Stickball is a
street game
A street game or street sport is a sport or game that is played on city streets rather than a prepared game field, field. Street games are usually simply play time activities for children in the most convenient venue. Some street games have ris ...
similar to
baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball games, bat-and-ball sport played between two team sport, teams of nine players each, taking turns batting (baseball), batting and Fielding (baseball), fielding. The game occurs over the course of several Pitch ...
, usually formed as a
pick-up game
In sports and video games, a pick-up game (also known as a ''scratch game'' or ''PUG'') is a game that has been spontaneously started by a group of players. Players are generally invited to show up beforehand, but unlike exhibition games, there ...
played in large cities in the
Northeastern United States
The Northeastern United States (also referred to as the Northeast, the East Coast, or the American Northeast) is List of regions of the United States, census regions United States Census Bureau. Located on the East Coast of the United States, ...
, especially
New York City
New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...
,
Philadelphia
Philadelphia ( ), colloquially referred to as Philly, is the List of municipalities in Pennsylvania, most populous city in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania and the List of United States cities by population, sixth-most populous city in the Unit ...
, and
Boston
Boston is the capital and most populous city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the United States. The city serves as the cultural and Financial centre, financial center of New England, a region of the Northeas ...
.
The equipment consists of a
broom
A broom (also known as a broomstick) is a cleaning tool, consisting of usually stiff fibers (often made of materials such as plastic, hair, or corn husks) attached to, and roughly parallel to, a cylindrical handle, the broomstick. It is thus a ...
handle and a rubber ball, typically a
spaldeen
A Spalding Hi-Bounce Ball, often called a Spaldeen or a Pensie Pinkie, is a rubber ball, described as a tennis ball core without the felt. These balls are commonly used in street games developed in the mid-20th century, such as Chinese handball (a ...
,
pensy pinky, high bouncer or
tennis ball
A tennis ball is a small, hollow ball used in games of tennis and real tennis. Tennis balls are fluorescent yellow in Professional sports, professional competitions, but in Amateur sports, recreational play other colors are also used. Tennis bal ...
.
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
In fungo, the batter tosses the ball into the air and hits it on the way down or after one or more bounces. 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 movie ''
Rocky
''Rocky'' is a 1976 American independent film, independent sports drama film directed by John G. Avildsen and written by and starring Sylvester Stallone. It is the first installment in the Rocky (film series), ''Rocky'' franchise and also star ...
'', a group of youths play
halfball (a variant of stickball) on the streets of
Philadelphia
Philadelphia ( ), colloquially referred to as Philly, is the List of municipalities in Pennsylvania, most populous city in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania and the List of United States cities by population, sixth-most populous city in the Unit ...
. In the 1979 sequel ''
Rocky II
''Rocky II'' is a 1979 American sports drama film written, directed by, and starring Sylvester Stallone. It is the direct sequel to ''Rocky'' (1976) and the second installment in the ''Rocky'' franchise. It also stars Talia Shire, Burt Young, ...
'', the main character himself plays stickball/halfball in one scene.
* The season 4 episode, "
Lisa's First Word
"Lisa's First Word" is the tenth episode of the The Simpsons season 4, fourth season of the American animated television series ''The Simpsons''. It was first broadcast on Fox Broadcasting Company, Fox in the United States on December 3, 1992. ...
", of the animated series ''
The Simpsons
''The Simpsons'' is an American animated sitcom created by Matt Groening and developed by Groening, James L. Brooks and Sam Simon for the Fox Broadcasting Company. It is a Satire (film and television), satirical depiction of American life ...
'' has a scene taking place in the Lower East Side of Springfield (visualized like a typical 1930s urban
New York City
New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...
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
A video game or computer game is an electronic game that involves interaction with a user interface or input device (such as a joystick, game controller, controller, computer keyboard, keyboard, or motion sensing device) to generate visual fe ...
of the sport.
* In the song "
I'm The Man" by
Anthrax
Anthrax is an infection caused by the bacterium '' Bacillus anthracis'' or ''Bacillus cereus'' biovar ''anthracis''. Infection typically occurs by contact with the skin, inhalation, or intestinal absorption. Symptom onset occurs between one ...
,
Scott Ian
Scott Ian (born Scott Ian Rosenfeld, December 31, 1963) is an American musician, best known as the rhythm guitarist, lyricist and co-founder of the thrash metal band Anthrax (American band), Anthrax, of which he is the sole continuous member. Ia ...
is said to like playing stickball.
* ''
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 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.
See also
*
Cork ball
*
Gillidanda
Gillidanda is an ancient sport Traditional games of South Asia, originating from South Asia that is still widely played throughout South Asia. The sport is also found as far north as the Mediterranean Basin, Mediterranean and as far east as Sou ...
*
Half-rubber
Half-rubber, also known as halfball or halfies, is a bat-and-ball game similar to stick ball or baseball. The game was developed in the American South around the beginning of the 20th century, moving north with the Great Migration in New York Ci ...
*
Vitilla
*
Street cricket
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.
Baseball genres
Sports originating in the United States
Street games
Team sports
Ball and bat games
{{baseball-stub