Lob league, fast pitch wiffle, ‘500’ and an old Chicago classic, Four corner lob. This was during the 70’s and 80’s for me.
Almost every corner in the city had a sewer cap on all four corners (4 bases)and we would play lob with a tennis ball or wiffle. Of course, hitting it to ‘right’was an automatic out and it was always’pitchers hand’. If you were a lefty batter (very rare) the pitcher would pitch from the 3rd base line.
Someone commented earlier about stickball. I never saw anyone play stickball in the city, we played 16” softball instead, and that was only for the older guys (post 16rs of age)
I still play softball today and have had 3 broken fingers, 1 broken knuckle and surgery for a finger tendon. I guess Chicagoans are just gluttons for punishment. (you can tell we are by electing the same idiot democrat families for years!)
As the amount of replies to my original post suggests, nothing brings Americans together like baseball. I am really enjoying all of your replies and it has brought back great memories of a simpler time.
I've heard of it but have never played it. I don't think that's played anywhere in Michigan but is rather only a Chicago or New Jersey (I heard they play 16" there) phenomenon
Buddy, I’m from Chicago/NW burbs too.
Stickball is a NY thing. I too never saw anyone play it in Chicago or the burbs.
In St Louis, they play (or played) corkball. Thin wood bat and a “corkball”