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Jacob Schaefer, Sr.

1855 – 1910

American billiards player

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About Jacob Schaefer, Sr.

Lived 1855 – 1910 (aged 55). Jacob Schaefer, Sr. was an American athlete.

Jacob Schaefer Sr. (February 2, 1855 – March 8, 1910 ), nicknamed "The Wizard", was a professional carom billiards player, especially of the straight rail and balkline games, and was posthumously inducted into the Billiard Congress of America Hall of Fame in 1968.

Schaefer was born in 1855 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He was the first US-born son of German emigrants. He was the father of fellow billiards pro Jacob Schaefer Jr. (1894–1975). at a billiard hall that was owned by his step-father John Berg. He was the best player in Leavenworth by the age of fifteen. Schaefer's debut as a professional player came in 1873. Before May 1874, he had become the champion of Kansas.

He became one of the world's top balkline players, to such an extent that some of the more challenging versions of balkline were invented to attempt to level the playing field against him. He won matches and titles around the world, including the March 11, 1908, World 18.1 Balkline Championship versus Willie Hoppe, although extremely ill, he won the match by 500 points to 423.

Titles World Straight rail Championship (1879) World 14.2 Balkline Championship (1890–1892) World 18.1 Balkline Championship (1901, 1907, 1908)

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Important facts

Birth century
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People in Jacob Schaefer, Sr.'s life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Jacob Schaefer, Sr.'s

Frequently asked questions

Who was Jacob Schaefer, Sr.?

American billiards player (1855-1910)

When was Jacob Schaefer, Sr. born?

Jacob Schaefer, Sr. was born on 2 February 1855 in Milwaukee.

When did Jacob Schaefer, Sr. die?

Jacob Schaefer, Sr. died on 8 March 1910.

What was Jacob Schaefer, Sr.'s occupation?

Jacob Schaefer, Sr. was an athlete.

What nationality was Jacob Schaefer, Sr.?

Jacob Schaefer, Sr. was American.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Jacob Schaefer, Sr.

· Wikidata: Q6119233

· DBpedia: Jacob Schaefer Sr.

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Jacob Schaefer, Sr.. https://biography.guide/jacob-schaefer-sr/

MLA: "Jacob Schaefer, Sr.." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/jacob-schaefer-sr/.

Chicago: "Jacob Schaefer, Sr.." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/jacob-schaefer-sr/.

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