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DONKEY ON THE ROCK

IT IS A VARIATION OF HIDE 'N' SEEK. YOU PUT A TIN
CAN ON A BRICK. THE ONE WHO IS "IT" MUST FIND THE
OTHER PLAYERS AND WHILE HE IS SEARCHING, SOMEONE CAN
COME AND KNOCK THE CAN OFF AND FREE THE ONES WHO ARE
CAUGHT.
EVERYONE MUST BE IN (I.E., CAUGHT) BEFORE THE GAME
IS OVER. THEN THE ONE WHO WAS "IT" KNOCKS THE CAN
OFF AND CALLS ANOTHER NAME OF THE NEXT ONE TO BE
"IT."

Submitter comment: PLAYED AS A BOY IN HOLLISTER, OHIO

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; OHIO ; DETROIT ; HOLLISTER

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement Special Object or Implement

Date learned: 05-11-1965

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GA GA

A GAME PLAYED WITH A KICKBALL THAT IS STARTED BY
DROPPING THE BALL AND LETTING IT BOUNCE THREE
TIMES (GA GA GA). YOU MAY NOT LET THE BALL TOUCH
YOU ABOVE THE KNEES, OR YOU ARE OUT. YOU MUST KICK
THE BALL WHILE IT IS ON THE GROUND AND TRY TO KNOCK
SOMEONE ELSE OUT. THE LAST ONE LEFT IS THE WINNER.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement Special Object or Implement

Date learned: 10-23-1970

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HILL BALL

CHILDREN STAND IN A CIRCLE. ONE CHILD THROWS
THE BALL DOWN THE HILL, CHILDREN RACE DOWN THE HILL
TO SEE WHO CAN BRING BACK THE BALL FIRST.

Submitter comment: LEARNED FROM WATCHING KINDERGARTEN CHILDREN.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement Special Object or Implement

Date learned: 12-00-1966

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HOME RUN DERBY

THIS IS A BASEBALL GAME. THE OBJECT WAS TO HIT A
PITCHED BALL OVER A FENCE. EACH TIME YOU DID,
YOU GOT ONE POINT. IF YOU DIDN'T, YOU GOT AN OUT.
THREE OUTS AND YOU FIELDED TILL YOUR TURN CAME UP
AGAIN. THE GAME LASTS FOR NINE INNINGS. THE
WINNER IS THE MAN WITH THE MOST RUNS.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT LEARNED IT FROM HIS FRIENDS.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement Special Object or Implement

Date learned: 11-00-1967

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HORSE

THIS WAS A VERY POPULAR GAME FOR BACKYARD BASKETBALL.
ONE PERSON WOULD BEGIN BY ATTEMPTING ANY TYPE OF
SHOT HE WISHED (LONG, SHORT, OVER THE BACK, BETWEEN
THE LEGS, ETC.). AS SOON AS ONE PERSON COMPLETED
A SHOT SUCCESSFULLY, EACH OF THE OTHERS WOULD BE
REQUIRED TO COMPLETE IT ALSO. IF YOU MISSED, YOU
RECEIVED A LETTER STARTING WITH "H". WHEN YOU HAD
ACCUMULATED ENOUGH LETTERS (FIVE MISSES) TO SPELL
HORSE, YOU WERE OUT OF THE GAME. THE LAST PERSON TO
REMAIN WAS THE WINNER. OF COURSE, WHEN YOU MISSED
AND RECEIVED A LETTER, ANOTHER TYPE OF SHOT WOULD HAVE
TO BE ORIGINATED. YOU JUST DIDN'T TRY UNTIL YOU
MADE IT.

Submitter comment: I LEARNED THIS FROM MY BOYHOOD FRIENDS IN DETROIT.
SOMETIMES THERE WAS A PENALTY ATTACHED TO IT. THIS
CONSISTED OF THE WINNERS GETTING TO THROW THE BALL
ONCE EACH AT THE LOSER TO HIT HIM IN THE BODY. HE
COULD TRY TO FEND OFF THE BLOWS.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement Special Object or Implement

