Half Ball was a game that was best played in restricted city areas like driveways and lots. Any place where the local terrain could be marked off into a field. A telephone pole would be a single. A garage door would be a double, etc. The half balls were cut from pink high bounce balls with a sharp knife along the seam to divide the balls into equal halves. A broomstick was the bat. The marvelous thing about half balls is that the pitcher could throw a great variety of curves, floaters, and drops that really were a challenge to hit. When they were hit they didn't travel far and never caused damage. Usually played by a two-man team, there was no base running involved. Scoring of singles, doubles, triples, and home runs was based simply on how far the ball was hit. In our West Philadelphia neighborhood the boys spent countless afternoons playing this wonderful simple outdoor game.


This book entitled, "Half Ball Generation", is not about the game Half Ball, but rather about a remembrance of times and people when the game was being played. It's about experiencing life for those being born in the 1930's. It's a collection of real life stories experienced primarily about the author. At the end there are sections on Poems, Memoirs, Cars, Favorite Recipes, and The "Lose" Family Heritage.