In this opening chapter of a multi-part Legends of the Cue conversation, we sit down with Pat Fleming—the meticulous mind whose lifelong obsession with numbers would ultimately reshape how the game of pool is measured, understood, and preserved.

Pat’s story begins far from television lights and world championships, in Paterson, New Jersey, where a young boy spent his days counting cars from a fire hydrant, tracking patterns, and recording results simply for the joy of understanding them. That instinct—to observe, measure, and learn—never left him. From Catholic school classrooms ruled by strict discipline, to a handmade toy pool table restored by his father, Pat’s early life forged both the discipline and curiosity that would later define his legacy.

Long before Accu-Stats, there was baseball—lots of it. Pat was a feared Little League slugger, an accomplished catcher, and a natural competitor who thrived against older, tougher opponents. But everything changed when a real cue tip entered his life. That small detail opened the door to pool rooms, straight pool marathons, and a fateful encounter with a seasoned professional that revealed both his raw talent—and the strategic depth of the game still waiting to be learned.

As Pat matured as a player, life accelerated. Marriage at 18, the unwavering support of his wife Diane, state titles, and deep runs against the very best in the world all followed. Yet the turning point came not with a victory—but with a loss. A third-place finish at the 1981 World Straight Pool Championship led Pat to buy a humble Radio Shack computer, unknowingly planting the seed for Accu-Stats.

This episode captures the foundations of a remarkable life: the habits, sacrifices, insights, and pivotal moments that turned a gifted player into the game’s greatest historian. It’s the beginning of a story that changed pool forever—and it starts here.

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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.”