Date learned: 00-00-1963

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HOT FANNY

YOU NEED A BASKETBALL AND THREE OR MORE CHILDREN.
EACH CHILD CHOOSES A NUMBER OF HIS OWN, AND HE MUST
REMEMBER EVERYBODY ELSE'S NUMBER. ONE PERSON BEGINS
BY THROWING A BALL ONTO THE ROOF OF THE GARAGE
AND YELLS OUT A NUMBER. THE PERSON WHOSE NUMBER
HAS BEEN CALLED MUST CATCH THE BALL BEFORE IT HITS
THE GROUND AND EVERYONE SCATTERS TO THE LIMITS OF A
SPECIFIED AREA. AS SOON AS THE PERSON CATCHES THE
BALL, HE YELLS "STOP" AND EVERYONE FREEZES. THE
PERSON TAKES THREE STEPS AND THROWS THE BALL AT ONE
OF THE OTHER PEOPLE. THE OTHER PERSON MUST CATCH
THE BALL OR HE GETS "HOT FANNY." HOT FANNY IS WHERE
EVERYBODY LINES UP AND THROWS THE BALL AT THE FANNY
(BUTTOCKS) OF THE PERSON WHO IS BEING PUNISHED.
IF ONE OF THE PEOPLE MISS, THEN THEY MUST COVER UP
THE PERSON AND TAKE THE REMAINING PUNISHMENT. ALSO
IF THE PERSON WHOSE NUMBER IS CALLED MISSES CATCHING
THE BALL, HE GETS THE SAME TREATMENT.

Submitter comment: I LEARNED IT FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD CHILDREN WHEN
I WAS LITTLE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement Special Object or Implement

Date learned: CHILDHOOD

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IRON BALL

THIS IS A GAME PLAYED ONLY BY THE MEN. THEY PICK
UP A LARGE IRON BOLL (BALL) AND THROW IT AS FAR AS
THEY CAN DOWN A COUNTRY ROAD. THE ONE WHO THROWS IT
THE FURTHEST, WINS THE GAME.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT HAS SEEN THE BOLL THROWN OVER A MILE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement Special Object or Implement

Date learned: 11-18-1970

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INDIAN BALL

ONE PLAYER HAS A BALL AND A BAT WITH WHICH TO HIT IT.
HE STANDS FACING THE OTHER PLAYERS, WHO MAY STAND
AS NEAR OR AS FAR AWAY FROM HIM AS THEY WISH. THE
ONE WITH THE BAT WOULD THROW THE BALL INTO THE AIR
AND STRIKE IT FAIRLY HARD WITH THE BAT. THE OTHER
PARTICIPANTS WOULD TRY TO CATCH THE BALL, EITHER IN
THE AIR OR ON THE GROUND. WHOEVER CAUGHT IT WOULD
HAVE TO STAND IN THE SPOT WHERE HE CAUGHT THE BALL.
THEN THE PERSON "AT BAT" WOULD PLACE THE BAT ON THE
GROUND IN FRONT OF HIM (HORIZONTALLY) AND KNEEL BEHIND
IT. THEN THE PERSON WHO HAD CAUGHT THE BALL WOULD
ROLL IT TOWARDS THE BAT. IF THE BALL HIT THE BAT
BOUNCED UP AND THE MAN "AT BAT" FAILED TO CATCH IT,
THEN THE PERSON WHO THREW THE BALL GOT TO BE "AT BAT"
AND THE "AT BAT" MAN WENT INTO THE FIELD. BUT IF THE
PERSON CATCHING THE BALL THREW IT AND MISSED THE
BAT, OR IT HIT THE BAT AND THE MAN "AT BAT" CAUGHT IT,
THEN THE MAN ORIGINALLY AT BAT MERELY PICKED UP THE
BAT AND KEPT HITTING.

Submitter comment: I LEARNED THIS FROM NORTHWEST DETROIT BOYS.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement Special Object or Implement

Date learned: 00-00-1963

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INDIAN BALL

ONE PLAYER HITS A BALL WITH A BAT WHILE THE OTHER
PLAYERS STAND OUT IN THE PLAYING FIELD AND CATCH THE
BALL. IF A PLAYER CATCHES THE BALL ON THE "FLY"
(DOESN'T LET IT TOUCH THE GROUND) HE AUTOMATICALLY
GETS A TURN AT BAT. IF HE CATCHES THE BALL AFTER IT
TOUCHES THE GROUND, THE BATTER LAYS THE BAT ON THE
GROUND AND THE CATCHER TRIES TO HIT THE BAT BY ROLLING
IT ALONG THE GROUND. IF THE BALL HITS THE BAT, IT
WILL BOUNCE UP INTO THE AIR AND THE BATTER MUST, THEN,
CATCH IT. IF THE BATTER FAILS TO CATCH IT, THE ROLLER
OF THE BALL THEN GETS A TURN TO BAT. THE BATTER THEN
TAKES TO THE FIELD.

