The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

WHEN I WAS A CHILD, BEFORE PLAYING A BASEBALL GAME WE WOULD CHOOSE UP
TEAMS.THE WAY IT WAS DONE WAS RATHER UNUSUAL.TWO CAPTAINS WERE CHOSEN
BY THE GROUP OF PLAYERS, USUALLY THEY WERE THE TWO BEST PLAYERS IN
THE GROUP.ONE OF THESE CAPTAINS WOULD THROW THE BAT TO THE OTHER AND
WOULD CATCH IT APPROXIMATELY IN THE MIDDLE.THE PLAYER WHO HAD THROWN
THE BAT WOULD NOW PUT HIS HAND JUST ABOVE THE FIRST PLAYERS HAND.THIS
HAND ACTION WOULD ALTERNATELY CONTINUE UNTILL THERE WAS NO LONGER
ROOM FOR ANOTHER HAND ON THE BAT.THE PLAYER WHOOSE HAND WAS AT THE
TOP WOULD THEN HAVE TO HOLD OUT THE THE OTHER GUY TO KICK OUT OF HIS
HAND.IF THE KICKER WAS SUCESSFUL IN REMOVING THE BAT FROM THE HAND
HE WOULD GET FIRST CHOICE OF PLAYERS.BUT, IF THE HOLDER DID NOT LET
THE BAT COME OUT OF HIS HAND, HE WOULD GET HIS FIRST CHOICE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT