Grew up in Da Bronx. Went to St. Angela Merici Grammar School on 163rd and Morris graduated in 1965. Grew up on College Ave. Played stickball against Teller and Findlay Ave’s. Went to All Hallows High and graduated in 1969.
I am the current President of The New York Emperor’s Stickball League, Inc. (NYESL) located in the Bronx. We have been in existence 16 years now where the Florida Kings with Barbara and the Pizzaroz boys; the San Diego Knights with Bobby and Paul Ortiz, Willie Blas, and Jim Strickland; the Puerto Rico Tainos with Pepin and Noble and the various other teams from the tri-state area have become and will always be considered extended family to me on a personal level and to the members of my organization on a competitive level. We are always trying to increase awareness of the game we have all grown to love so much. This summer, 2001, we will start, for the first time ever, the first organized children’s stickball league. With funding from the NYC Children’s Services and assistance from the Bronx YMCA and radio talk show host Curtis Sliwa and the volunteer efforts of the members of NYESL, the dream of reintroducing the game of stickball to a new generation will become a reality. Check out our website, www.nyesl.org, for updates on this and other events going on in the world of stickball.
PS 66 in Richmond Hill Queens had everything from punchball, stickball, slapball (“Slap”). basketball, off the wall, asses up, ringelevio, coco-monster, chinese, handball, whiffleball, errors, 5 boxes, hit the penny, strikeouts, to softball. I even remember the “non athletic” kids playing checkers, chess, or cards off in some corner. Out in the street were skelly games, I Declare War, Tops, and kids doing unbelievable things with yo-yos. Soemtimes we would use nearby Forest park fo ringelevio…and of course one of the Queens meccas, Victory Field. What memories. This experience of playing led me to my wonderful profession – a Physical Educator.
You should have a big international stickball tournament with teams from every country. Build the stadium on a platform built into the New York City Harbor. Pay for all the supplies too, like quality ebony stickball bats and balls with rare chinese silk stuffed inside them. Why? Why not? An add campaign would go great with it, tying up even more money. The trophy for the winner would be, of course, a diamond studded lump of platinum! All runners-up would recieve a life-time supply of Yoohoo chocolate drink. (Yoohoo is chocolate drink, not chocolate milk)
We lived on Arnow & Olinville Ave in the Parkside Project for 27 years. It was 7th heaven on the 7th floor, after moving from the Quonset homes on Sound View Ave. & Bruckner Blvd. Our two boys played stick ball & all those games. Now they’re playing with their grandchildren. After my youngest, (daughter),got married we moved to Las Vegas. We’d love to hear from some of our old neighbors. Still love the Bronx. Looking into all the web sites I can find about “da Bronx”
I live in Alpine but grew up in NY in a place called Spanish Harlem. I can remember as a little girl going into other neighborhoods to watch my father and his buddies challenge other teams. Most of the games were played on Sundays and the people would all take the cars off the block so the guys could play. I was Daddy’s girl and also the son he never had. Most of the games were played for big money, each man putting up a certain amount. My favorite place was Little Italy. They played right on Mott and Hester Street and I remember having a huge crush on a player from the other team. I was all of 8 years old. Those were the good old days. People would be hanging ot windows and families would be on their fire escapes with salami sandwiches to cheer their teams on. Win or lose, everyone had a good time and never did I witness any fights or hard feelings. I was always proud of Daddy and even though he is to old for stickball I’m still proud to be his little girl.
Well I would be considered a baby to most of you. I’m 21. I lived at 2055 Cruger Ave, Pelham Parkway/Bronx Park East area, across from PS 105. Went to that school, until 6th grade, JHS 127 in Castle Hill, and Dodge VHS in Fordham. I lived on Cruger untill I was 20 years old and and now I live on 184th st and Park Ave. I remember playing off the stoop, skelly, asses up, brake the chain, steal the bacon, stickball, punchball, jumping rooftops, hiding in Parkchester projects, ect.. Now I travel all over the Bronx to play handball. It’s so great to hear about how the Bronx was back in the days. Please tell all the stories you can. Up until now I felt like I was the only one defending the Bronx. Although my mom and dad grew up on 149th street, I don’t get to hear the real stories about how it was back than.
I guess I will be considered the “old fogey” compared to those who have submitted their messages here. I found this site by accident and read all the letters posted here. I was born Oct 24,1921 in the very old original Bronx Hospital on corner Fulton and 169th St. It originally was a beer brewers mansion. Lived at 813 E 170th St (which does not exist anymore) around the corner from the Loews Boston Road Theatre. Schools: PS40, PS61, PS98, Morris H. S. The Bronx will always remain the great passion of my life. The memories that have been stated by others here are equal to mine. Its not easy to erase the past when it was the best time of our lives. and I grew up during the depression whose only silver lining was that folks had more respect and showed more kindest to each other. That we had less is the reason we created those great games like stickball, stoopball, johnny on a pony, kick the can, hide-go-seek, even potsie, I played that too. Nice talking to “ya old Bronxsites” and thanks for the memories Max
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 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.