney cost him dearly—but also laid the foundation for his greatest long-term success.
With candor and humor, John reflects on the mindset that separates champions: visualization, body control, and the ability to stay still under immense pressure. He and fellow pool greats Mark Wilson and Allison Fisher draw parallels between pool, golf, and even baseball, underscoring how discipline and environment shape greatness more than natural talent.
The episode crescendos with John’s unforgettable first professional tournament in 1999 at New York’s Roseland Ballroom. From playing his idol Mike Sigel under the lights, to an encouraging word from Steve Mizerak, to an unlikely romance sparked by a scorekeeper in the front row—Schmidt’s wide-eyed plunge into the big stage is equal parts raw, funny, and inspiring. By the time he notched breakthrough wins at the Canadian Open and the Legends of Straight Pool, the pool world had begun to recognize that John Schmidt was here to stay.
This installment captures the grit, heartbreak, and serendipity that define the early chapters of a champion’s story.
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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