Stickball
Encyclopedia
Stickball is a street game
related to baseball
, usually formed as a pick-up game, played in large cities in the Northeastern United States, especially New York City
. The equipment consists of a broom
handle and a rubber ball, typically a spaldeen
, pensie pinkie, high bouncer or tennis ball
. The rules come from baseball and are modified to fit the situation, i.e. manhole cover
s for bases or buildings for foul lines. This game was widely popular among youths growing up from the 19th century until the 1980s in Boston
, Philadelphia, New York City
and Northern New Jersey. The game is a variation of stick and ball games dating back to at least the 1750s.
There are three different styles of stickball based on how the ball is pitched. In fast pitch, the batter has a wall or fence as a back stop. A rectangle is drawn on the artificial backstop in order to create a strike zone. The rectangle is chalked. If the batter does not swing and any part of the ball has chalk on it when it bounces back to the pitcher, the result is a called strike. If there is no chalk on the ball, the result is a ball. This type of play (seen in the picture to the right) is most commonly seen in schoolyards throughout, predominantly, Staten Island
, Brooklyn, NY Long Island
, and, to a lesser extent, in Queens, NY, and Jersey City, NJ. In slow pitch the pitcher stands 40 to 50 feet from the batter and the ball is hit after one bounce. In fungo, the batter tosses the ball into the air and hits it on the way down or after one or more bounces.
The batter may be out after one, two or three strikes, depending on regional rules. If the ball lands on a roof, porch or breaks a window far away it is usually ruled a home run. Hits are decided by how far the ball travels. In some versions of stickball there is no running, however in most leagues, including the New York Emperors Stickball League
, the batter has to run the bases just like in baseball.
In Boston variations of stickball, a broomstick is usually replaced with a cut hockey stick, allowing a little more 'pop' on the ball if hit correctly. Also, when playing slowpitch, the ball is not necessarily bounced while pitched. A 'loaded wiffle bat', consisting of a Wiffle bat sawed-off and filled with wet newspaper or superballs then wrapped in electrical, duct, or hockey tape to hold it together, is also popular in the North Shore suburbs. 'Monkey Ball' is also usually allowed in slow pitch, regarding base runners. When 'monkey ball' is allowed, fielders can throw the ball at baserunners, eliminating the need to tag a base to get a runner out. An additional rule that can be played while running the bases is called "pitchers poison". This allows for fielders to throw the ball to the pitcher standing on the mound instead of a first basemen.
Burby is a game believed to have its roots in Toronto in the late 70's and early 80's. Spun off from baseball and closely related to the American game of stickball, the name 'burby' may be derived from the fact that it is a sport born out of the suburbs. Burby is typically played with a wooden bat and tennis balls. This sport has been played in films like A Bronx Tale and Rocky 2
, this game is more akin to hackey sack
and contact juggling
. 'The game involves smoothly moving the ball from one person to another using the ball and the stick. It’s cooperative rather than competitive and is beautiful to watch, something like Tai-Chi.'. The major difference between Australian StickBall and most games is the lack of competitive nature and an increased co-operation. It first appeared in Australia in the late 1990s and is now also played in the UK, Europe and India. Large crowds have recently been reported playing stickball in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota, specifically in the Loring Park neighborhood.
Street game
A street game is a sport or game that is played on city streets rather than a prepared field. Street games are usually simply play time activities of children in the most convenient venue...
related to baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
, usually formed as a pick-up game, played in large cities in the Northeastern United States, especially New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. The equipment consists of a broom
Broom
A broom is a cleaning tool consisting of stiff fibers attached to, and roughly parallel to, a cylindrical handle, the broomstick. It is thus a variety of brush with a long handle. It is commonly used in combination with a dustpan....
handle and a rubber ball, typically a spaldeen
Spaldeen
thumb| 250px|Modern-day SpaldeenA Spalding Hi-Bounce Ball, often called a Spaldeen , is a small pink rubber ball, somewhat similar to a racquetball, supposedly made from the defective core of a tennis ball without the felt. It was the more expensive and more popular version of the Pensie Pinkie...
, pensie pinkie, high bouncer or tennis ball
Tennis ball
A tennis ball is a ball designed for the sport of tennis,approximately 6.7 cm in diameter. Tennis balls are generally bright green, but in recreational play can be virtually any color. Tennis balls are covered in a fibrous fluffy felt which modifies their aerodynamic properties...
