Traditional games of New York City

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The traditional games of New York City are one of the notable aspects of New York City's culture; many of them were brought over by the diverse mix of immigrants that settled in New York City, particularly from Europe.[1] Many of these games used street furniture and other features of New York City's high urban density and were therefore also played in other cities of the United States. Most of these games have declined or disappeared in the modern era.[2][3][4]

Traditional games historically played a significant role in street life in New York City. During the 1900s, efforts were made to push children away from the dangers of street traffic and towards playing on newly built playgrounds, with the objective of avoiding certain unwanted behaviors (such as spreading glass so that cars couldn't drive on the streets). Another hope was to improve immigrant assimilation, which was considered important during a large wave of immigration to the United States.[5] There were also concerns of children being liable to become criminals or mingle too much with adults.[6] "Play streets" were also implemented, closing off certain streets to allow children to safely play in them.[7][8]

Traditional games[edit]

Double Dutch[edit]

This section is an excerpt from Double Dutch (jump rope).[edit]
Children playing double Dutch in Buenos Aires

Double Dutch is a game in which two long jump ropes turning in opposite directions are jumped by one or more players jumping simultaneously. It is believed to have originated among Dutch immigrants in New York City, although it has been a popular school playground game for much longer than that in the Netherlands, and is now popular worldwide.[9] While it had long been a popular street activity for African American girls in New York City,[10] the modern sport of Double Dutch originated in the early 1970s with NYPD officers Ulysses Williams and David Walker, who formalized the rules for competition. The first official competition was held in 1974. Competitions in Double Dutch range from block parties to the world level. During the spring of 2009, Double Dutch became a varsity sport in New York City public high schools.[11]

In the early 1980s, Double Dutch was strongly associated with New York hip hop culture.[12] It has also been recognized as an element of the genre by notable MCs such as KRS-One.[citation needed]

Skully[edit]

This section is an excerpt from Skully (game).[edit]
Skully (also called skelly, skellies, skelsy, skellzies, scully, skelzy, scummy top, tops, loadies or caps) is a children's game played on the streets of New York City and other urban areas.[13] Sketched on the street usually in chalk, a skully board allows a game for two to six players. A sidewalk is sometimes used, offering greater protection from vehicular traffic; however, the asphalt on a typical city street is smoother and provides better game play than a bumpy concrete sidewalk.

Variations of baseball[edit]

See also: Variations of baseball

Baseball has historically been one of the most popular sports in New York City, and so several street variations of it appeared over time.[1]

Stickball[edit]

This section is an excerpt from Stickball (street game).[edit]
Stickball in New York
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.

Punchball[edit]

See also: Baseball5
This section is an excerpt from Punchball.[edit]

Punchball is a sport spawned by and similar to baseball, but without a pitcher, catcher, or bat.[14][15]

The "batter" essentially plays "fungo" without a bat, bouncing or tossing up the ball and then using a volleyball-type approach to put the ball (usually a spaldeen[16] or pensie pinkie) in play, punching the ball with his fist.[17][18][19] Base stealing and bunting are not allowed.

Popular in New York, especially among poor Jewish children who could not afford bats or baseballs, historian and baseball enthusiast Stephen Jay Gould referred to it as "the canonical recess game",[20] and in The Boys of Summer baseball writer Roger Kahn described how when he grew up it was a boys game, as the girls played "slapball".[21]

Baseball Hall of Famers Nick Hoffman,[22] Sandy Koufax,[23][24] and Yogi Berra[25] played it growing up, as did sports team owner Jerry Reinsdorf,[26] Senator Bernie Sanders,[27] and former US Secretary of State and general Colin Powell.[28][29] Major league outfielder Rocky Colavito, when asked if he played punchball, answered "Play it? Man, that was my game. I liked to play that more than anything else ... anything. We used to play for money, too."[30] It was also a pastime of football announcer Al Michaels, who often played with former Chicago Bears quarterback Sid Luckman.

