Marty Reisman: Profile of an American Table Tennis Champion

Marty Reisman was a significant figure in the New York City table tennis scene during the 1940s and 1950s. This period featured a subculture of competitive play and betting at venues like Lawrence's, a midtown Manhattan table tennis parlor. Reisman, a player known for his skill, is the inspiration for the character Marty Mauser in the film Marty Supreme.

Career and Achievements

Reisman, known by the nickname "The Needle" due to his slender build, represented the United States in international tournaments. His career included winning over 20 major titles, notably the 1949 English Open and two U.S. Opens.

In his 1974 memoir, The Money Player: The Confessions of America's Greatest Table Tennis Champion and Hustler, Reisman detailed his engagement with table tennis, describing it as involving "anatomy and chemistry and physics."

Playing Style and Conduct

Reisman was recognized for his distinct playing style and public presence, often appearing in elegant suits and hats. Khaleel Asgarali, a professional player, observed Reisman's charisma and style at tournaments. Reisman was also associated with instances of unconventional conduct within the sport. In 1949, at the English Open, he and fellow American player Dick Miles incurred expenses at a hotel and attempted to charge them to the English Table Tennis Association. When officials declined, the players threatened not to appear for scheduled exhibition matches. The officials subsequently covered the costs but fined the players $200 and issued an indefinite suspension for violating the sport's "courtesy code."

Early Life and Motivation

Reisman grew up on Manhattan's Lower East Side. His father was a taxi driver and a gambler, leading to financial instability during Reisman's childhood. His parents separated when he was ten, and at fourteen, Reisman moved in with his father at the Broadway Central Hotel.

Leo Leigh, director of the documentary Fact or Fiction: The Life and Times of a Ping Pong Hustler, noted Reisman's resourcefulness, citing an instance where Reisman would attend hotel weddings to obtain meals. Reisman also experienced panic attacks from a young age, and he documented that playing table tennis served as a coping mechanism, engrossing him and reducing anxiety.

Perception of Table Tennis and Reisman's Influence

Reisman aspired to be a top player, describing table tennis champions as embodying the qualities of figures like "Einstein, Hemingway, and Louis." While table tennis held a respected status in Europe and Asia, resulting in widespread recognition for its stars, it was largely considered a recreational activity in the U.S., with New York City being an exception where significant sums were wagered on matches.

Reisman's showmanship attracted spectators to his games. Footage from the 1950s and 1960s shows him performing acrobatic shots, such as hitting the ball under his leg, which contributed to his reputation for dramatic play. He also had a signature shot involving breaking a cigarette in half with a powerful slam.

Josh Safdie, co-writer and director of Marty Supreme, shared that he grew up playing ping pong in New York City and found it beneficial for focus and precision. Safdie identified with Reisman's dedication to a pursuit that he felt was not widely valued, drawing parallels to his own experience creating the film Uncut Gems.

Technological Shift and Later Life

In 1952, Japanese player Hiroji Satoh introduced a new type of racket featuring thick foam rubber at the World Championships, which altered the game by affecting ball trajectory and spin. Reisman noted that this new surface caused the ball to exhibit "eerie flights" with variable spin.

This technological change impacted Reisman's competitive performance, and he expressed that the introduction of the sponge racket fundamentally altered his game. He frequently discussed how the rubber bat affected his play and his ongoing analytical approach to the sport.

In 1958, Reisman purchased the Riverside Table Tennis Club on Manhattan's Upper West Side. At 67 years old, he won the United States Hardbat Championship in 1997. Marty Reisman died in 2012 at the age of 82. Less than a year before his death, The New York Times published a profile of him titled, "A Throwback Player, With a Wardrobe to Match."