Just got through reading all the entries, and thought I would add a few things. I grew up in the bronx during the depression and we used “Spaldeens”. It si my understanding that these inexpensive balls (10 cents at the time) were made by Spaulding and were actually tennis ball “rejects” that didn’t meet the bounce tests. Therefore they didn’t coat them with the fuzzy coating, but sold them as is.
A comment on the origin of the game “skully”. I have heard that mosaics in ancient Rome have shown “Skully” layouts.
Any truth to these stories??