Submitter comment: LEARNED THIS GAME IN PLAYGROUND

Where learned: OHIO ; CANTON ; SAINT PETERS SCHOOL

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement Special Object or Implement

Date learned: 11-30-1967

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KEEP AWAY

YOU HAVE TWO TEAMS. A BALL IS THROWN UP IN THE AIR
AND THE TEAM THAT GETS IT TRIES TO KEEP IT AWAY
FROM THE OTHER TEAM. ANY MEANS OF KEEPING THE BALL
AND OF GETTING THE BALL ARE PERMITTED. WHEN THE
TEAM THAT DIDN'T HAVE THE BALL GETS IT, THEN THEY
TRY TO KEEP IT AWAY FROM THE TEAM THAT DID.

Where learned: ILLINOIS ; GLENVIEW

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement Special Object or Implement

Date learned: 11-25-1970

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KICKBALL

THIS IS A BALL GAME PLAYED WITH A LARGE CIRCULAR,
HOLLOW BALL ON A BASEBALL-LIKE FIELD. THE RULES ARE
THE SAME AS BASEBALL, EXCEPT THAT THE PITCHER
ROLLS THE BALL ACROSS THE PLATE AND THAT YOU HIT
THE GUY WITH THE BALL TO GET HIM OUT.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT LEARNED IT FROM HIS FRIENDS.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement Special Object or Implement

Date learned: 11-00-1967

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KNEEHOG

THE GAME IS PLAYED EXACTLY LIKE FOOTBALL EXCEPT THAT
IT IS PLAYED ON THE KNEES.

James Callow comment: SEE ENTRY "FOOTBALL" FROM THIS SAME INFORMANT.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement Special Object or Implement

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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FOOTBALL

THIS GAME IS PLAYED ON A SMOOTH TABLE TOP WITH A COIN.
THE TWO PLAYERS SIT ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE TABLE
AND HIT THE COIN BACK AND FORTH OVER THE TABLE WITH
THE HEEL OF THEIR HAND. WHEN EITHER PLAYER HITS THE
COIN SO THAT IT IS HANGING OVER THE EDGE OF THE
TABLE, HE SCORES A TOUCHDOWN. HE THEN TRIES TO HIT
THE COIN BETWEEN THE FINGERS OF THE OTHER PLAYER WHO
HAS SET HIS FINGERS ON THE TABLE TOP IN THE FORM
OF A GOAL. THE PERSON WITH THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF
POINTS WINS THE GAME.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement Special Object or Implement

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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KNEEHOG

A GAME THAT IS PLAYED LIKE FOOTBALL, BUT IS PLAYED ONLY ON YOUR HANDS AND KNEES. IN OTHER WORDS, YOU HAVE TO CRA; WITH THE BALL, RATHER THAN RUN.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT USED TO PLAY THIS IN CINCINNATI, OHIO.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; OHIO ; DETROIT ; CINCINNATI

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement Special Object or Implement

Date learned: 11-22-1970

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FIREBALL

THIS IS A BALL GAME PLAYED WITH A TENNIS BALL. EVERYONE
GETS A NUMBER; THE PERSON WHO IS IT THROWS THE BALL
UP AND CALLS A NUMBER. THE PERSON WHOSE NUMBER HE
CALLED MUST CATCH THE BALL, WHILE THE OTHERS RUN AWAY.
WHEN HE CATCHES IT, HE YELLS "FIRE" AND EVERYONE STOPS.
THEN HE TRIES TO HIS (HIT?) ONE OF THEM WITH THE BALL.
IF A PERSON IS HIT A CERTAIN NUMBER OF TIMES, HE IS
OUT OF THE GAME.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT LEARNED IT FROM HIS FATHER.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement Special Object or Implement

Date learned: 11-00-1967

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500 BASEBALL GAME

GAME BEGINS BY ONE PLAYER, THE BATTER, THROWING A BALL
UP IN THE AIR AND HITTING IT TO THE PLAYERS ON THE
FIELD. DEPENDING ON HOW THE BALL IS FIELDED, BY ONE
OF THESE PLAYERS, THEY ARE AWARDED A CERTAIN NUMBER
OF POINTS. IF THEY MISFIELD THE BALL, DEPENDING ON
WHAT TYPE OF HIT IT IS, THAT NUMBER OF POINTS IS
SUBTRACTED FROM THEIR SCORE. THE FIRST PLAYER TO
REACH 500 POINTS BECOMES THE NEW BATTER AND THE WHOLE
PROCESS STARTS ALL OVER AGAIN.
THE POINT VALUES ARE: "FLYBALL"--100 POINTS; "LINEDRIVE"
--75 POINTS; "GROUNDBALL"--50 POINTS.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HARPER WOODS

