Mike Sigel - Part 2 (Life on the Road, The Rise of a Champion, and the Birth of the Modern Pool Era)
In the second installment of our multi-part conversation with Billiard Congress of America Hall of Famer Mike “Captain Hook” Sigel, we dive deeper into the wild early years that shaped one of the greatest champions the sport has ever known. This chapter of Mike’s story unfolds on America’s back roads—dusty poolrooms, high-stakes action, rough-and-tumble characters, and the moments of luck, danger, and instinct that forged his competitive edge.
Mike takes us inside his six-year run traveling with standout player Larry Hubbard, whose booming personality often became Mike’s shield and springboard in smoky gambling rooms where reputations spread faster than truth. From Beckley to Detroit, Mike recounts near hold-ups, unbelievable scores, and the unspoken hierarchy of pool’s underground economy—where bookies, hustlers, and even mob-connected backers circled the action.
We revisit the legendary Rack in Detroit, where Sigel, barely 17, was whisked from high school in a stretch Cadillac to face icons like Cornbread Red, Pittsburgh John, and Richie Florence—scenes straight from a movie, yet entirely real. Interwoven through these stories is Mike’s awakening: realizing the road could teach you everything about pressure but couldn’t sustain a lifetime.
This episode also traces the dawn of his professional career. Mike reflects on his breakthrough wins at the U.S. Classic—later renamed the U.S. Open—and why those early titles still spark debate. He explains how straight pool shaped his unmatched nine-ball instincts, how he revolutionized the concept of the break cue and cue cases, and how his relationship with billionaire Kevin Trudeau opened his eyes to a world far beyond the pool hall.
Candid, funny, and brimming with first-person history, this episode captures a pivotal stage in Mike Sigel’s remarkable journey from precocious road player to sport-defining champion.
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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 WPA 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
Mike Sigel, at 35, became the youngest male elected to the BCA Hall of Fame. Born in Rochester, N.Y. Sigel began playing pool at 13, and turned professional when he was 20. A natural right-hander who shoots left-handed, Sigel won his first major tournament, the U.S. Open 9-Ball Championship, in 1975. His career blossomed quickly, and Sigel was perhaps the game's dominant player in the 1980s. He amassed 38 major 14.1 and 9-ball championships in that decade. Sigel has won three World 14.1 crowns (1979, 1981 and 1985) and one World 9-Ball title (1985) as well as numerous national titles.