1977 saw a dramatic exodus of teams from the league.   At one point there were only two teams left, and the league almost folded.   It was at this time that the Goleta league first opened its doors to teams from Santa Barbara.   With the influx of players from SB bars, the ailing league recovered nicely, and in 1978 it had a robust 14 teams.

The Santa Barbara / Goleta Men's league continued to rapidly grow.   In 1979, the league ballooned to 27 teams.   At this time, there was also a burgeoning Women's league that had 12 teams.   The interest in pocket billiards was so great in the area that several things happened:

• League All-Stars started.
• The Earl Warren Tournament came to fruition.
• Other California teams met in competition with Goleta / Sanat Barbara teams for the first time.
• The California Billiards Association (CBA) was formed.
• The Santa Barbara - Goleta Valley Pocket Billiards Association was formed.
• The first Couples league was formed.

At about this time, the huge Men's league was divided into Goleta and Santa Barbara leagues.   The Women's league was so large that it also divided into two leagues.   Its unknown when the Women's league folded (anyone know??), but the couples league ran for 2 or 3 years before interest waned and it folded in the early 80's.   The Goleta league remained the stronger of the two Men's leagues.   After only a few years on its own, the Santa Barbara Men's league folded in 1985.   Over the next three years the Goleta league operated on its own, fluctuating between 8 and 18 teams.   In 1988, teams from Santa Barbara rejoined the league.

Also occurring in 1988 were the first inductions to the Goleta - Santa Barbara Billiards Hall of Fame.   Five charter members were inducted: John Lalo, Tom Gallagher, Peggy Weddell, Harry Peltz, and Patrick Swift.   It is unclear whether there have been any subsequent inductions to the Hall of Fame, or what happened to the Hall of Fame (anyone??)

2005 was not the first year that teams from the area participated in the BCA National 8-Ball tournament.   In the early 90's, several teams made the trek to Las Vegas to play in the big event at the Sahara Hotel and Casino.   Jim Holloway is one player known to have made both trips.

Speaking of Jim Holloway, he is one of several League Presidents to have taken the helm over the past 30+ years.   Other past Presidents include Paul Bozoti, Terry Robinson, and David Clark.   A complete list of past officers is currently being compiled, and it will eventually be displayed here.

Throughout the 90's and into the 00's, the league has operated with few changes.   The two-division system with one long winter season and one short summer season has been the norm for quite some time.   The biggest changes that the league has seen over the past 10 - 15 years are the bars that make up the league.   Long gone watering holes include The Hideout (we still have Mo, though), The Blue Dolphin, The 8-Ball Lounge, Barker's Tavern, Art's Bar, Last Call/Kennedy's and many more.   Some of our long-running establishments have had their names changed (to protect the innocent?).   Jimboz used to be Freeman's (and why IS the Freeman's sign still up), and of course, the Old Town Tavern has an illustrious past as Duffy's.   Other locations that been with us for a long time include the Bak Dor, Cliff Room, and Don Q's.   Teams from Carpinteria have been in the league off and on for the past 15 years as well.

We still have many players today that were in the league almost 20 years ago.   If you are one of them and are reading this, you probably are right now conjuring up memories of past years in the league.   Please do us all a favor and write these memories down in an e-mail and send them to us at sbpoolleague@cox.net.   We have just scratched at the surface of the history of this league.   With your help, we can dig all of the skeletons out of the closet!