What up people this is Mick of the Brooklyn Knights. First I’d like to holla @ all my knights in Bk and statin Island. We almost took it last year and we coming stronger for 2002. Respect to all the harlem teams especially the bad boys for co-hosting a solid world series in 2001. I hope you all got your bats ready for this season!!!! Knights are coming!!!!!
My name is Natalia Buezo. My brother Edgar “Macho” plays with the Bad Boys. I just want to say that they are a great team and I wish them much luck in the future. Love You Brother!!
A variation of corner ball which was played at the intersection of two streets was “triangle” which was played across any single street (less traffic and required fewer players). You had home and essentially first and third. A pitch bouncing on home was a strike-out. The hit had to land between the curbs or it was out. The pitching was similar to box baseball with lots of english.
Michael, I’m very sorry to hear that your Dad has passed away. He really was a great guy. I am thankful for having the opportunity to spend some time with him and hear some of his stickball stories. For those who didn’t know Vito, please see http://www.streetplay.com/stickball/halloffame/vitogiannone.shtml – the article we did on him for the Stickball Hall of Fame. Michael our thoughts are with you and your family. – Mick
My father Vito Giannone, a member of the Stickball Hall Of Fame, has passed away at the age of 69. He died peacefully, with myself and his wife of 41 years at his side. He left this world quietly, but not without the memories of his past 7 decades of playing stickball, and the many friends he made during that time. I would like to say thank you to all of the great friends he had, many of which I had the pleasure to meet over the past 20 or so years at stickball games and tournaments. My father was a great guy, a true friend, a terrific ballplayer – and most of all a fantastic father. I will miss him, and will never forget how wonderful he was. I know those of you who knew him will never forget either. Michael Giannone
I just read today’s NY Daily News and the story about the push to re-name Stickball Blvd after my cousin, Steve. I just wanted to thank all of you from the league who are involved in this drive, as well as Joviana, and the Bronx Borough President. Whether the Parks & Recreation Dept sees fit to pass this bill or not, you should all be proud of your efforts to honor Steve. Although I’m 7 years older than he is, he is still my hero, and I thank you all. God Bless You.
We lived on 169th St. The old P.S. 168 had a pole that was cast in a roll away concrete heavy bottom. That was used to close the street to traffic and that street was considered a “play street” but only when school was in session. We used to roll that sign out AFTER SCHOOL to close the street for our variety of games, stick ball or roller derby. People were so considerate then—people driving cars never rolled the sign away so we had the whole street to ourselves. Fun, fun, fun.
I know this is weak compared to real stickball (beyond weak), but I moved to the Jersey suburbs before developing the eye-hand coordination required to hit a pitched Spaldeen. We used the same standard equipment but the population density didn’t compare to the project and you could rarely get more than 4 guys to play. We hit the ball out of our hand either directly as in “flies up” or throwing it up and letting it bounce a couple of times before getting a “running” start and unwinding on it. We played in the street with home being online with a telephone pole. Everything was automatic (as in our form of stoop ball). Over the wires that crossed the street at the next telephone pole was a homer. Anything on the ground past the infielder was a single as was a liner past the outfielder (one that landed in front of him). Over the outfielder was a double and reaching the next pole but not over the wires was a triple. Great fun it was when most families had one car (if that) and traffic was rare. Jim Mason
I’ve been doing a documentary about stickball and Steve has been and will always be a major “star.” His generosity and love of the game touched me deeply. What a great, great guy. He will be missed very much. Sonia Gonzalez
My husband Tim and I met Steve in 1987 at a company we all worked for named TIAA-CREF in Mid-town. Steve was one of the first few friends I made arriving in NY from PR, back when his hair was longer than mine. He was so thoughtful and so great to talk to. I remember the day I told him I was getting married and he was just full of advise, just like a Dad. Then a few years past and Steve called me to tell me that not only had he cut his hair short, had become a firefighter, but that he was also getting married. He was so happy and so excited about it all. Running into him in our neighborhood in the Bronx was always great. We would catch up about each others spouses, kids & jobs, all of which we were so happy about. Then in 1999 my husband Tim past away of natural causes and I decided to move back home to PR. Destiny would have Steve be the last person I ran into at our local YMCA. As I told him what had happened to Tim he was in shock and was again full of advise on how I should continue living a full life. Now I’m in shock, but I take this time to send the words Steve said to me on that day back to his wife, “Never let those kids forget the incredible, amazing man they had for a father”. Tim & Steve: I miss you both. Love, Judy