Category Archives: Locales
I,m writting from Philly…
I,m writting from Philly and I,m trying to find out if you have a game in NY which is similar to our version of “Boxball”.”Boxball” in Southwest philly was very similar to baseball as we had four bases and a pitchers ‘mound’.It was played in the street where their were spaces between the parked cars.Anything could be a base-a car fender,a lamp-post,a tree, a curb- or the bases could be marked with chalk or a broken red brick.The ball of choice in Philly was the “Pimple Ball”.The game could be played with any number of players and you could change sides as some players came and went.According to what block (the street you lived on) you played on the rules would change whether you could hit the ball with a closed or open hand.When you did hit the ball it had to hit inside the infield or you where out. A swing and miss was also an out. Chopping the ball was called a “Baltimore Chop” and of course that was an out.Once you hit the ball you ran the bases in the same way as regular baseball.The ‘pitcher’ pitched the ball by bouncing it to the hitter on one bounce.Before the game could begin it was decieded if the pitcher could put a spin on the ball when he pitched it in. This spin would make the ball do tricks equal to a curve or sinker in real baseball.This was determened by asking “Stuff or no stuff?” before the game.If you have a game close to this what do you call it ? Is this your game called “Punchball”I would appreciate reading any responces
Hello- fellow Brooklynites,…
Hello- fellow Brooklynites, Remember the dangerous games (toys) like Click-Clacks (guaranteed concussion, or spiritual revelation), and the digestibly lethal Super Elastic Bubble Plastic (that we all chewed)? Did they even have federal agencies to stop these things before they came to the market back then? We lived through them, so I guess all is well. Peace-out, Denise
I was born in 1954 and grew…
I was born in 1954 and grew up across the street from P.S. 194 in the Marine Park section of Brooklyn. Right in front of our apartment building, someone would draw the “potsy” board (never hopscotch), and we’d just start playing… Free but lots of fun! Personally, my housekey was my tool of choice. I remember my mother warning me that I would wear out the teeth on the key and I wouldn’t be able to open the door anymore… What funny memories!
Yo Felix from Philly-The…
Yep, I’m from Vanderveer…
Yep, I’m from Vanderveer Estates. The neighborhood kids would taunt the project disciplinarian, Cavy the Cop, and the sidewalks were often covered in Halloween chalk. My mother’s friend Diana Kind also had an apartment there with her two daughters, who used to babysit me. One of them was Barbra Streisand. For a time, Barbra was working the cashier’s register at the nearby Chinese restaurant on Nostrand Avenue, “Choys”.
The smells of the Coney…
Lets see, its “Sataday mornin”…
Lets see, its “Sataday mornin” and i’m “siten” in front of my b/w Admrial with my best friend Warren ( he lives one fence away ). Were “eaten” a box of cherrios “watchen” Andys Gang. I love Froggy!! Oh,Oh!! Pops up!! Better beat it before he finds me “sumpum” to do.Jump on the bikes and take off down to the park. Ahhh, the park!! I’m in my world. Handball and skully all day. Take a break and get on the swings, if you go high enough you can jump onto the fence right in front of ya.( P.S.117and217 Jamaica,Queens. I LOVE THIS!!!!!!!!!! Anybody out there?? I lived on the GCP between 150st and Parsons Blvd.Late 50’s /early 60’s. How bout sock ball?? Roll some socks up tight in a ball, and play like punch ball.I think we did this when nobody could afford a ball.Anyway, see ya!
I grew up in “Da Bronx.”…
I grew up in “Da Bronx.” living on 219th Street & Bronx Blvd. from ’65 to ’79. My entire family is from the Bronx and it was a great place to be back then. Now? I’m not too sure. In the 70’s, I got involved in an extracurricular activity known as “graffiti” and made a name for myself writing “Teako-170.” I look back now and didn’t realize all the crazy things we did as kids but we all turned out all right (or least most of us). I picked up a very interesting book for my mother a few years back for Christmas. It’s called “The Beautiful Bronx: 1920-1950.” (You can pick it up at amazon.com) Loads of great pictures! Check it out. If anyone went to St. Mary’s (225th Street) or is from my area (or even if you’re not), stop on by my website and drop me a line. http://www.teako170.com
In “Da Bronx” I was fortunate…
In “Da Bronx” I was fortunate enough to live across the street from Bronx Park which is (if you include the Bronx Zoo and Botanical Gardens) roughly half the size of Central Park. Right in front of my house was the 219th Street playground where we had it all going on. Sliding ponds, monkey bars, swings, bball court, see-saws. Actually the playground was broken into 3 parts. One for the kiddies, one for the older kids, and then the bball court. When i was very young (late 60’s) the “Parky” (guy in green outfit who worked for the city) would open up the parkhouse (bathrooms) and turn off/on the sprinklers which was great in those dog days of summer. Then in the 70’s, I don’t recall seeing much of this Parky (think his name was George) and the parkhouse got vandalized and the sprinklers never worked anymore. Other than those black rubber mats being added under the swings, etc. the playground went downhill. But I still have found memories of that place. Seems like an eternity ago.