Category Archives: Other Spaldeen games

In Bayside, Queens, during…

Streetplay Discussion Archive Posted on by
Original author: Bob Strauss [e-mail]
 

In Bayside, Queens, during the early 1950s, there was a game played at PS 41. It was called “double wall” and was a variant of stickball. Two players, batter and pitcher, and the batter had to hit a ball that bounced between the two walls. The more the better. We also played punchball, and I always wondered if this game originated, or was popularized during WWII, with limited space/only one spaldeen required. Bob

Anyone know where I can…

Streetplay Discussion Archive Posted on by
Original author: Fred Valis [e-mail]
 

Anyone know where I can get a real Pensie Pinkie? I have the official NYC “factory” stickball bat (the one you bought in the corner candy store with the black grip tape around one end) and a spalding but I need a Pensie Pinkie to complete the set. Thanks Fred

I grew up in Highbridge,…

Streetplay Discussion Archive Posted on by
Original author: George Tortarolo [e-mail]
 

I grew up in Highbridge, 1944 -1966. Attended Sacred Heart, Manhattan prep and Fordham, then off to Vietnam and maturity!. It is impossible to explain to someone who didn’t exprience it what growing up in the 50’s – 60’s Bronx neighborhoods was like. I still remember the “checker” games we played on the sidewalk boards. Box ball and off the point with a pink “Spauldine” (25 cents!!) were simple games that I hope are recorded somewhere . George, 1210 Woodcrest 3C

As A kid we played a very…

Streetplay Discussion Archive Posted on by
Original author: Ben Powell [e-mail]
 

As A kid we played a very fast moving addictive game called Zelball or Zalball. Essentially it was the same as tether ball but was played with a tennis ball on a heavy cord and solid hardwood rackets with a wrist strap. Does anyone know what I am talking about? Does this game still exist under another name perhaps? Where can I buy it or where is it played? Any history or references would be appreciated. This was a commercially available game since the new paddles had the company name imprinted on them.

If you can’t find a stoop…

Streetplay Discussion Archive Posted on by
Original author: Ron Gallo [e-mail]
 

If you can’t find a stoop buy a few cement blocks and stack them against a wall. When I discovered that Spaldeens were available again I bought two and then built a “stoop” in my basement with about $ 10 worth of concrete blocks. This has been a lot of fun and exercise for this 47 year -old as well as reliving some great memories.

Another street ball game….

Streetplay Discussion Archive Posted on by
Original author: Howard G
 

Another street ball game. Where I grew up in Jackson Heights, Queens we used to go to the playground behind my elementary school (P.S. 149 for those in the know). There was a park house that was the home of the “parkie” who was supposed to give out equipment and keep everyone from destroying the playground. His “house” had a slanted roof of all sides. We would stand underneath it and throw the ball up onto the roof, usually at an angle and with some spin. The other player had to catch it on a fly off the roof. If he didn’t it was a single-double-triple-homerun depending on how many bounces. It wasn’t as easy as you would think, especially when the ball landed on the cobblestones and would shoot off into the monkey bars. We could play this, and all the other pink ball games, for hours.

Re: Chinese Handball Might…

Streetplay Discussion Archive Posted on by
Original author: Howard G
 

Re: Chinese Handball Might as well share with all. It’s been over 35 years since I played chinese handball in Queens, but here goes: Unlike handball, where you have to hit the wall on a fly, in chinese handball you have to hit the wall on a bounce. If you hit it on a fly you’re out. If you hit it on 2 bounces you’re out. If the ball bounces twice before you hit it, you’re out. You can hit it off the wall on a fly, but again you have to bounce it once before it hits the wall. You would decide how large the court was. If you hit it out of bounds you’re out too. Like handball, you could only score a point on your serve. It the ball hit off a crack and went at an odd angle, it was a “hindoo” and you played the point over. Hope this helps.

Hi to all: I grew up…

Streetplay Discussion Archive Posted on by
Original author: Paul Roth
 

Hi to all: I grew up in the East Bronx on Hoe Avenue & 173rd Street in the early 50’s. My friends and I treasured the experience of playing stickball. You guessed right. We dismantled a sturdy mop (usually found on the closest fire escape), together with a Spaldeen(usually a high bouncer)we were then prepared for the choosing up of sides. If I remember correctly on our shoestring budget we weren’t too choosey as to what we really used. It was great fun full of memories.

Hi – I grew up in Jackson…

Streetplay Discussion Archive Posted on by
Original author: Howard G
 

Hi – I grew up in Jackson Heights, Queens and played all of the street games everyone else did: Handball, stickball, stoop ball, Chinese handball, boxball, single-double-triple, slapball, errors, etc. Pensie Pinkies definitely were higher bouncers than Spaldeens and easier on the hand for both punchball and handball, especially on cold days. I haven’t seen a Pensie Pinkie in maybe 30 years, but I recently bought a “Spalding” at a Modell’s where I now live in Fairfax County, VA. It cost $1.99 – a far cry from the 15 cents or so when I was a kid, but probably equivalent with 35-40 years of inflation. Anyway, I got to play some fungo stickball with my 10 year old son today, and also introduced him to boxball. I have a stickball bat I bought about 10 years ago. If anyone knows where you can currently get a Pensie Pinkie, let me know. It was great finding this site.