The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

STEELIES

THE GAME WAS CALLED STEELIES AND PLAYED BETWEEN TWO PLAYERS, EACH
WITH A BALL BEARING. ONE PLAYER WOULD THROW HIS BALL BEARING OUT
ABOUT 20 FEET AND THE OTHER PLAYER WOULD THEN TRY TO HIT IT WITH
HIS BALL BEARING. IF THE SECOND PLAYER HIT IT, HE WOULD COLLECT A
NICKEL FROM THE FIRST PLAYER; IF HE MISSED, THE FIRST PLAYER WOULD
THEN TOSS HIS BALL BEARING (FROM WHERE IT HAD ORIGINALLY LANDED)
AT THE SECOND PLAYER'S BALL BEARING (WHERE IT HAD LANDED).
THE GAME WOULD CONTINUE WITH EACH PLAYER ALTERNATING TURNS.

Submitter comment: THE INFORMANT, JOHN KOWATCH, PLAYED THIS GAME ON A BIG, CINDER
PLAYGROUND FROM 1920-1930 IN PENNSYLVANIA. THIS WAS A BETTING GAME
AND THE BALL BEARINGS WERE THROWN FAR ENOUGH AWAY FROM EACH OTHER
SO THAT THEY WOULD BE HARD TO HIT. THE REASON BEHIND THIS IS THAT
NOBODY AT THAT TIME HAD MUCH MONEY TO LOSE. THE GAME ENDED WHEN ONE
PLAYER RAN OUT OF NICKELS.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROSEVILLE

Date learned: 03-22-1982