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Eau Claire, WI rules as a kid:

Just needed a bat, a few balls, an open field (medium or large backyard would suffice) and anything that would work for bases such as paper plates, hats, tee-shirt.

Sometimes used a typical whiffle ball (you can make it do some weird curves and stuff as is) or duct tape/electrical tape the thing to make a solid ball, sometimes both can be used in the game. Sometimes, tennis balls can be used. Rules of engagement are set prior to the start.

In my day it was usually 4 vs 4, 3 vs 3, or if an odd number of players we used a dedicated pitcher. For example if we only had 5 kids it would be 2 vs 2 with the 5 kid rotating between teams as a dedicated pitcher and, theoretically, had no allegiance to either team.

- Pitcher's hand rules: since neither team could cover all the bases, if the batted ball was returned to the pitcher before the hitter got to 1st base = out. Tie goes to the runner.
- While the ball is in play and you beaned the base runner who was in between bases with the ball = out but the ball was still in play for other runners to advance. (especially fun if you duct taped the ball... it can leave a mark. Head shots count but it's easier to aim for center mass)
- Only one extra base on an "over throw" (while the ball is in play and was over thrown leading to it being out of the field of play, each runner can advance only one base).
- No strikes counted unless its a swing and a miss.
- 3 Foul balls = out. A "tick" is a foul ball. A "tick" is defined as a swing of the bat and it "ticked" the ball.
- Batted ball (in foul territory) over into adjoining cranky old neighbors backyard = out and batter had to hop over the fence to get the ball.
- Foul ball into the woods = out and batter had to fetch the ball, hopefully not come home with wood ticks.
- Batted ball over the fence deep center field in a neighbor's yard but in the field of play = home run.
- Batted ball landing on a roof is still in play and a live ball unless it gets stuck in the gutters while rolling down. Then a ground rule double.

I don’t remember any of the rules but while we always used a wiffle ball, don’t think any of my friends actually owned one. Pretty sure they were all “borrowed” from the various summer fun programs we were in earlier.

Quite nostalgic tonight....

I always thought the wiffle ball bat was exclusively meant for sibling beating

We played a very similar game with limited players. We called it "mini-ball" and if the batter was right handed he had to hit to that side, vice versa for left handed... basically we played only half the field.

Lots of football... nerf or leather. One kid had a half court in his back yard so we played basketball, too. And there were half a dozen ponds in biking distance so we did a lot of fishing.

Grew up in California on a cul-de-sac. The round end had a massive storm drain that served as a backstop. All of the kids on the block played baseball. Not wiffle ball or tennis ball...baseball. ALL of us. Harriet Lane in Stanton, CA served as a playing field of sorts. The neighbors all understood that if we were playing baseball we weren't play a modified Cops & Robber called Apes Vs Humans where one side actually wore ape masks and tore up flower beds, trees and shrubbery (NIIIT!) playing it. They much rather would see us play ball. They incentivized it for us by spray painting bases on the street. Pitcher's mound was a sewer cap. If, and we did on many an occasion...break a window...we ALL chipped in and either helped repair or stood by when it was being repaired. The neighbors would sit on porches or lawn chairs and watch us take on other streets that had a team or other guys from school that wanted to play. If you lived on the street...you played on our team. No filling in. Sun up to sun down. Everyone always knew where we were.

By the time we grew into Park and Rec league ball...we all knew each other and what position we were gonna play before the coaches!

yep, we did the BB-gun fights...all the guys in my neighborhood would be running around

in our winter jackets all summer long, because it didn't hurt quite so much when you got

hit in the jacket

We also had a crazy game we would play in the woods... we called it "hawk swinging".

Climb a tree with a sapling near it. Jump out of the tree, grab onto the sapling and hope it bends nicely and you land softly.

When they snapped... you'd hear a yell and a thud.

You guys are nuts with the bb guns.

At school,

The funnest one was thunder dome (they don't let kids play that anymore). We used to play if your feet touched the ground you lost.

Dodgeball was always a favorite too.

NINE! teen.

If you can dodge a wrench you can dodge a ball.

We called it "Kill the Guy With the Ball", but sounds like the same rules...

We played Hide the Salami instead…

Used to play full contact basketball on an asphalt court in junior high. Couldn't swing or kick, but other than that, no rules

We used to call that jungle ball (kids were awful with the names of games).

2 ways to play wiffle ball.
First, very similar to Bucky's rules.

But in college everyone played without base runners.
Hits caught without bobbling it, even grounders cleanly fielded, were outs.
Infield hits were singles.
Past the infield were doubles.
And homers were some odd set point depending on the "field" played.

Advantage: play with fewer players.
Or cycle people in during the game.
Or have quick games so the next 3 guys could play.
Plus easy to work in beers.


My favorite way was using a chair as the catcher. Any pitch that landed on the seat or hit the back was a strike.
You can get some pretty creative curves and eephus balls in there.