Damn that’s crazy. We also had a Sunkist factory where I grew up in Yuba City. My grandma and my mother in law worked there, and I think one of my tios still works there. In my town, we played some of these games you mention, and others, too. I wonder if what you call “chest” was what we called “open chest” where someone could just walk up and sock you in the chest if it was open. And if they tried it but you blocked it, then you got to sock them. Quarters was also a thing my older cousins played and I played with them but it didn’t really catch on with my age group. Maybe that’s what you call “knuckles.” And then we also played this game called “smear the queer.” Obviously that’s a fucked up name. Back then, I didn’t even know what queer meant. When I got older and was talking about games with someone, they were from a different state and said they called that same game “kill a man.” We played mostly with a football, but sometimes other items too. And then there was the game “pickle.” Played indoors, on carpet, like the pickle situation from baseball. It was hella aggressive. We would just smash into each other hoping the person on “base,” which was usually a pillow, would just drop the ball. Thanks for sharing this story. Brought up some interesting memories from my younger years.
"Hey I played those games too and nothing happened to me... Right???"
no. no. you're absolutely fine. yup. put down the bat. step back. hands where i can see them.
Damn that’s crazy. We also had a Sunkist factory where I grew up in Yuba City. My grandma and my mother in law worked there, and I think one of my tios still works there. In my town, we played some of these games you mention, and others, too. I wonder if what you call “chest” was what we called “open chest” where someone could just walk up and sock you in the chest if it was open. And if they tried it but you blocked it, then you got to sock them. Quarters was also a thing my older cousins played and I played with them but it didn’t really catch on with my age group. Maybe that’s what you call “knuckles.” And then we also played this game called “smear the queer.” Obviously that’s a fucked up name. Back then, I didn’t even know what queer meant. When I got older and was talking about games with someone, they were from a different state and said they called that same game “kill a man.” We played mostly with a football, but sometimes other items too. And then there was the game “pickle.” Played indoors, on carpet, like the pickle situation from baseball. It was hella aggressive. We would just smash into each other hoping the person on “base,” which was usually a pillow, would just drop the ball. Thanks for sharing this story. Brought up some interesting memories from my younger years.
There must be a book of these games compiled by some researcher somewhere. 😅
I would buy that book!