. The rules come from baseball and are modified to fit the situation, i.e. manhole cover
Manhole cover
A manhole cover is a removable plate forming the lid over the opening of a manhole, to prevent anyone from falling in and to keep unauthorized persons out....
s for bases or buildings for foul lines. This game was widely popular among youths growing up from the 19th century until the 1980s in Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
, Philadelphia, New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and Northern New Jersey. The game is a variation of stick and ball games dating back to at least the 1750s.
There are three different styles of stickball based on how the ball is pitched. In fast pitch, the batter has a wall or fence as a back stop. A rectangle is drawn on the artificial backstop in order to create a strike zone. The rectangle is chalked. If the batter does not swing and any part of the ball has chalk on it when it bounces back to the pitcher, the result is a called strike. If there is no chalk on the ball, the result is a ball. This type of play (seen in the picture to the right) is most commonly seen in schoolyards throughout, predominantly, Staten Island
Staten Island
Staten Island is a borough of New York City, New York, United States, located in the southwest part of the city. Staten Island is separated from New Jersey by the Arthur Kill and the Kill Van Kull, and from the rest of New York by New York Bay...
, Brooklyn, NY Long Island
Long Island
Long Island is an island located in the southeast part of the U.S. state of New York, just east of Manhattan. Stretching northeast into the Atlantic Ocean, Long Island contains four counties, two of which are boroughs of New York City , and two of which are mainly suburban...
, and, to a lesser extent, in Queens, NY, and Jersey City, NJ. In slow pitch the pitcher stands 40 to 50 feet from the batter and the ball is hit after one bounce. In fungo, the batter tosses the ball into the air and hits it on the way down or after one or more bounces.
The batter may be out after one, two or three strikes, depending on regional rules. If the ball lands on a roof, porch or breaks a window far away it is usually ruled a home run. Hits are decided by how far the ball travels. In some versions of stickball there is no running, however in most leagues, including the New York Emperors Stickball League
New York Emperors Stickball League
The New York Emperors Stickball League is a stickball league in The Bronx, New York City. Established in 1985,, the league has eight teams and a youth division...
, the batter has to run the bases just like in baseball.
In Boston variations of stickball, a broomstick is usually replaced with a cut hockey stick, allowing a little more 'pop' on the ball if hit correctly. Also, when playing slowpitch, the ball is not necessarily bounced while pitched. A 'loaded wiffle bat', consisting of a Wiffle bat sawed-off and filled with wet newspaper or superballs then wrapped in electrical, duct, or hockey tape to hold it together, is also popular in the North Shore suburbs. 'Monkey Ball' is also usually allowed in slow pitch, regarding base runners. When 'monkey ball' is allowed, fielders can throw the ball at baserunners, eliminating the need to tag a base to get a runner out. An additional rule that can be played while running the bases is called "pitchers poison". This allows for fielders to throw the ball to the pitcher standing on the mound instead of a first basemen.
Burby is a game believed to have its roots in Toronto in the late 70's and early 80's. Spun off from baseball and closely related to the American game of stickball, the name 'burby' may be derived from the fact that it is a sport born out of the suburbs. Burby is typically played with a wooden bat and tennis balls. This sport has been played in films like A Bronx Tale and Rocky 2
Australian game of the same name
In another completely unrelated game by the same name, thought to have originated in Brisbane's West End, players stand in a circle all holding sticks, usually broom handles. They then pass a giant tennis ball to each other by rolling it along the stick and launching it. The objective of the game is to keep the ball flowing. Each player is unique in their technique. Unlike the other games which are related to baseballBaseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
, this game is more akin to hackey sack
Footbag
A footbag is both a small, round bag, and the term for the various sports played with one – characterized by controlling the bag by using one's feet. Although often referred to generically as a Hacky Sack, that is the trademarked name of one specific brand.Footbag-like activities have existed...
and contact juggling
Contact juggling
Contact juggling is a form of object manipulation that focuses on the movement of objects such as balls in contact with the body. Although often used in conjunction with "toss juggling", it differs in that it involves the rolling of one or more objects without releasing them into the air...
. 'The game involves smoothly moving the ball from one person to another using the ball and the stick. It’s cooperative rather than competitive and is beautiful to watch, something like Tai-Chi.'. The major difference between Australian StickBall and most games is the lack of competitive nature and an increased co-operation. It first appeared in Australia in the late 1990s and is now also played in the UK, Europe and India. Large crowds have recently been reported playing stickball in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota, specifically in the Loring Park neighborhood.
Films
- Fastpitch Stickball (An Unheard Pastime) (2007) Directed by Jesse Tornabe
- Coverage Of Stickball Opening Day (2008)
- Bragging Rights: Stickball Stories (2006). Directed by Sonia Gonzalez.
- New York Street Games (2010).