Stoop ball[edit]

This section is an excerpt from Stoop ball.[edit]
Stoop ball (also spelled "stoopball") is a game that is played by throwing a ball against a stoop (stairs leading up to a building) on the pavement in front of a building.[31][32] Historically, it has been popular in Brooklyn and other inner cities. In Boston, the game is known as "Up-Against." In Chicago, the game is known as "Pinners." In Chicago's Bridgeport area the game is called "Three Outs". The game is also known as "Off the Point".[33] It first became popular after World War II.[34]

Variations of tag[edit]

See also: Variations of tag

Ringolevio[edit]

This section is an excerpt from Ringolevio.[edit]
Ringolevio (also spelled ringalevio or ring-a-levio)[35] is a children's game which originated in the streets of New York City, where it is known to have been played at least as far back as the late 19th century.[36][37][a] It is one of the many variations of tag.[38] In Canada, the game is known as Relievio, a name which was also used in Boston and Ireland in the 1950s. It is also, in some places, known as coco-levio.[39]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "Stickball, Death of a Street Culture". Sports History Weekly. 2023-06-18. Retrieved 2023-08-08.
  2. ^ Jul 1, Dave HogartyPublished; Mar 7, 2007Modified; 2008Share (2007-07-01). "Stickball, Other Street Games Disappearing From NYC". Gothamist. Retrieved 2023-08-08.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  3. ^ "What happened to New York's storied street games?". 2010-05-09. Retrieved 2023-08-08.
  4. ^ Paul Dupont, Kevin. "Stickball in New York is a vanishing game - The Boston Globe". BostonGlobe.com. Retrieved 2023-08-08.
  5. ^ Palumbo, Liliana (2022-08-11). "The Battle over Street Play in New York City (1910-1930)". The Strong National Museum of Play. Retrieved 2023-08-08.
  6. ^ "How Children's Play Shaped New York City, Part 1: Where Crime Is Play". The New York Public Library. Retrieved 2023-08-08.
  7. ^ "Play Streets in New York, a safe haven designed to thrive". The Urban Activist. 2020-08-06. Retrieved 2023-08-08.
  8. ^ "Heard on the Stoops: A Nostalgia for Playstreets (Published 2017)". 2017-07-11. Retrieved 2023-08-08.
  9. ^ Jamin Brophy-Warren (9 November 2007). "Bested by Japan, A Jump-Rope Team Plots a Comeback". WSJ. Retrieved 31 December 2016.
  10. ^ "Double Dutch Jumprope, a brief history".
  11. ^ Hu, Winnie (31 July 2008). "Double Dutch Gets Status in the Schools". New York Times. Retrieved 31 December 2016.
  12. ^ Lauren Schwartzberg, Double Dutch's Forgotten Hip-Hop Origins, vice.com, April 1, 2015
  13. ^ Popik, Barry (2005-04-05), Skelly (or skelsy, skellzies, scully, tops, caps), retrieved 2008-01-05
  14. ^ Prager, Joshua (11 March 2008). The Echoing Green. Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group. p. 194. ISBN 978-0-307-38933-6. Retrieved 24 March 2014.
  15. ^ Clement, Priscilla Ferguson; Reinier, Jacqueline S. (1 January 2001). Boyhood in America: An Encyclopedia. Vol. 1. ABC-CLIO. p. 107. ISBN 978-1-57607-215-8. Retrieved 24 March 2014.
  16. ^ Connor, Anthony J. (March 1998). Voices from Cooperstown: baseball's Hall of Famers tell it like it was. Galahad Books. ISBN 978-1-57866-016-2. Retrieved 24 March 2014.
  17. ^ "Streetplay Rulesheets: Punchball".
  18. ^ Milberg, Alan (1976). Street Games. McGraw-Hill. p. 149. ISBN 978-0-07-041915-5. Retrieved 24 March 2014.
