Dictionary Definition
stickball n : a form of baseball played in the
streets with a rubber ball and broomstick handle [syn: stickball
game]
Extensive Definition
- For the traditional sport native to North America: see Stickball (Native American).
Stickball is a street game
related to baseball,
usually formed as a pick-up game, in large cities in the
Northeastern United
States (especially New York
City and Jersey 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
covers for bases with cars or buildings for foul lines. This
game was widely popular among Irish,
Italian,
Jewish, and
Puerto
Rican youths growing up from the 1930s to the 1980s in Boston, Philadelphia,
New
York City and Northern
New Jersey.
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 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.
The NYESL is a stickball league in the Bronx, NY.
There is an annual tournament during Memorial Day weekend that
draws teams from San Diego, New Jersey, Orlando, Miami and Puerto
Rico. The labor day tournaments are rotated between San Diego,
Florida and Puerto Rico.
The MSBL is also another stickball league that
plays fast pitch, wall ball. They are the first league to keep in
depth stats and play with small teams to keep everyone involved in
the action at all times. You can find them at http://www.scorebook.com/stickball.
They have a message set up for league discussion as well. They play
3 seasons, spring, summer, and fall with 3 championships, MVP's and
Cy Young's given out. Right now, they are the best game in town.
With major ballplayers and skilled self promoters from the local
tri-state area, such as Jimmy Wendling of Mamaroneck NY, Scott
Gaska of Harrison NY, James Ruocchio of Long Island, and Kyle Lucas
from upstate NY. The league bosts a pair of fireballing brothers,
the Yurchak's of Bayonne, NJ and the Annoscia's of Long
Island.
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. '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.
In another completely unrelated game by the same
name, 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 baseball, this game is more
akin to hackey
sack
Films
- Bragging Rights: Stickball Stories (2006). Directed by Sonia Gonzalez.
See also
External links
stickball in Japanese:
スティックボール