I grew up in Crown Heights. I’m from a family of 7 children, 5 boys and 2 girls. My brothers would never let me hang out and play stickball, probably because i was really and I could beat them. They wouldn’t let me play – but I played anyway. i plaed hopscotch, stoopball, all those games you have. Some of my best times was doing that. I enjoyed being a Tom boy.
I thought I’d make it in to the event today, but instead will join in from New Jersey. Hope it all goes well. I was in that area on Friday, kind of taking a tour with my father. He took me to the spot where he played stickball as a kid (near the Prospect Expressway, but before it was built). It was a nice stroll down memory lane. I’ll try to make it next year!
We’re just starting to get into the groove here. There are many absolutely great reactions of people when they come by, look at the games and see the spaldeens. It takes them back to very fond memories. One guy is sending one to his sister in Texas. He’s not going to tell her – just have her get it and be surprised. Liz from Spalding is here with several hundred balls. We’ve been giving them to people if they contribute a few bucks to the Park Slope Baseball League. We’ve started the stickball fun. Anyone who wants to take a whack can come by and do it. Bob Catell, head of KeySpan Energy came by, put on one of our tee-shirts and took a few shots. At first he was a bit rusty, but then he clobbered one. Right in the middle of Bob’s turn a parade starts going by! Several hundred kids in a couple of marching bands. And here we aremoving out of the way as we try to manage the event and record it on the Internet. What a scene! We will post shots of it soon.
Greetings all – It’s about noon. We got here a couple of hours ago under erribly threatening skies, and some light showers. It was a little hard setting up as we were keeping the books and computers under tarps. We were pushed much farther down Flatbush than originally anticipated. Seems the festival got a lot more vendors, and since we require several hundred feet (at least 300) for a field, we are by default the last booth. We’re more than 500 feet further down Flatbush than originally plannned. Hopefully people will make their way over to us. The weather is looking better & we’re all set up. Cari Best is here with her book – Let us tell you, she took some shots with the stickball bat. She can hit!! We’ve had the old Dodgers Band stop by, Hugh McNally is teaching some kids Skully – so far so good. Will post more later.
Folks, On Sunday June 13 from 12 to about 5, we’re going to be on Flatbush Ave – near Grand Army Plaza – along Prospect Park between the library and the zoo. We’d love to have people come visit us and play a game of punchball, skully, boxball – or take a whack at a new Spaldeen in our Benefit Stickball event. Can you imagine – Flatbush as the stickball field!! If you can’t come – check it out on-line, we’ll be putting pictures and stories from the event. See ya then.
What kind of ball was used for stickball in the 1930’s, and earlier? I saw a picture of kids playing stickball around 1910, and wondered what they were using. I’m working on a story that takes place in the ’30’s, and I’d love to know where I could find this material. If Anyone has any information, I certainly would appreciate it. Pat W.
I grew up in Greenpoint Brooklyn on Manhattan Ave. I was making my communion in May of ’61. Before we went to church my buddies Kevin and Rob were on India Street playing stickball. There was still an hour before we had to leave, so I snuck out of the apartment while my mother wasn’t looking. I didn’t have time to change out of my suit. We were winning by 1 run until I tripped on my way to second, and shredded the knees right off my communion pants. I had ten minutes before I had to be at St. Cyril’s to make my communion so I rushed home, picturing my mothers angry expression when she’d see my torn suit. My mother was furios, but we got to church only a couple minutes late.
We used to play stick ball in a narrow alley at PS 208 in Brooklyn. We had a strike zone painted on the wall. On the roof was a HR, off the school 3rd flooe windows was a double. Triples were anything that hit the roof moldings. We used Spaldeens mostly, Pemsie Pinkies were too expensive, but they did seem to bounce further.
It has been a good ten or eleven years since I have held a stickball bat. Those were the days! I have since left the greatest city in the world, but will return in two years! I am interetsted in starting a stickball league or even just a few pickup games with my fellow classmates. Can get the tennis balls, but what about stickball bats? I don’t want to use broom handles. Where can I find some good-quality bats? Maybe on the internet? Let me know. It’s a great game!