Rather than a key chain,…
Rather than a key chain, I used to use my house key to play hopscotch with. It was just the right size and weight and, conveniently, was hooked onto a lanyard hanging around my neck (high fashion in the 60s). I’d just unhook the key and throw it. Easy. It was a little difficult to pick it back up from the ground when I was on one foot, though, but that made the game more fun.
A real popular song that…
For someone growing up in…
For someone growing up in Canarsie in the 60’s, stickball was played in schoolyards (and still is where I live in the Bronx) It allowed two-4 or more kids to play ball. PS 144 and 155 had walls and protected windows. On the wall was a large box, the strike zone. All that was need was a “stickball” bat, sold in a store. Although a broom handle was similar, the store ones were shorter and heavier, much nicer feel. Tennis balls I liked, a bit heavier, more predictable path. I learned to hit up the middle, much safer and less chasing than pulling. Also, I am not a power hitter, it made me much better.
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I grew up in the housing projects in Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn. There was an overhang above the front entrance and the mothers used to collect bottle caps for months and during a fine hot day in summer would stand on top of the overhang and yell bottle caps.We would come running and the filled cigar box was emptied in front of the door. The prize caps were White Rock and solid gold or silver. My father made his own lead sinkers for fishing and my caps were filled with the lead. I could blast anyone out of the skelly box. (We called to the center jail). someone used to come from the Bronx to play me – maybe he would visit his grandmother too!)
I remember, Rikki Tikki…
I grew up playing games…
I lived in East Flatbush…
I lived in East Flatbush during the late fifties to early sixties then after moving out to L.I. came back to hangout with my friends through the early seventies. PS 209, on Ave D and East 48th St., was one place where we played stickball. 209 was shaped like a U and we played strikbox, width wise. We played “automatics” where your hits were determined by where the ball hit the opposite wall. Had lots of fun there. Spaldeens ($.25) were primarily used. We used Pensy Pinkies ($.30) for punch ball and king/queen. “Eggballs” were used as a last resort. They came in various colors. Asses up/ace king queen was played routinely. I also fished balls out of the corner sewers as did many of my contemporaries.
I grew up in Ridgewood,…
I grew up in Ridgewood, Brooklyn during the late sixties and we used to play Skellsy amidst the street traffic. We never filled our caps with any kind of substance, but my buddy Joe, who grew up in Howard Beach tells me he used to melt crayon wax into his caps for added weight. He and I have debated for years the correct name of this beloved game. He called it skullys and I called it Skellsy. I guess we were both right.
We played “kick the can”…
We played “kick the can” in Holland all the time. We call it “blikkietrap”. Basicly one kicks the can and names someone who must fetch it. The others hide. The person who has to get the can (or soccer ball in our case) places it in a central point and goes to look for the missing kids. But the kids can make their way back to the can without being found by the one who looks. That’s the game. The kids have to make their way back to the can (or ball) before they are found by the one who looks for them. If you are found you’re the person who must get the can in the next game.