From Missouri & Me, the Book:
Who were some of the ‘old school’ players…

You would play with Cajuns from Louisiana whose accents were so thick you’d require an interpreter, the very best players from New York City, Texans who’d spit their chew into coke bottles, the hustlers from everywhere, the cowboys, the grinders, the romantics, the rounders, the road gamblers and all the great legends and folk heroes of the game.