Streetplay Discussion Archive

I grew up in Boston (Charlestown) in the 60’s. We played half ball with two players up against the doctor’s building near the monument. It was a solid 3 story brick building with just a few windows on the side of the street where we played. It was a great game because you only needed two kids and you could get a ball fairly cheap at Connie’s down the street. We’d cut a pimple ball in half and play for hours. Our rules were a hit to the opposite sidewalk was a single. Up to the first floor was a double, second floor a triple and third floor a homer. You could catch the ball off the building and it was an out. Or, you could play a one bounce rule and it was still an out. We usually used an old broomstick and threw some tape around one end for a grip. We’d always get in trouble because the doctor’s receptionist sat at the window and we’d inevitably slam one into it several times during the course of the afternoon. I don’t think we ever tried too, but it just happened over the course of the game. She was always yelling at us or telling our mothers to stop us from scaring the patients. 🙂 Those days bring back fond memories of living in the city and spending hot summer afternoons whacking around a half ball like our favorite RedSox players did at Fenway. Glad to see that some people are still keeping the memories of that game going after all these yrs. Thanks!