A Childhood in a Barbershop
Ruth McGinnis was born in 1910 in Honesdale, Pennsylvania. By age seven, she was mastering pool on tables in her family’s barbershop, standing on a soapbox to reach. Her father’s encouragement sparked her lifelong love of the game.
Facing Down the Pros
On a January day in 1938, McGinnis entered Washington, D.C.’s Arcadia pool hall, where six top players waited to challenge her. She methodically defeated them all, one by one. The hall’s manager joked about using a bowling ball to give the men a chance, but her skill left little room for humor.
A Star on the Road
During the 1930s, McGinnis toured the U.S. as part of the “Better Billiards” program, demonstrating her talent in packed halls. In 1937, she defeated the reigning world champion, Ralph Greenleaf. Over six years, she lost just 29 of 1,532 matches.
Breaking Barriers
Excluded from professional tournaments, McGinnis competed in exhibitions and made history in 1948 as the first woman to vie for the world pocket billiard title. She died in 1974 and was inducted into the Billiard Congress of America’s Hall of Fame in 1976.
In January 1938, Ruth McGinnis, "Queen of Billiards," stunned Washington, D.C., by defeating six male players with ease. The crowd watched in awe as McGinnis, a left-handed prodigy who started at age seven, dominated the tables, proving her unmatched skill in the male-dominated… pic.twitter.com/2oJMHqKqmb
— Detective Tiger's Stories (@TigerDetective) January 20, 2025