Sarge Ferris

Sarge Ferris was born on December 1, 1928, in Waterville, Maine, USA. His birth name was Fred Bernard Ferris, and his nickname "Sarge" likely originated from his military background, though public records do not detail his early years. Before entering poker, Ferris served in the U.S. Army, an experience that instilled the discipline and resilience that later became evident at the poker table.

Ferris’s poker career focused primarily on cash games, but he also achieved notable tournament success. In 1978, Poker Magazine ranked him among the top 12 poker players in the world. His total career tournament earnings exceeded $241,000, largely from his 1980 WSOP bracelet win and his victory at the 1983 Super Bowl of Poker.

Ferris’s most famous achievement came at the 1980 World Series of Poker (WSOP). He entered Event #6: $10,000 No-Limit 2-7 [Draw] Lowball (with rebuys) and finished first, earning a WSOP bracelet and $150,000. The event drew 19 entrants but was fiercely competitive. Ferris defeated several top professionals, including two-time WSOP Main Event champion Doyle Brunson (2nd place) and 1978 WSOP Main Event champion Bobby Baldwin (3rd place). This victory cemented his legacy in poker history.

Beyond his WSOP bracelet, Ferris won a No-Limit 2-7 Lowball tournament at the 1983 Super Bowl of Poker (organized by Amarillo Slim). That event, a high-stakes invitational, further demonstrated his prowess in mixed games. Though he entered few tournaments, each cash resulted in significant returns.

Ferris’s primary income came from cash games, where he regularly faced top players in high-stakes Las Vegas action. On April 22, 1983, he made headlines when the IRS seized $46,000 on the spot during a high-stakes cash game at the Horseshoe Casino. The incident highlighted tensions between the poker world and tax authorities and boosted Ferris’s public profile.

Sarge Ferris died on March 12, 1989, in Las Vegas at the age of 60. Later that year, in December, he was posthumously inducted into the [Poker Hall of Fame] in recognition of his contributions to the game. Despite a relatively short career, his ability to defeat elite players and his impact on cash games made him a legend in poker history.

• "11th World Series of Poker - WSOP 1980, [No Limit] [Deuce to Seven] [Draw]: Hendon Mob Poker Database". The Hendon Mob. Retrieved December 8, 2023.
• "Renowned gambler's brother dies". Las Vegas Sun. September 8, 1997. Retrieved April 6, 2024.
• "[Poker Hall of Fame]". PokerPages.com. Archived from the original on January 25, 2009.
• Gambiter.com: Sarge Ferris profile.
• Biographies.net: Sarge Ferris biography.