Does anyone remember slapball? In the 50s in Brooklyn (Flatbush) we played this thrilling and skillful game. Three players to a team: three based 1st, 3rd and home. The pitcher stood in the middle of the gutter (we all lived on dead-end streets – a must for this game!!) and fluked (spun the ball in one of four directions, as in boxball) over a chalked in home plate. Balls and strikes were called. The batter would slap the ball hard and made sure to a) stay within the foul lines (two cars) and keep the ball from bouncing on the sidewalk first (an out). 9 innings – lots of fun.