How well I remember kids playing stickball in the "gutter". Their game was constantly punctuated by cars going up the street. Several kids got hit by cars, too, as I recall, and had to be taken to the hospital by ambulance. My street was a busy one. I also remember games being temporarily halted by the old fashioned street cleaner trucks...remember those, with the water spraying everthing, (and everyone) on both sides? The water smelled kind of sewery, to tell the truth. Then there was Mr. Softee, which the kids didn't mind stopping the game for, or the Cubby Cone truck, or Good Humor with the bells. Then, too, I remember what I think was called "piragua",which was a Puerto Rican delicacy of shaved ice, with pina colada syrup or a multitude of other syrups poured over it. The Spanish man pushed a wooden cart up and down the streets, and the syrups sloshed with color and sweetness as he went by. He had in the middle of the cart, a huge block of ice, which he shaved for each serving. It was delicious! Oh such vivid memories! I digress again. Guess this belongs in the food section! lol It's called free association! lol. God bless. Kris
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Posts: 214 | Location: Saratoga Springs, New York | Registered: 10 November 2006
Believe it or not, I never played stickball in the street, like so many did. We had the Taft HS schoolyard, which was right across the street from my building. All stickball was played there, so my writeup on that great game was based on that experience, but I tried to encompass most of what I heard from kids living in other neighborhoods. I doubt if I will post it, since even with editing, it is rather long.
Pete
Posts: 171 | Location: Connecticut | Registered: 12 August 2004
Hi Pete. When I lived on 173rd,one could usually find a good game at the PS 70 schoolyard. However after moving on up to the Fordham area, it was pretty much played in the streets...Marion Ave was not too bad. Up on Bainbridge, you had to watch for the BX-4 bus going north.
Posts: 2523 | Location: Too Far From The Bronx | Registered: 20 March 2006
I believe we soaked ours in warm water but since sometimers(somtimes I remember sometines I don't) has taken over I,m not positive. Memories of the schoolyard and the street we played on,P.S. 82 and west 175 street.
Kenneth, our ritual was to soak the ball in "cold" water. I guess it depended on what the neighborhood tradition was!
Yvonne, we had a similar ritual with selection based on which ball bounced the highest. And yea, the traffic on the street did get in the way and its a wonder we survived without injury. At least 183rd and Creston had that college (Bronx Community?) which probably served well for box ball.
I just put up a picture of me attempting to relive my stickball days about two years ago at a small lake place we own. I found an extra garage broom handle and some old tennis balls in my shed (sorry, no Spaldeens) and proceeded to whack them out into the lake. I had pretty good results, and the form isn't bad, is it? Not for a 71 year old geezer, anyway (73 now). Mike says it looks like about a 3 sewer swing. Tennis balls never did travel as well as Spaldeens, but I think I got one out about 150 feet. I'll leave this picture for a while.
Pete
Posts: 171 | Location: Connecticut | Registered: 12 August 2004
Hi charis. I saw your post & like to say Im from 134 street bet 134 brook & st ann ave South Bx we play Stick ball . on lincoln ave . we had good time all of the guys from the ave . I would like to know if you know of any Stick ball game that come one a year.I WOULD LIKE TO SEE ONE TY Butchgbunn5@aol.com
