Stickball
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Stickball is a street game similar to baseball, usually formed as a pick-up game played in large cities in the Northeastern United States, especially New York City, Philadelphia, and Boston.<ref name="NYTimes1985"/><ref name="BostonGlobe2013"/><ref name="ESPN2017"/> The equipment consists of a broom handle and a rubber ball, typically a spaldeen,<ref name="NYTimes2005Spaldeen"/> pensy pinky, high bouncer or tennis ball.<ref name="NYTimes1985"/><ref name="BostonGlobe2013"/> The rules come from baseball and are modified to fit the situation. For example, a manhole cover may be used as a base, or buildings for foul lines.<ref name="NYTimes1985"/><ref name="BostonGlobe2013"/> The game is a variation of bat and ball games dating back to at least the 1750s. This game was widely popular among youths during the 20th century until the 1980s.
Variants
In fungo, the batter tosses the ball into the air and hits it on the way down or after one or more bounces.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Another variant is vitilla, a popular variation of stickball played primarily in the Dominican Republic and areas in the United States with large Dominican populations.
In popular culture
- In a scene from the 1976 film Rocky, a group of youths play halfball (a variant of stickball) on the streets of Philadelphia.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In the 1979 sequel Rocky II, the main character himself plays stickball/halfball in one scene.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- The season 4 episode, "Lisa's First Word", of the animated series The Simpsons has a scene taking place on the Lower East Side of Springfield (visualized like a typical 1930s urban New York City neighborhood) where a boy asks his friends if they want to play stickball and they agree; instead of actually playing stickball, the group of kids head over to an arcade and play a video game of the sport.
- In the song "I'm The Man" by Anthrax, Scott Ian is said to like playing stickball.
- White Collar TV series (Episode 2.02 - "Need To Know") protagonist Neal Caffrey comes up with a clever plan to create a park in honor of the fictional boy Timmy Nolan, who loved to play stickball.
- In Billions TV series (Episode 2.09 - "Sic Transit Imperium"), character Bobby Axelrod plays stickball and shares a related story of how he grew up playing stickball.
- Billy Joel song (Keeping the faith) mentions the lyrics, "Learned Stickball as a formal education".
See also
- Cork ball
- Gillidanda
- Half-rubber
- Vitilla
- Street cricket
- Street Sports Basketball
- Street Sports Baseball
References
External links
- Fast pitch Stick ball (An Unheard Pastime) (2007), directed by Jesse Tornabe
- Coverage Of Stick ball Opening Day (2008)
- Bragging Rights: Stick ball Stories (2006), directed by Sonia Gonzalez
- Stick ball Night Coverage: Stick ball Highlights (2006), directed by Ross O. Fomerand