Len, I tried to e-mail you but the address was wrong. Just wanted to let you know this is a great story and I’d like to learn more about it. Please send an email to sot we can discuss more.
Can anyone explain the size of the strike zone for against the wall fast pitch stickball and how far the pitchers line should be from the wall?
I,for one, preferred the Spaldeen over the Pinkie. It lasted Longer, was harder and had a better bounce. I loved my spaldeens so much that I would wash them in the bathroom sink. Funny how I JUST REMEMBERED THAT after all these years! My sister and I never had a dull moment as long as we had a spaldeen to play with.
In the Bronx we also played curb ball – played in an intersection with 5 or 6 on a side (although sometimes played with less) – corner sewers served as bases – players typically played positions similiar to baseball (1st base – 2nd base/ss – 3rd base – outfield) – After throwing the ball off the curb you ran – Play was just like baseball with the exception that if the ball did not go fair it was a strike – 2 strikes was a strikeout.
There were 2 versions of ‘Box Baseball’ that was played in the Bronx in the late 60’s – ‘Three Box’ in which one player ‘pitched’ underhand while the other player tried to hit it into the third box (closest to the pitcher) hits were determined by the number of times the ball bounced (1 for single – 2 for double etc) – ‘5 Box’ was played by bouncing the ball in the 5th box (furthest from you) then the 4th & 5th (only one bounce in each) etc and then reversing the pattern – the other player was allowed to play defense – that is – without going over the line you may stretch to prevent the ball from landing in the box.
Well…Sure the Spalding was a higher bouncer. Sure the Spalding was a few pennies cheaper. But….The Spalding was also harder. Hence, for punch ball, it hurt like he@@. Also, because it was harder and less forgiving, it was more likely to split in half when use for stick ball. Therefore, I vote for Pensy or Pensie Pinky. It didn’t bruise the knuckles as badley and lasted much longer. That is, of course, if you didn’t lose it over the fence to some nasty’s backyard, on the roof of the school, or down the sewer. Do you remember how we would fish them out of the sewers? Ah, such sweet memories! Also, while I hear that the Spalding can be found available these days, I did come accross one recently. It was made in China. Aside from it’s spherical shape, it bears little resemblence to the original. If I could find the old ones, I would gladly buy a case or two.
I thought the halfballs were made by purposely cutting a ball in half (something that makes the uninitiated cringe). Has there always been a halfball product, or is this a new phenomena?