The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

HIT THE BAT

IN "HELL'S KITCHEN" AND MAMARONECK, NEW YORK, WE PLAYED
A BASEBALL GAME CALLED "HIT THE BAT." ONE PLAYER WOULD
HIT THE BALL "OUT OF HIS HAND" TO A GROUP DOWN THE
STREET WHO WOULD VIE TO CATCH IT. THE SUCCESSFUL PERSON
WOULD THEN (FROM THE CATCHING POINT) THROW THE BALL
BACK TOWARD THE HITTER (WHO HAS NOW LAID THE BAT
DOWN ON THE STREET IN FRONT OF HIM) IN SUCH A MANNER
THAT IT STRIKES THE BAT AND FLIES UP INTO THE AIR TO
THE HITTER, WHO MUST THEN CATCH THE AIRBORNE BALL
OR RELINQUISH HIS POSITION TO THE THROWER.

Where learned: NEW YORK ; MAMARONECK ; HELLS KITCHEN