Marty Reisman (1930 to 2012) was a New York table tennis champion and hustler nicknamed “The Needle,” and the 2025 film Marty Supreme is loosely based on him. He won the U.S. men’s singles title in 1958 and 1960, took five World Championship bronze medals, and won the U.S. National Hardbat Championship at 67.
Who was Marty Reisman and what made him famous?
Martin “Marty” Reisman rose to fame as a New York table tennis prodigy who paired championship play with gambling and theatrical flair. Born on February 1, 1930, in Manhattan, he grew up on East Broadway as the son of a cab driver. He won the New York City junior championship at 13.
From City Junior Champion to National Titles
Reisman translated that early talent into a competitive career spanning more than five decades. Between 1946 and 2002, he won 22 major titles, including the U.S. men’s singles championship in 1958 and 1960. If you want the case for ranking him first, read what made Marty Reisman the greatest table tennis player.
Showman and Hustler
Beyond tournaments, Reisman was a showman and a hustler. He wore bright, flamboyant clothes with fedoras and Panama hats, and he played for money in Manhattan clubs.
His life remained tied to table tennis right until the end. He died in Manhattan on December 7, 2012, at 82, of complications of heart and lung ailments. At his death he was president of Table Tennis Nation, which he founded.
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What was unique about Marty Reisman’s playing style?
Marty Reisman’s playing style was defined by his loyalty to the traditional hardbat paddle. He played with a wooden paddle covered in pimpled rubber, with no sponge layer. The hardbat style has its own name and history, covered in what Marty Reisman’s playing style is called.
The Bombay Turning Point
The defining equipment divide occurred at the 1952 World Championships in Bombay, India. Reisman entered the tournament as a favorite. In an early round, he suffered an unexpected defeat against Hiroji Satoh of Japan.
Satoh was one of the first players to use a paddle with a sponge foam layer, and he went on to win the men’s singles title. Reisman, by contrast, championed the traditional hardbat style.
The 1997 Hardbat Title
The 1952 loss did not stop him. He kept winning major titles until 2002, 50 years after Bombay.
In 1997, at 67 years old, Reisman won the U.S. National Hardbat Championship. That victory established him as the oldest player to win an open national competition in a racket sport. His best-known shot gets its own post: Marty Reisman’s signature move in table tennis.
What were Marty Reisman’s greatest achievements in table tennis?
Marty Reisman’s greatest achievements include 22 major table tennis titles, five World Championship bronze medals, and a national championship at age 67. His titles came in both standard and hardbat events. The run of major titles began in 1946, and his earliest wins are covered in when Marty Reisman won his first championship.
International and Domestic Honors
He captured five World Championship bronze medals across team, singles, and doubles events at Wembley, Stockholm, and Bombay. He also won two U.S. Opens and a British Open.
The table lists each medal and his three U.S. national titles by year.
| Year | Competition | Event / Title | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1948 | World Championships (Wembley) | Men’s Team | Bronze Medal |
| 1949 | World Championships (Stockholm) | Men’s Singles | Bronze Medal |
| 1949 | World Championships (Stockholm) | Men’s Team | Bronze Medal |
| 1949 | World Championships (Stockholm) | Mixed Doubles (with Peggy McLean) | Bronze Medal |
| 1952 | World Championships (Bombay) | Men’s Doubles (with Douglas Cartland) | Bronze Medal |
| 1958 | U.S. Men’s Singles Championship | Men’s Singles | Champion |
| 1960 | U.S. Men’s Singles Championship | Men’s Singles | Champion |
| 1997 | U.S. National Hardbat Championship | Hardbat title (age 67) | Champion |
Why was Marty Reisman called ‘The Needle’ and what was his personality like?
Marty Reisman earned the nickname “The Needle” because of his slender build and his quick wit. He also gambled on his matches and toured as a comedy act.
Hustling at Lawrence’s Club
Reisman hustled for money at Lawrence’s Broadway Table Tennis Club, at 54th Street and Broadway. Lawrence’s was part of a wider club scene, profiled in who played table tennis in Manhattan’s famous clubs.
His usual hustle was to lose the first games, suggest doubling the stakes, then win. For big bets, he sometimes played sitting down or blindfolded. He won and lost several fortunes gambling on the game.
Touring with the Harlem Globetrotters
Reisman also took his showmanship on the road. From 1949 to 1951, he teamed up with Douglas Cartland to perform an energetic table tennis comedy routine. The duo served as the opening act for the Harlem Globetrotters, entertaining crowds by rallying with frying pans and sneaker soles instead of traditional paddles.
The Riverside Club and Celebrity Culture
During the late 1950s and early 1960s, Reisman ran the Riverside Table Tennis Club on 96th Street near Broadway. Patrons reportedly included actor Dustin Hoffman, chess grandmaster Bobby Fischer, and author Kurt Vonnegut.
His 1974 memoir is The Money Player: The Confessions of America’s Greatest Table Tennis Player and Hustler, published by Morrow. In 2008, he appeared on the Late Show with David Letterman to attempt his signature trick of splitting a cigarette with a ping pong ball. His wider mark on the sport is the subject of how Marty Reisman influenced table tennis culture.
Is Marty Supreme based on Marty Reisman?
The 2025 film Marty Supreme is loosely inspired by Marty Reisman, but it is an original work of fiction rather than a direct biographical account. Directed by Josh Safdie, the movie stars Timothée Chalamet as Marty Mauser, a fictional character. Reisman never saw it: he died in 2012, 13 years before its release.
Separating Fact from Fiction
If you’ve just watched Marty Supreme, keep in mind that Marty Mauser’s story is fiction. The real Reisman won U.S. men’s singles titles in 1958 and 1960 and played money matches at Lawrence’s Broadway Table Tennis Club.
For the real story in his own words, read Reisman’s 1974 memoir, The Money Player. You can also read how Marty Reisman changed table tennis forever.
Where can you play ping pong in New York City today?
You can play ping pong in New York City today at SPIN’s two Manhattan venues. New York was Reisman’s home: he was born in Manhattan, played in its clubs and died there.
Modern Social Clubs in Manhattan
At SPIN, we are the original ping pong social club, and our flagship began in New York City about 15 years ago. If you’re curious how the two names for the game came about, read the origins of ping pong vs table tennis.
You will find SPIN New York Flatiron at 48 East 23rd Street, near Madison Square Park. Coworkers and friends can play across 19 ping pong tables there.
Midtown visitors can head to SPIN New York Midtown at 1626 Broadway, near Times Square. Your group can play on 10 ping pong tables there.
Both venues supply Stiga paddles and unlimited balls, so you don’t need to bring your own equipment. To book a table at Flatiron or Midtown, choose your venue.
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