Category Archives: Stickball

I used to play stickball…

Streetplay Discussion Archive Posted on by
Original author: Dave
 

I used to play stickball on 54th and 9th ave in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn in the 60’s and 70’s. First, spauldings and then Pense Pinkies. Georgie Williams was the first on the block to hit it 3 sewers. Joe Martone spent the entire time out on his stoop to make sure we didn’t hit his cadillac. Lots of fun and memories. I think back and wondered how we could keep our eyes on the ball – through trees, phone and power wires, cars (parked and moving) and still catch a small ball hit two sewers long and five stories high!

I have been playing stick…

Streetplay Discussion Archive Posted on by
Original author: Bomber
 

I have been playing stick ball for a long time. When we play, we play in school yards where there are painted bases and base lines. But we play real baseball style-If there is a ground ball the ball must be thrown to the base for an out and so on. We have a high fence in left about 13ft and its 180ft away in the center there is no fence and the ball just keeps going but in right is the school and half way up is the home run about 20ft high and 190ft deep.

I have been playing stick…

Streetplay Discussion Archive Posted on by
Original author: Bomber
 

I have been playing stick ball for a long time. When we play, we play in school yards where there are painted bases and base lines. But we play real baseball style-If there is a ground ball the ball must be thrown to the base for an out and so on. We have a high fence in right about 13ft and its 180ft away in the center there is no fence and the ball just keeps going but in right is the school and half way up is the home run about 20ft high and 190ft deep.

I didn’t see any mention…

Streetplay Discussion Archive Posted on by
Original author: Urie Gottesman [e-mail]
 

I didn’t see any mention by anyone about the enthusiastic stickball games played in Boro Park and Flatbush in the late 40’s and into the 50’s. All I can remember is that I was a great pitcher with at least 4 different pitches –we played in the street or in school yards –I had a slow curve, a fast curve, a sinker and a fast ball. In fact, one of the players I always played with and against was Spencer Ross — a sports announcer in NYC. He had a great fastball –I used to play against him in my driveway — one game i particularly remember is one where he was winning 4 to 1 in the bottom of the 9th — I finally figured out how to hit him –hit single, homerun, single and homerun to win 5-4. As a general rule, during my H.S. days, no noe was able to get a hit off me — not to brag, but I was good. I wish we had league lke they do now.

I’m looking to contact the…

Streetplay Discussion Archive Posted on by
Original author: Sonia Gonzalez [e-mail]
 

I’m looking to contact the Pizarro family to interview for my stickball documentary. Please contact me at . Thank you.

My friends and I have been…

Streetplay Discussion Archive Posted on by
Original author: Daniel Beams [e-mail]
 

My friends and I have been playing stickball for years in the suburb of Cranford, New Jersey. We play on a grass field behind a local elementary school. The school has columns that mark out where the batters end up on base, and a beautiful 100+ year old oak tree about 100 yards in dead center that gathers up the tennis balls for the big home run blast. After testing bat after bat we found a winner. It is the handle of an old shovel sanded down and varnished. It is slightly thicker than a broomstick, so it doesn’t quite get the torque of the thinner bat, but with a solid swing you can’t go wrong. Not much else to add except that it is good to see that people still know how to go out and get a good game together with nothing on the line except for pride…db

As a kid growing up in the…

Streetplay Discussion Archive Posted on by
Original author: John OBrien [e-mail]
 

As a kid growing up in the Bronx, stickball is nothing new to me. Our field was our narrow, one-way street. (As I remember, the distance from first to second was quite a distance, but guys on first and third were practically right next to one another.) When I moved to Portland, Maine… a state overrun by soccer and basketball.. I thought stickball days would remain a memory from the past…BUT… The other day while in a Shaw’s supermarket in Scarborough, Maine, I discovered they were selling both the rubber Spaulding balls and… Spaulding stickball bats. The bats were somewhat thicker than the broom handle I was used to as a kid, but for $7 ($2 for the ball, and $5 for the bat!) I was armed and ready to start playing stickball again!

The Foxboro Stickball League…

Streetplay Discussion Archive Posted on by
Original author: Kyle Winter [e-mail]
 

The Foxboro Stickball League in Columbus, Ohio has recently started its forth season of play. We have also added a new field to the list we already play, Davis Field. The first night game in nearly a year was held last Sunday and lasted 2 and a half hours, ending with a fight in left field. For more information on the league visit www.geocities.com/dukefan08/stickball.html 2000 POST SEASON AWARDS MVP- Kyle Winter Pitcher of the Year- Kelly Winter Rookie of the Year- Willy Muholland Comeback Player of the Year- Jon Paton Golden Gloves- Eric Brunner, Doug Ault, Justin Braun, Jonathan “Crusher” Braun, Joey McDaniel Silver Sticks- Kyle Winter, Kevin Hayes, Matt Selhorst, Jonathan “Crusher” Braun, Doug Ault