The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

INDIAN BALL

ONE PLAYER HAS A BALL AND A BAT WITH WHICH TO HIT IT.
HE STANDS FACING THE OTHER PLAYERS, WHO MAY STAND
AS NEAR OR AS FAR AWAY FROM HIM AS THEY WISH. THE
ONE WITH THE BAT WOULD THROW THE BALL INTO THE AIR
AND STRIKE IT FAIRLY HARD WITH THE BAT. THE OTHER
PARTICIPANTS WOULD TRY TO CATCH THE BALL, EITHER IN
THE AIR OR ON THE GROUND. WHOEVER CAUGHT IT WOULD
HAVE TO STAND IN THE SPOT WHERE HE CAUGHT THE BALL.
THEN THE PERSON "AT BAT" WOULD PLACE THE BAT ON THE
GROUND IN FRONT OF HIM (HORIZONTALLY) AND KNEEL BEHIND
IT. THEN THE PERSON WHO HAD CAUGHT THE BALL WOULD
ROLL IT TOWARDS THE BAT. IF THE BALL HIT THE BAT
BOUNCED UP AND THE MAN "AT BAT" FAILED TO CATCH IT,
THEN THE PERSON WHO THREW THE BALL GOT TO BE "AT BAT"
AND THE "AT BAT" MAN WENT INTO THE FIELD. BUT IF THE
PERSON CATCHING THE BALL THREW IT AND MISSED THE
BAT, OR IT HIT THE BAT AND THE MAN "AT BAT" CAUGHT IT,
THEN THE MAN ORIGINALLY AT BAT MERELY PICKED UP THE
BAT AND KEPT HITTING.

Submitter comment: I LEARNED THIS FROM NORTHWEST DETROIT BOYS.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Date learned: 00-00-1963