Author Archives: Streetplay Discussions

Here in Columbus ohio we…

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Here in Columbus ohio we play a type of game called “Foxboro Style Stickball”. This version of stickball is played with all four bases and with one out. Two of our most highly regarded records in a single game are 40 HR by one player and 26 scoreless innings by a single pitcher. The HR wall is in straight away center field and is 35 feet high. The 8 foot wall in right field is a real shot and has only been acomplished a handfull of times. The left field is about 2 miles it seems like and has only been reached five times. We play every day and have been kicked out of four fields and almost been arrested three times. What memories!

In my neighborhood (Brownsville,…

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In my neighborhood (Brownsville, Brooklyn), a Spaldeen was 15 cents–too steep for a lot of kids. An alternative was an ugly, underinflated, evil-smelling, grayish-pink ball with crudely vulcanized hemispheres that we used to call the “eggball.” It got that name because, no matter where you hit it with a stickball bat, it’d go almost straight up, and oscillate wildly in an egg shape. Impossible to catch without it squirting out of your hands. Stickball games were won on lopsided margins on errors alone using eggballs. If we were really lucky, the local toy store or candy store would get a load of “seconds”–Spaldeens that were defective in some way, so they had “second” stamped on them. They were 8 cents or a dime, and were a real bargain.

A quick note about a small…

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A quick note about a small story related to the Semi-Finals. The field was on Vanderbilt Ave, next to Grand Central Station. THere were pedestrians strolling in and out. I saw one lady, walking with a cane and told her that we might need it for a bat. She stopped and handed it to me, saying “take it.” I was stunned but she insisted, saying it was meant to be. We received the following note about it today – Thanks “Stamstar.” I showed & told a lot of people about it. – Mick so this is the story…slipped on an acorn going down the stairs outside my house and tore a ligament which required surgery. after four wonderful weeks of peace and quite my boss said get back to work or else. my doctor said take the cane. it will give you balance. since i live in commecticut and work in new york i must be unbalanced anyway. however the cane became a pain and was really getting i n my way when i saw your game being played. It brought back a bunch of memories of my old neighborhood on Loring Place in the Bronx. It was mostly the boys that played ball. Richie Hoffman had the best stoop. Girls played potsy or jump rope. we were pretty tame back then. Anyway it seemed that there was a calling from above for me to donate my cane to your cause. I hope by now it hase been used many times and given many people pleasure. sincerely, stamstar

I’m looking for information…

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I’m looking for information on what we used to call Mush Ball. As I remember it was a ball just a little bigger than a soft ball but it had external ribs instead of smooth sewn seams. It was played like softball but on shorter bases. Is there anything like it played today? Was it played nationally or just in the Pittsburgh area where I remember it? Any information you have would be appreciated!

i live in philly, and i’m…

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i live in philly, and i’m 20 years old, we still play all old street games, our fav is wireball, you play we go into the night just playing that game, we once had the cops coming around and kicking us off the street because it was so late, another favorite game is half ball, we cut a tennis ball, or a racketball in half, if we can find pimple balls we use them, and hit it off the wall of an old prison on fairmount ave. so all you guys that think none of these games are still played, guess again, just come to fairmount ave. in philly and join us

The version of SPIT I played,…

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The version of SPIT I played, each person had their own deck, at “GO” you counted out 13 cards in a pile with the last card face up then 4 cards to the left of the pile face up. It was played just like solitaire with two people going as fast as they can and you could play on each others aces. The first person to get rid of their pile of 13 cards wins.

How about Kick-the-Can….

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How about Kick-the-Can. Everyone hides all over the neighborhood while “It” looks for you. If tagged you come sit by the can in “jail”. “It” tries to tag everyone and the last person found becomes “It”. While “It” is looking for everyone, we would sneak closer to the can so we could kick it, thereby freeing all the prisoners. “It” would then have to count while we hid again.