Jimmy Caras

{{Short description|American pool player}}

{{Infobox pool player

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| birth_date = {{Birth date|1908|12|17|df=yes}}

| birth_place = Scranton, Pennsylvania, US

| death_date = {{Death date and age|2002|12|03|1908|12|17|df=yes}}

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| sport country = {{USA}}

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| world champ = Straight Pool (1935, 1936, 1938, 1938, 1949){{Cite web |title=Jimmy Caras, 93, Champion at Pool, Dies |last=Goldstein |first=Richard |work=nytimes.com |date=9 December 2002 |access-date=21 February 2019 |url= https://www.nytimes.com/2002/12/09/sports/jimmy-caras-93-champion-at-pool-dies.html |quote=1936, '38, '39 and 1949 }}

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James Caras (17 December 1908 – 3 December 2002) was an American professional pool player, most well known for winning five World Straight Pool Championship titles between 1935 and 1949.{{Cite web |title=Jimmy Caras Pool School -- Peer Landa |author= |work=ccrma.stanford.edu |date= |access-date=21 February 2019 |url= https://ccrma.stanford.edu/~peer/pool-jimmy-caras.html |language= |quote=}}{{Cite web |title=Jimmy Caras: Billiard Congress of America |author= |work=irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com |date= |access-date=21 February 2019 |url= https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/7fc55b33/files/uploaded/Jimmy%20Caras.pdf |language= |quote=}}{{Cite web |title=Jimmy Caras Archives - Pool & Billiard Magazine |author= |work=Pool & Billiard Magazine |date= |access-date=21 February 2019 |url= http://poolmag.com/tag/jimmy-caras/ |quote=}}

After a 12-year hiatus, Caras would return to cue sports, and win the BCA U.S. Open Straight Pool Championship in 1967 at the age of 58.{{Cite web |title=Rack 'Em Up – Jimmy Caras, The Greek Billiard Champion From Delco |author= |work=Cosmos Philly |date= |access-date=21 February 2019 |url= https://cosmosphilly.com/jimmy-caras/ |quote=}}

Caras would be inducted into the Billiard Congress of America Hall of Fame in 1977.{{Cite web |title=Willie Mosconi vs. Jimmy Caras – ABC's Wide World Of Sports (1963) {{!}} Billiard Product Reviews |author= |work=billiardproductreviews.com |date= |access-date=21 February 2019 |url= http://billiardproductreviews.com/2017/10/09/willie-mosconi-vs-jimmy-caras-abcs-wide-world-of-sports-1963/ |quote=}}

Caras is also known for inventing trick shots, as well as producing books, such as Pocket billiard fundamentals and trick shots made easy in 1969.{{Cite web |title=Pocket billiard fundamentals and trick shots made easy: Jimmy Caras: Amazon.com: Books |author= |work=amazon.com |date= |access-date=21 February 2019 |url= https://www.amazon.com/Pocket-billiard-fundamentals-trick-shots/dp/B0007F4XRO |quote=Pocket billiard fundamentals and trick shots made easy }} and Trick and Fancy Shots in Pocket Billiards in 1966.{{Cite web |title=Trick and Fancy Shots in Pocket Billiards, by Jimmy Caras: Jimmy Caras: Amazon.com: Books |author= |work=amazon.com |date= |access-date=21 February 2019 |url= https://www.amazon.com/Trick-Fancy-Shots-Pocket-Billiards/dp/B0026QRLL2/ref=sr_1_7?qid=1550765448&refinements=p_27%3AJimmy+Caras&s=books&sr=1-7&text=Jimmy+Caras |quote=}}