Category Archives: Punchball
Hi, Until I was…
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Hi, Until I was 7, my family lived at 3211 Park Avenue, on the corner of E. 161st. I started school at Sacred Heart in Highbridge (actually I went to the annex of Sacred Heart, St. Eugene’s) because I was too young to go to St. Angela Merici (our parish). In 1961 we moved to Pelham Bay where I lived in the “Co-op” on Hutchinson River Parkway. High School: St. Catharine Academy, Class of 71 and Lehman College, class of 75. The Bronx was a great place to grow up. We played Punchball (I was VERY good for a GIRL!) and Ring-a-levio. My brothers played stickball all the time around the corner on 163rd Street. Does anyone remember the rides that came around in the summer? My favorite was the Half Moon which rocked back and forth, higher and higher. I distinctly remember being on that ride and hearing the song “Shimmy Shimmy Coco Bop” Strange!!! When I moved to Pelham Bay, my friends and I hung out on “the corner” (Buhre and Pilgrim Avenue) outside of Joe’s Candy Store. Basically, we did nothing but hang around and drink egg creams (with a pretzel!) My friends from the corner are still my best friends although we’re scattered all over the country now. It’s fun looking back.
Here are some games: stickball…
I can picture a brand new…
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I can picture a brand new spaldeen vividly today, almost smell it. What a great feeling to go to the local “candy store” and buy a new spaldeen. Always preferable to a pensy pinky, which were also good.We used spaldeens in stickball, punchball, fungo, slapball, A’s-up,stoopball, and different “box games”-boxball, box baseball, five boxes, hit the penny, etc., in Bayside, Queens. As far as Johnny Pump goes, it brings to mind the old game “Johnny on the Pony”. I would love to buy some spaldeens, if there is a place to order them, I’d like to know.
Orinally from Ridgewood,…
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Orinally from Ridgewood, Himrod Street off of Bushwick Ave. Moved to East New York the Cypress Hills projects when they opened in 58. Lived there till 69 when drafted. Went to St. Fortunata Elem & dropped out of East New York high school. Loved hearing about all the games we used to played punchball, boxes, shelly, kick the can & the like. How about the “parkies” or housing cops giving out 5 dollar fines to your parents because you were on the grass.
Sounds like the game you…
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Sounds like the game you called boxball was similar to what we called slapball. Open fisted with pitching. It could be played in parks or the street. We also called it triangle when there were only 3 bases, 1st third and home, and it was played along the width of the street. Punchball didn’t include pitching. You’d throw it up and hit by yourself – overhand side-armed or underhand. You could really whack those balls far.
I,m writting from Philly…
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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
Lets see, its “Sataday mornin”…
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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!
Spaldeens were used for…
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Spaldeens were used for Stoop,Stick and Wall Ball. In the area known as Red Hook south Brooklyn. There was a street game that most called “punch ball” We chose to call it fist ball, since you didn’t hit it with a punch but rather your closed fist or in some instances an open hand, to slap it or slice it. The ball was hit with the exposed flat joints and heel of the hand The prefered ball for this was known as a “Pimple ball”, it was white and a little softer than a Spaldeen. The ball had dots in between lines that ran around the ball. Some had a star at the top and bottom of the ball. There was no room on our block to play stick ball, with cars parked on either side and there were only a few stores in the area that sold it. One was Scamadellas, on Court and Baltic Streets. 15 cents each.
Do you guys remember playin’…
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Do you guys remember playin’ wallball & roofball as well as punchball & stoopball? I lived in Yonkers and for wallball we would draw two foul lines and a short & long limit line. You would bounce the spaldeen off the wall & it had to bounce past the short line or drop in front of the long limit line. If it bounced short, too long or foul it was an out. If your opponent cought it on a fly it was an out, but if he didn’t catch it, you got a base per bounce til he got it. Ex. 2-bounces a double & 3 a triple!