by the Village Elliott
For All Who’ve Thrown a Ball or Swung a Bat
I
Broomstick and a Pink Spaldeen
For All the Stoop-Ballers
While out this evening for a stroll,
Saw Whiffle Ball on Village Green.
It stirred the best of childhood’s soul
Like broomstick swung at pink Spaldeen. . .
II
Whiffle Ball Village Green Scene
For All the Wiffle-Ballers
Played tonight! Stinson Beach Village Green:
Game revived local Wiffle-Ball scene
On town’s basketball court,
I am pleased to report.
Hope once more Game becomes town’s routine.
James,
Thank you for posting “Childhood’s Soul Stirred.” Since I submitted it, I extensively revised it and posted it, with footnotes, at the basketball court on the Stinson Beach Village Green as:
“Old Childhood Soul Stirred”
For All Who’ve Thrown a Ball or Swung a Bat
The Village Elliott: 6/28/16
I
Last night while out taking my evening stroll.
Saw Whiffle Ball game on town’s Village Green;
Memories stirred in my Old Childhood Soul,
Of swinging sawed broomstick at bounced, pink Spauldeen.
II
“Tonight on Stinson Beach Village Green,
Game of Whiffle-Ball Played; Locals Seen
On Lit Basketball Court,
All Ages, Genders Cavort;
Join In! Help Revive Whiffle-Ball Scene,
*) In “Stepball,” as this game is known where I was raised, St. Louis, Mo,” it was played from at least the 1930 to the ‘80s. Known as ”Stoopball” in New York, it’s still played by throwing a fuzz-less, pink tennis ball, or “Spauldeen” against steps or stoops to have it bounce back and be played by fielders. Stickball, Stoopball’s local cousin, is played in the street. The pitcher bounces the Spauldeen at the hitter who swings a sawed-off broomstick. Whiffle-Ball is played with a thin plastic bat and ball, baseball sized with holes on one half, giving it the aerodynamics to throw the old dipsy-doodle.