Bryan McAllister’s personal reference notebook
July 30, 2026Short & citedBlog
Civic Viewpoint.
A quiet encyclopedia with a personal desk
Kept by Bryan McAllister — short guides, clear facts, and the Canadian angle when it matters.
Sports Desk • Tennis

Marty Reisman

Marty Reisman (1930–2012) was an American table tennis player, author, and showman known for his success in competition and his promotion of the traditional hardbat style.

Updated July 30, 20261 min readCited sources

Marty Reisman was an American table tennis player, author, and showman who won major U.S. titles and championed the traditional hardbat style for decades.

What it is

Marty Reisman (1930–2012) was a competitive table tennis player known for his flashy persona and advocacy of hardbat paddles. He won the U.S. Men's Singles Championship twice (1958, 1960) and the U.S. Hardbat Championship in 1997, among 22 major titles over a career spanning from 1946 to 2002.

Why it matters

Reisman helped preserve the traditional hardbat style of table tennis, which uses a paddle without sponge rubber, as modern equipment changed the sport. His showmanship and autobiography *The Money Player* kept public interest alive, and his three Canadian championship wins connect him to Canadian table tennis history.

Key details

Born in New York City in 1930, Reisman described himself as a hustler and bet on matches. He died in Manhattan on December 7, 2012, at age 82, from heart and lung ailments. His legacy includes both athletic success and a larger-than-life public image.

In short

  • Won U.S. Men's Singles titles in 1958 and 1960.
  • Championed hardbat table tennis against modern sponge paddles.
  • Won the Canadian championship three times.
  • Authored the autobiography *The Money Player*.
Canadian angle

Reisman won the Canadian championship three times, making him notable in Canadian table tennis history as well as in the United States.[4][15]

Quick questions

Who was Marty Reisman?
He was an American table tennis player, author, and showman known for winning major championships and promoting hardbat table tennis.
What titles did Marty Reisman win?
He won the U.S. Men's Singles Championship in 1958 and 1960 and the U.S. Hardbat Championship in 1997.
Did Marty Reisman write a book?
Yes. He wrote *The Money Player*, an autobiographical account of his life in table tennis.

Sources

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marty_Reisman
    Supports: Birth and death dates, nationality, U.S. Men's Singles titles, U.S. Hardbat title, and hardbat advocacy.
  2. The Boston Globe — https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/obituaries/2012/12/09/marty-reisman-table-tennis-champion/4qdgdh4SjumpceqsiRNJDM/story.html
    Supports: Death, age, major titles, and public persona.
  3. Hardbat.com — https://www.hardbat.com/hbmarty.html
    Supports: Hardbat advocacy, titles, and authorship of The Money Player.
  4. Smithsonian Magazine — https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/how-marty-reisman-the-real-life-inspiration-behind-marty-supreme-revolutionized-the-sport-of-table-tennis-180987879/
    Supports: 22 major titles, 1997 championship at age 67, and historical significance.
  5. Jewish Currents — https://jewishcurrents.org/marty-reisman-table-tennis-champ
    Supports: New York origins, Canadian championships, and death.
  6. Jewish Virtual Library — https://jewishvirtuallibrary.org/marty-reisman
    Supports: Nickname, hardbat style, and death.