Thetraditional games of New York City are one of the notable aspects ofNew 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 usedstreet furniture and other features of New York City's highurban 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 builtplaygrounds, 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 ofimmigration to the United States.[5] There were also concerns of children being liable to become criminals or mingle too much with adults.[6] However, racial integration was not pursued as thoroughly; in the 1930s, New York City built 255 playgrounds, only 2 of which were in black neighborhoods.[7] "Play streets" were also implemented, closing off certain streets to allow children to safely play in them.[8][9]
Double Dutch is a game in which two longjump ropes turning in opposite directions are jumped by one or more players jumping simultaneously.
It is widely acknowledged that modern Double Dutch originated in the United States among girls in predominantly Black urban communities during the 1940s and 1950s, who congregated on street corners to display new tricks and repurposed clotheslines as ropes.[10][11][12] While it had long been a popular street activity forAfrican American girls in New York City,[13] the rules of the sport were formalized in the early 1970s byNYPD officers Ulysses Williams and David Walker. 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.[14] In the early 1980s, Double Dutch was strongly associated with New Yorkhip hop culture.[15] It has also been recognized as an element of the genre by notable MCs such asKRS-One.[16]
Although it is popularly claimed the activity was brought to America by Dutch settlers, the term "double Dutch" itself has long existed in English slang, where it originally referred to incomprehensible speech or nonsense, reflecting historical English views of the Dutch language as confusing or strange. Phrases such as "in Dutch," meaning to be in trouble, further illustrate this pejorative connotation. The use of the term "double Dutch" for the game reflects the visual complexity and perceived challenge of the jump-roping, similar to the confusion implied by the idiom.[17]
Skully (also called skelly, skellies, skelsy, skellzies, scully, skelzy, scummy top, tops, loadies or caps) is achildren's game played on the streets ofNew York City and other urban areas.[18] 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.
Chinese handball is a form ofAmerican handball popular on the streets ofNew York City,Philadelphia, andBridgewater during the 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s and still played today, mostly in New York City, Philadelphia, and San Diego. Different variations are played around the world. Its defining feature is that, unlike traditional handball, in Chinese or indirect handball, for a shot to be valid, the ball must hit the ground before it hits the wall. Because it is often played with large or irregular numbers of players, it is considered a more social and accessible alternative to conventional American handball, especially in schoolyard settings.
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] Playing street variations of baseball was a way for immigrants toassimilate and join American life without having to spend the money required to participate in regular baseball.[19]
Stickball is astreet game similar tobaseball, usually formed as apick-up game played in large cities in theNortheastern United States, especiallyNew York City,Philadelphia, andBoston.[20][21][22] The equipment consists of abroom handle and a rubber ball, typically aspaldeen,[23] pensy pinky, high bouncer ortennis ball.[20][21] The rules come from baseball and are modified to fit the situation. For example, amanhole cover may be used as a base, or buildings for foul lines.[20][21] The game is a variation ofbat 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 is a sport spawned by andsimilar tobaseball, but without apitcher,catcher, orbat.[24][25]
The "batter" essentially plays "fungo" without a bat, bouncing or tossing up the ball and then using avolleyball type approach to put the ball in play, punching the ball with his fist.[26][27][28] The ball was usually a rubberspaldeen[29] or pensie pinkie, but even a tennis ball or wad of taped-up paper can be used.[30][a]Base stealing,foul balls,[34] andbunting are not allowed.
Stoop ball (also spelled "stoopball") is a game that is played by throwing a ball against astoop (stairs leading up to a building) on the pavement in front of a building.[35][36] Historically, it has been popular inBrooklyn and otherinner cities. InBoston, the game is known as "Up-Against", while inChicago, 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".[37] It first became popular afterWorld War II.[38]
Ringolevio (also spelled ringalevio or ring-a-levio)[39] is a children'sgame that originated in the streets ofNew York City, where it is known to have been played at least as far back as the late 19th century.[40][41][b] It is one of the many variations oftag.[42] InCanada, the game is known as Relievio, a name that was also used inBoston andIreland in the 1950s. It is also, in some places, known as coco-levio.[43]
New York City was the hotbed of stickball interest. Devised in the 1920s, for many years the game was calledOne-Bounce. A pitcher would bounce aspaldeen - the little pink rubber ball that cost a nickel - to the plate. When it was hit with the sawed-off broomstick handle that served as a bat without being caught, the batter advanced to impromptu bases (sewers, for instance). [...] Stickball's popularity peaked in the 1950s. By the 60s, with the increasing number of cars that clogged city streets and the mass exodus to the suburbs, the game fell into decline.
What's more quintessential New York than stickball, right? Uh, no, not right. Stickball doesn't live here anymore. At least not in the way it does in the mind's eye, how it did when a young, vibrant Willie Mays swung a broom handle in the street outside his old home in Harlem in the 1950s or when Joe Pepitone did as a stylish Yankee in Brooklyn in the '60s.
Stickball was once an integral part of the urban youth experience. Images of ragtag groups of children playing in the street became iconic depictions of New York City and helped shape the world's perception of New Yorkers as the street-smart, rough-and-tumble class of America. Slowly, like so much of Americana, it has faded from the streets, cars and buses rendering the roadways perilous, Xboxes and iPhones commandeering kids' attention.
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