The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

POOR BOYS CRICKET

FIND SIX EMPTY TIN CANS, AND STACK THREE CANS PYRAMID FASHION
APPROXIMATELY THIRTY FEET APART FROM THE OTHER THREE CAN PYRAMID.
TWO PERSONS, EACH HAVING BASEBALL BATS, STAND OPPOSITE EACH OTHER
JUST IN FRONT OF THE THREE PYRAMID CANS. THEY ARE ON THE SAME TEAM
AND ARE KNOWN AS THE BATTERS. TWO MORE PERSONS, KNOWN AS THE FIELDERS
EACH STAND BEHIND THE RESPECTIVE BATTERS AND PYRAMID CANS.
ONE OF THE FIELDERS THROWS A BASEBALL TOWARDS THE BATTER STANDING
IN FRONT OF THE CANS OPPOSITE HIM AIMING AT THE STOCKED CANS BEHIND
HIM. IF THE BATTER TOWARDS WHOM THE BALL IS THROWN HITS IT, AND IT
IS NOT CAUGHT BY A FIELDER, THEN THE BATTERS HAVE A HIT. THEY
CIRCLE THE CANS TO SEE HOW MANY RUNS (OR TRIPS AROUND) THEY BOTH CAN
MAKE BEFORE ONE OF THE FIELDERS CAN RETRIEVE THE BALL. IF THE
BATTERS DO NOT RETURN TO THEIR POSITIONS IN FRONT OF THE CANS.
AND ONE OF THE FIELDERS RETRIEVES THE BALL AND PROCEEDS TO KNOCK
DOWN THE THREE CANS AT EITHER END THE BATTERS ARE COUNTED OUT.
THE BATTERS NOW HAVING BEEN COUNTED OUT TAKE THE PLACES OF THE
FIELDERS BEHIND THE RESPECTIVE PYRAMID CANS. THE BATTERS ARE ALSO
OUT IF THE BALL IS PITCHED TO ONE BATTER AND HE SWINGS AND MISSES,
AND THE BALL KNOCKS DOWN THE CANS.
EACH RESPECTIVE TEAM KEEPS TRACK OF THEIR RUNS, AND AFTER A
SPECIFIED PERIOD OF TIME THE TEAM WITH THE MOST RUNS ARE THE WINNERS.
THERE MAY BE MORE THAN FOUR PLAYERS. THE OTHERS ARE OUT IN THE
FIELD AND TAKE THEIR TURNS IN ROTATION AT BEING BATTERS. THOSE
IMMEDIATELY BEHIND THE RESPECTIVE BATTERS ARE TERMED AS PITCHER AND
CATCHER, AND ARE THE NEXT ONES TO TAKE THEIR TURNS AT BAT ONCE THE
BATTERS ARE OUT. IF ONE OF THE FIELDERS CATCHES THE BALL THEN TOO,
THE BATTERS ARE OUT AND THOSE IMMEDIATELY BEHIND THE RESPECTIVE
BATTERS ARE THE NEXT BATTERS, AND THE NEXT FIELDERS TAKE THEIR PLACES
AS PITCHER AND CATCHER.

Submitter comment: PLAYED DURING THE DEPRESSION AROUND WINNIPEG, MANITOBA, CANADA
WITH THE MINIMUM OF FOUR PLAYERS

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN

Date learned: 00001930S