Of course the spaldeen (especially…
Of course the spaldeen (especially the much-beloved #4, although #2 was also good) was always better than the pinky, although that pinky could really fly when hit with a bat! Most of you can probably relate, but I wish I could explain to my friends here in the Midwest what it was like growing up on E. 15th St. near Kings Highway in the ’70s. Our street was full of kids and we played all the time: johnny on the pony, stoopball, stickball, hockey on roller skates, scully, red rover, i declare war (losers always “went under the moon”), wiffle ball, ringaleavio. And the games in the schoolyards, like handball, off the wall, paddleball. There’s got to be a million spaldeens on the roof at PS 199 where I went and all the other schools, too. It was like a soap opera, too.
In Chicago in the 40’s we…
In Chicago in the 40’s we played a game called “Russia,” bouncing a tennis ball against a wall. I think #1 was to throw the ball onto the wall and catch it, #2 was to throw the ball and let it drop and then catch it, and #3 was to throw the ball and clap once. Beyond that, I’m not sure. Other tricks were throwing the wall and clapping twice, putting a hand on the wall and throwing the ball over the arm and catching one-handed (both arms?), and slamming the ball onto the ground in front of the wall to let it carom off and then catch it, and throwing the ball under a leg (both) and catching it. Can anyone help?
Hi, I’m a senior Journalism…
I grew up in Chelsea in…
I love going to the mall…
We called the game Freedom…..
I’m looking for a book that…
I have been searching thru…
I have been searching thru my memory for the details of this same game! I remember using a golf ball, and bouncing it in each square as we named things to match these catagories – but I’m lost for the actual format and basic rules. Anyone else out there remember? I grew up playing this in upstate New York.