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement Special Object or Implement

Date learned: 11-23-1970

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500

THIS IS A BALL GAME WHERE YOU TRIED TO GET TO BAT BY
AMASSING 500 POINTS FIELDING BALLS. YOU GOT 50
FOR A LINE DRIVE, 25 FOR A FLY, 10 FOR A BOUNCER OR
GROUNDER. IF YOU DROPPED THE BALL, YOU HAD THE
POINT VALUE OF THE HIT DEDUCTED FROM YOUR SCORE.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT LEARNED IT FROM A FRIEND.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement Special Object or Implement

Date learned: 11-00-1967

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500

THIS IS A BALL GAME WHERE THE IDEA IS TO GET TO BAT.
TO GET TO BAT, YOU MUST ACCUMULATE 500 POINTS FROM
CATCHING BALLS. YOU GOT 100 FOR A FLY, 75 FOR ONE
BOUNCE, 50 FOR TWO BOUNCES, AND 25 FOR ANYTHING ELSE.
IF YOU DROPPED THE BALL, YOU HAD THE POINT VALUE OF
THAT ARTICULAR HIT SUBTRACTED FROM YOUR SCORE. IF
YOU GOT 500 POINTS, YOU WERE THE NEW BATTER.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT LEARNED IT FROM HIS FRIENDS.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement Special Object or Implement

Date learned: 11-00-1967

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500

THIS IS A BALL GAME PLAYED WITH ONE BATTER AND ANY
NUMBER OF FIELDERS. THE BATTER TOSSES THE BALL UP
AND HITS IT TO THE FIELDERS, WHO TRY TO CATCH IT.
THE MAN WHO CATCHES IT THEN THROWS THE BALL IN TO THE
BATTER WHO HAS LAID HIS BAT ON THE GROUND. IF THE BALL
HITS THE BAT, THE MAN WHO THROWS THE BALL IS THE NEXT
BATTER. THE FIELDERS ARE ALSO AWARDED POINTS FOR
CATCHING DIFFERENT KINDS OF HITS. A FLY BALL IS
WORTH 100 POINTS, AND A GROUNDER OR BOUNCER IS WORTH 50.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT LEARNED IT FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD KIDS.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement Special Object or Implement

Date learned: 11-00-1967

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FUDGE

THIS GAME WAS PLAYED WITH ANY TYPE OF BALL AND SOME
TYPE OF ROOF. A LINE WOULD BE DRAWN ON THE GROUND
PERHAPS FIFTEEN (FEET?) FROM THE ROOF. EVERYBODY
HAD TO STAND BEHIND THIS LINE. THEN ONE PERSON WOULD
START THE GAME BY TOSSING THE BALL ON THE ROOF AND
CALLING OUT A NUMBER. EACH PLAYER WAS DESIGNATED
A NUMBER INSTEAD OF HIS NAME TO CONFUSE HIM. WHEN
SOMEONE ELSE CALLED YOUR NUMBER, YOU HAD TO RUN UP
AND CATCH THE BALL ROLLING OFF OR BOUNCING OFF THE
ROOF BEFORE IT STRUCK THE GROUND. AS SOON AS YOU
DID, THEN YOU THREW IT UP ONTO THE ROOF AND CALLED
SOMEONE'S NUMBER. IF YOUR NUMBER WAS CALLED AND
YOU MISSED THE BALL, THEN YOU RECEIVED A LETTER,
STARTING WITH F. WHEN YOU HAD MISSED FIVE TIMES,
OR HAD SPELLED OUT THE WORD FUDGE, THEN YOU WERE
OUT OF THE GAME. THE LAST ONE LEFT WAS THE WINNER.
EXACTLY THE SAME GAME WAS SOMETIMES CALLED RAIN ON
THE ROOF, IN WHICH YOU WERE ALLOWED A CERTAIN NUMBER
OF MISSES, SUCH AS THREE.

Submitter comment: I LEARNED TO PLAY THIS FROM THE OLDER NEIGHBORHOOD
CHILDREN IN FORT WAYNE.

Where learned: INDIANA ; FORT WAYNE

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement Special Object or Implement

Date learned: 00-00-1949

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