The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

CHOOSING UP SIDES

THE TWO CAPTAINS WOULD TAKE A BAT. ONE WOULD THROW IT
TO THE OTHER MAN, WHO WOULD CATCH IT AROUND THE
TRADEMARK. THE THROWER WOULD THEN PLACE HIS HAND
ON TOP OF THE BAT WHERE THE OPPONENT HAD CAUGHT IT.
THEY WOULD THEN ALTERNATE HANDS ALL THE WAY TO THE TOP
OF THE BAT. WHEN THERE WAS NO MORE ROOM FOR A FULL
HAND, THE MAN WHOSE TURN IT WAS WOULD PLACE HIS HAND
OVER THE BAT AND GRAB AS MUCH OF IT AS HE COULD,
WITHOUT PUSHING HIS OPPONENT'S HAND FROM HIS POSITION
ON THE BAT. ONCE HE HAD GOTTEN HIS GRIP, THE OPPONENT
WOULD LET GO AND HE WOULD TRY TO THROW THE BAT OVER
HIS SHOULDER FOR A PREDETERMINED DISTANCE.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT LEARNED IT FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD KIDS.

Where learned: HOME

Date learned: 11-00-1967