Stoop ball facts for kids

Stoop ball (also spelled "stoopball") is a fun game played by throwing a ball against the stairs of a building. These stairs are often called a "stoop." The game is usually played on the sidewalk in front of a building.

Historically, stoop ball was very popular in cities like Brooklyn and other busy city areas, especially after World War II. In different cities, it has different names. For example, people in Boston call it "Up-Against." In Chicago, it's known as "Pinners" or sometimes "Three Outs" in the Bridgeport area. Some people also call it "Off the Point."

How to Play Stoop Ball

Stoop ball is a casual neighborhood game. You need at least two players and the stairs of a house. The game is a bit like baseball. The main goal is to score the most "runs" over 9 "innings."

One player is the "batter." The other players are the "fielders." The batter stands right in front of the stairs. The fielders stand behind the batter, across the sidewalk, sometimes even into the street.

The "batter" throws a pink rubber ball, often called a "spaldeen" or "pensie pinkie," at the stoop. The ball bounces back towards the fielders, who are also facing the stoop. The batter tries to hit the ball at just the right angle and speed. This makes the ball bounce back high and far over the fielders' heads. The farther the ball goes before a fielder catches it, the more "bases" the batter gets. If a fielder catches the ball before it bounces, it's an "out."

Different Ways to Play

Besides the "baseball rules" version, there are other ways to play stoop ball. One version is called "curbball," which is often played in parks.

In the "original" stoop ball game, only one player throws and catches at a time. In St. Louis, Missouri, this game was known as "stepball." People played it there from the 1930s to the 1980s.

Famous Players and Stoop Ball

Many well-known people have enjoyed playing stoop ball. Sandy Koufax, a famous baseball player who is in the Hall of Fame, played stoop ball before his professional career. Announcer Marv Albert missed the game so much that he had a stoop built at his house in the suburbs!

Singer Billy Joel also played stoop ball on suburban streets. A person named Delio Jimenez played stoop ball on 13th Street in Park Slope, Brooklyn. He even became the Worldwide Stoop Ball Champion in 1983! In 1988, he was added to the Brooklyn WSBCA (World Stoop Ball Champion Association) hall of fame. Many people still remember him as one of the best stoop ball players in Brooklyn's history.

A 2010 PBS documentary called New York Street Games talks about stoop ball. It shares a short history of the game in New York City. Even though the documentary doesn't mention Delio Jimenez as the champion, Billy Joel paid to have a painting of Delio Jimenez put on a mural in Park Slope. You can still see this mural on 12th Street today.