The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

PORCH BASEBALL

THE THEORY FOR THIS GAME IS THE SAME AS BASEBALL. WE
PLAYED THIS GAME INSTEAD OF BASEBALL BECAUSE WE DID NOT
HAVE BATS. IT WOULD BE THE PITCHER VERSUS THE FIELD.
THE PITCHER WOULD THROW THE BALL AGAINST THE PORCH STEPS
AT SUCH AN ANGLE AS TO CAUSE THE BALL TO GO OVER THE
FIELDERS' HEADS, OR BY THEM TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT. EACH
BOUNCE A BALL MADE WITHOUT BEING CAUGHT WAS WORTH A BASE
AFTER THE FIRST BOUNCE. ALSO, THERE WERE CERTAIN LINES THAT
REPRESENTED THE NUMBER OF BASES A THROW WAS GOOD FOR IF IT
NEVER REALLY BOUNCED.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Date learned: 00001940S