The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

THREE FLIES UP

THREE FLIES UP IS A COMMON CHILDHOOD GAME. THE GAME FOLLOWS
THE USUAL RULES OF BASEBALL, WITH THE "BATTER" GIVEN THREE
OUTS, AND BOUNDARIES OF A FIELD ARE ESTABLISHED. THE GAME
IS USUALLY PLAYED BY TWO PEOPLE, A BATTER AND A FIELDER.
A RUBBER BALL IS THROWN AGAINST THE SIDE OF A TALL BRICK
WALL. THE OBJECT OF THE GAME IS FOR THE BATTER TO BOUNCE
THE BALL OFF THE WALL AND HAVE IT LAND IN THE FIELD
WITHOUT BEING CAUGHT, WHICH IS A HIT. RUNS ARE TALLIED
IN THE USUAL WAY, AND HOME RUNS ARE POSSIBLE, DEPENDING
ON THE FIELD BOUNDARIES. THE WINNER AT THE END OF THE
GAME HAS THE MOST RUNS.

Submitter comment: THIS GAME WAS PLAYED QUITE FREQUENTLY BY MYSELF DURING
CHILDHOOD.

Where learned: POUGHKEEPSIE ; NEW YORK, ASSUMED

Date learned: NOT GIVEN