The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

NIP

THE GAME WAS CALLED NIP. A THREE-INCH PIECE OF WOOD WAS CUT OFF THE
END OF A BROOMSTICK AND WAS WHITTLED DOWN TO A POINT ON EACH END.
THE PIECE WAS PLACED ON THE SIDEWALK NEXT TO A CIRCLE EITHER DRAWN
ON THE CEMENT OR DUG IN THE GROUND. THE "HITTER" WOULD STRIKE ONE
END OF THE STICK, CAUSING IT TO POP INTO THE AIR, AND WOULD THEN HIT
IT DOWN THE STREET WITH THE REST OF THE BROOM. THE "FIELDER" THEN
HAD TWO WAYS TO GET THE "HITTER" OUT: EITHER CATCH THE PIECE IN THE
AIR, OR, AFTER RETRIEVING IT, THROWING IT WITHIN A BROOM'S LENGTH
OF THE CIRCLE. THE "HITTER" WOULD GET A POINT FOR EACH ADDITIONAL
BROOMLENGTH, OVER ONE, THAT THE THROWN PIECE ENDED UP FROM THE
CIRCLE. PLAYERS WOULD CHANGE SIDES AFTER EACH "OUT."

Submitter comment: THE INFORMANT PROVIDED THE BASEBALL TERMS TO DESCRIBE THE GAME
BECAUSE HE COULDN'T RECALL THE ORIGINAL PHRASES. THE INFORMANT
PLAYED THIS GAME IN PENNSYLVANIA BETWEEN 1918 AND 1926. IT WAS
PLAYED FOR HOURS ON END AND USUALLY STOPPED ONLY WHEN ONE PLAYER WAS
EITHER EXTREMELY FAR BEHIND OR CALLED IN FOR SUPPER.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROSEVILLE