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While the Phillies are wielding wood in Florida, South Philly’s youngsters are longing for temperate days to match the Sunshine State’s slate of cozy afternoons. Once fairer weather finds them, the children, along with many uninhibited adults, will hit schoolyards and playgrounds to play stickball, the top selection for schoolyard/street game.
As organized baseball can prove costly, this variation delights fans of frugality, as broom handles, altered hockey sticks and stickball bats serve as the propellers of high bouncers and tennis balls. With paint or tape forming a rectangular strike zone, and bags, clothing, garbage can lids and heaven knows what other items as bases, all youths can mimic their diamond heroes by blasting home runs, making great catches and registering strikeouts.
Participants can elect to face fast or slow deliveries on a bounce or launch the balls on their own, a practice known as “fungo,” but not matter the means, they are furthering fascination with an activity wildly popular in the Northeast. The opportunity to set the rules, such as a player’s allotment of strikes and the classification of hits depending on distance traveled, also can up the strategy and intensity. Regardless of who emerges victorious, residential windows always go down as winners by never having the children’s cuts crash through them.
Halfball bounded into second place, and hopscotch leapt into the third spot.
Contact Staff Writer Joseph Myers at jmyers@southphillyreview.com or ext. 124.
2013 Readers’ Choice Awards
Cuisine
Scannicchio’s Italian Restaurant: Gravy/sauce
Geno’s Steaks: French fries / cheesesteak
PrimoHoagies: Hoagie
Johnny Chang’s: Sushi
Nick’s Old Original Roast Beef: Roast beef sandwich
City Pizza: Pizza toppings
Green Eggs Café: Sunday brunch
Penrose Diner: Waffles
Popi’s Italian Restaurant: Business luncheon/banquet
FrancoLuigi’s Pizzeria: Romantic outing
Ristorante Pesto: Italian restaurant
Cantina Los Cabalitos: Ethnic restaurant (non-Italian)
Noir: New restaurant
Sweet Tooth
Termini Bros.: Cannoli (tie)
Potito’s Bakery: Cannoli (tie) / cupcakes
Italiano’s Water Ice: Water ice
Lerro’s Candy Co.: Candy store
Staying Active
DanceAdelphia: Dance studio
Girard Academic Music Program: Music program
Marconi Plaza: Place to walk your dog
Stickball: Schoolyard/street game
Guerin Recreation Center: Recreation Center
Wake Up Yoga: Place to take a yoga class
Places
East Passyunk Avenue: Neighborhood
Pennsylvania Burial Co.: Funeral home
Philadelphia Performing Arts Charter School: School
St. Monica: Church
Ten Pennies: Florist
Chickie’s and Pete’s: Place to enjoy a game
Sports
Frank Natale: High school coach
Ss. Neumann-Goretti High School Saints: High school team
Citizens Bank Park: Pro sports venue
Chase Utley: Current Philly pro athlete
Ed Snider: Philly pro sports owner
And the Rest
Mummers Parade: South Philadelphia tradition
Councilman Mark Squilla: Politician
Social Scene: South Philly Review section
Disc jockey: Category not on this list
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