Photo: Jay Willett/WBZ NewsRadio
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — Stickball is one of the oldest team sports in the world and has been played by Native American tribes for centuries. Historically, the game was often used to settle disputes over land and often tribes way back when would use the game as a way for women to seek out their next husband.
Harvard has adopted the sport by creating its own team, Harvard Stickball. The sport has made its way to Harvard to expose the Northeast to what’s played often in Cherokee and Choctaw nations.
“You have centers, defense, and offense, just like any other game. You can score anywhere on the pole, it’s usually about 8-10 feet tall,” Bailey Brown of Oklahoma said.
Brown traveled all the way from Grand Lake, Oklahoma to show the Harvard Lacrosse Team the ropes and teach them the history of stickball.
“It’s a fun game. Our team came out here and tried it out. We’re all having a great time,” one Harvard Lacrosse player said.
Starting Harvard stickball has been a journey for those involved.
“And beyond that, we’ve got players here on campus that are students, staff. We all played in the World Series, this is a way for us to come together, we were all brought here for a reason,” the Academic Engagement Coordinator at the Peabody Museum James Walkingstick said.
Walkingstick has hopes of getting the team to the Stickball World Series, that is played every year in Mississippi.
“We’ve got some players that already, since March, who are taking it on like pros, are able to do their trick shots,” Walkingstick said.
For more information on Harvard Stickball, check out their Instagram HERE.
WBZ NewsRadio’s Jay Willett (@JayWillettWBZ) reports.