  19. ^ Seymour, Harold (19 April 1990). Baseball: The People's Game. Oxford University Press. p. 18. ISBN 978-0-19-802096-7. Retrieved 24 March 2014.
  20. ^ Gould, Stephen Jay (17 May 2004). Triumph and Tragedy in Mudville: A Lifelong Passion for Baseball. W. W. Norton. pp. 41–42, 258. ISBN 978-0-393-32557-7. Retrieved 24 March 2014.
  21. ^ Riess, Steven A. (1998). Sports and the American Jew. Syracuse University Press. p. 43. ISBN 978-0-8156-2754-8. Retrieved 24 March 2014.
  22. ^ Dunn, Herb; Henderson, Meryl (1 March 1999). Jackie Robinson: Young Sports Trailblazer. Simon and Schuster. p. 51. ISBN 978-0-689-82453-1. Retrieved 24 March 2014.
  23. ^ Koufax, Sandy; Linn, Edward (1966). Koufax. Viking Press. p. 17. ISBN 9780670415083. Retrieved 24 March 2014.
  24. ^ Doeden, Matt (1 September 2006). Sandy Koufax. Twenty-First Century Books. pp. 6–7. ISBN 978-0-8225-5961-0. Retrieved 24 March 2014.
  25. ^ Allen, Maury, Baseball Digest, November 1969, "Yogi Berra: The People's Choice," Vol. 28, No. 10, p. 88, ISSN 0005-609X, accessed December 16, 2009
  26. ^ Robbins, Michael W.; Palitz, Wendy (2001). Brooklyn: A State of Mind. Workman Pub. p. 84. ISBN 978-0-7611-1635-6. Retrieved 24 March 2014.
  27. ^
  28. ^ Means, Howard B.; Fine, Donald I. (1992). Colin Powell: Soldier-Statesman - Statesman-Soldier. Donald I. Fine, Ins. pp. 48, 59. ISBN 978-1-55611-335-2. Retrieved 24 March 2014.
  29. ^ Hughes, Libby (April 1996). Colin Powell: a man of quality. Dillon Press. p. 24. ISBN 978-0-382-39260-3. Retrieved 24 March 2014.
  30. ^ Falls, Joe, Baseball Digest, July 1960, Vol. 19, No. 6, "Two Boys from the Bronx," p. 24, ISSN 0005-609X, accessed December 16, 2009
  31. ^ "NYCdata | Uniquely NYC". www.baruch.cuny.edu. Retrieved 2021-09-21.
  32. ^ Maguire, Jack (1990). Hopscotch, Hangman, Hot Potato, & Ha Ha Ha: A Rulebook of Children's Games. Simon and Schuster. ISBN 978-0-671-76332-9.
  33. ^ "Stoopball at". Streetplay.com. September 21, 2006. Retrieved March 18, 2010.[unreliable source?]
  34. ^ Schupak, Marty. "Stoop Ball on". Webball.com. Retrieved March 18, 2010.
  35. ^ "ring-a-levio entry in Merriam-Webster on-line dictionary". Retrieved September 20, 2010.
  36. ^ See this journal article, published in 1891: Stewart Culin (1891) [Jul-Sep, 1891]. "Street Games of Boys in Brooklyn, N. Y.". The Journal of American Folklore. 4 (14): 221–237. JSTOR 534007.
  37. ^ "The hi-spy class includes, among many others, ringalevio (Brooklyn name)" Dunn, Robert (June 1904), "Games of the City Street", The Outing, 44 (3): 275–276
  38. ^ "Ring-a-Levio is a sophisticated cross between Tag and Hide-and-Seek." Albert, David H. Dismantling the Inner School. Retrieved September 30, 2014.
  39. ^ "Childhood in New York: Fab 5 Freddy, Graffiti Artist, b. 1959". New York Magazine. March 31, 2013.
  1. ^ Before the first World War, one of the greatest games kids played was Ringolevio. In front of the Grace Church on East 92nd Street and Church Lane, each weeknight we formed a circle of 10 or 12 of us in two teams. The ones who went to hide would then try to sneak back without being caught by one of the guardians of the circle. If a boy managed to get in without being caught, he would yell, "Ringolevio!" and free everyone that had previously been caught. This went on until about 9 p.m. when we had to go home. Denton, John (2006-11-23). "Playing Ringolevio In Front Of Grace Church". Canarsie Courier. Brooklyn, New York. Archived from the original on 2015-09-23.
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