Stickball (street game)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a4/Queens_stickball.jpg/280px-Queens_stickball.jpg)
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 and Philadelphia. The equipment consists of a broom handle and a rubber ball, typically a spaldeen, pensy pinky, high bouncer or tennis ball. 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. The game is a variation of stick 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
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/07/Boys_Playing_Stickball%2C_Havana%2C_Cuba%2C_1999.jpg/300px-Boys_Playing_Stickball%2C_Havana%2C_Cuba%2C_1999.jpg)
In fungo, the batter tosses the ball into the air and hits it on the way down or after one or more bounces.[1] 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.
Stickball in popular culture
- In a scene from the 1976 movie Rocky, a group of youths play halfball (a variant of stickball) on the streets of Philadelphia.[2] In the 1979 sequel Rocky II, the main character himself plays stickball/halfball in one scene.[3]
- The season 4 episode, "Lisa's First Word", of the animated series The Simpsons has a scene taking place in the Lower East Side of Springfield (visualized like a typical 1930s urban New York City neighborhood) where a boy says to 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.
- White Collar TV series (Episode 2.02 - "Need To Know") protagonist Neil Coffrey comes up with a clever plan to create a park in honor of the fictional boy Timmy Nolan, who loved to play the old-fashioned game of stickball.
- During the opening credits of Big starring Tom Hanks.
Films
- 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.
See also
References
- v
- t
- e
Basket sports | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Football codes |
| ||||||||||||
Stick-and-ball sports |
| ||||||||||||
Other ball sports |
games
- Baseball
- Baseball5
- Brännboll
- Corkball
- Cricket
- Danish longball
- Indoor cricket
- Kickball
- Lapta
- Matball
- Oină
- Over-the-line
- Pesäpallo
- Rounders
- Schlagball
- Softball
- Stickball
- Stoolball
- Town ball
- Vigoro
- Vitilla
- British baseball
- Wiffle ball
- Wireball
- Airsoft
- Bo-taoshi
- Buzkashi
- Combat (juggling)
- Curling
- Guts
- Hornussen
- Jereed
- Makura-Nage
- Paintball
- Roller derby
- Synchronized skating
- Tug of war
- Ultimate
![]() | This baseball-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
- v
- t
- e