Punchball

For another meaning of "slapball", see Patball.

Punchball is a sport spawned by and similar to baseball, but without a pitcher, catcher, or bat.^[1][2]

A Baseball5 batter hitting the ball punchball-style

The "batter" essentially plays "fungo" without a bat, bouncing or tossing up the ball and then using a volleyball type approach to put the ball in play, punching the ball with his fist.^[3][4][5] The ball was usually a rubber spaldeen^[6] or pensie pinkie, but even a tennis ball or wad of taped-up paper can be used.^[7][a] Base stealing, foul balls,^[11] and bunting are not allowed.

History

The alleged first depiction of a punchball-like game, with the players standing at posts instead of bases^[12]

The origins of punchball may date to the 18th century and earlier, as John Thorn, official historian for Major League Baseball, has suggested that the depiction of baseball in A Little Pretty Pocket-Book, which was the first appearance in print of the sport, involved batters hitting with a hand.^[12]

Popular in New York in the early 20th century,^[13][14] especially among poor Jewish children who could not afford bats or baseballs, historian and baseball enthusiast Stephen Jay Gould referred to it as "the canonical recess game",^[15] and in The Boys of Summer baseball writer Roger Kahn described how when he grew up it was a boys' game, as the girls played "slapball".^[16] Punchball's popularity derived partially from the fact that it carried less risk of losing the ball or breaking windows than a standard game of baseball, and that it could be played with fewer people.^[13]

Variations

In one version of punchball, a line was drawn between first base and third base, and the batter would be out if the ball was hit into the ground before passing the line.^[13] In another variation, the batter had to hit only into the infield.^[11]

In slapball, as Roger Kahn and Robert Mayer describe it, the game was played in a triangular field with only three bases. For this reason, the game could also be called triangle.^[17][18] Slapball can be played with up to ten players on each team (with the tenth player acting as a fourth outfielder),^[11] with a pitcher throwing the ball underhand on one bounce to the batter.^[18]

Punchball could be played with as few as two players on each team,^[13] and was typically played with five to six players on each team.^[19] There were a number of ways to make the game work with only two players on each team; fewer infielders were required when "pegging" (throwing at a runner instead of tagging them to get them out) and "homing" (throwing the ball toward home plate to get a runner out) were allowed,^[20] and in Mayer's version, punchball could be played with only three bases, along with something akin to basketball hoops being installed at center field; a home run was declared if the ball was hit into the hoops, but an out declared if the ball was hit just above them.^[14] Sliding into bases was also not allowed.^[21]

Popular culture

A 2010 PBS documentary, New York Street Games, includes punchball.^[22]

In season 10, episode 7 of Curb Your Enthusiasm, Larry David states that he played punchball after grieving the death of his pet turtle.

Reception

Baseball Hall of Famers Nick Hoffman,^[23] Sandy Koufax,^[24][25] and Yogi Berra^[26] played it growing up, as did sports team owner Jerry Reinsdorf,^[27] Senator Bernie Sanders,^[28] and former US Secretary of State and general Colin Powell.^[29][30] Major league outfielder Rocky Colavito, when asked if he played punchball, answered "Play it? Man, that was my game. I liked to play that more than anything else ... anything. We used to play for money, too."^[31] It was also a pastime of football announcer Al Michaels, who often played with former Chicago Bears quarterback Sid Luckman.

See also

• Safe haven games
• Variations of baseball
  • Baseball5, a similar game played at an international level
  • Kickball, a variation of baseball where a large hollow ball is kicked by the batter
    • Matball – kickball with gym mats for bases
• American handball, also involves hitting the ball with the hands
  • Hand pelota
• Leg cricket – variation of cricket when foot is used to propel the ball rather than a bat