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11 January 2006

Old Toy AskMeCha: when I was a kid I possed a device, that consisted of a pedal/lever at one end and a cup at the other. You'd put it on the ground, place a wiffle ball in the cup, step on the lever and the ball would jump up to swinging height so that you could have wiffle batting practice with yourself.

Does anybody remember the name of this contraption (the one it was marketed under, I mean).

post by: jonmc at: 13:11 | 24 comments

(also, I love using the word 'contraption.')

posted by jonmc 11 January | 13:11

I've decided: I'm getting the vasectomy.

posted by danostuporstar 11 January | 13:27

That name dosen't sound very marketable, dano.

posted by jonmc 11 January | 13:28

Snip & Go

posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson 11 January | 13:31

KutDaMarried for DaMercy

posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson 11 January | 13:33

No, I don't remember what they called that whiffle ball thing, but I do remember it. But while we're at it, do you remember skipits? That had a ring at one end that went around your ankle and a ball at the other end and you were supposed to go along skipping over that ball? I was so good at that.

posted by mygothlaundry 11 January | 13:37

*cries*

aw, c'mon. I took a mental health day from work, and desperately need cheering up. And you turn my childhood reminscence into surgical humor. Monsters.

posted by jonmc 11 January | 13:37

I remember, mygothlaundry. Mine had a lemon on the end. I don't remember the term skipit, though.

posted by rainbaby 11 January | 13:38

Sorry. The lame jokes aren't cheering me up today, either.

posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson 11 January | 13:40

It was called a Ball Cup.

posted by SassHat 11 January | 13:41

No, that's what the tailor does when he alters your pants.

posted by jonmc 11 January | 13:42

What was that thing called? I'm looking madly for it now and I can't find it anywhere. That and those huge balls with handles that you could sit on and jump around really fast on. I've always wanted an adult version of that thing; I would totally use it to get everywhere.

posted by mygothlaundry 11 January | 13:44

Those were called Hippity Hops, mgl.

posted by jonmc 11 January | 13:45

Hoppity Horse/Hoppity Balls.

YES that's what they were called.

I still have my hoppity horse, but I don't use it to get off anymore. (I think that's why they stopped with the horses and just went to the balls. . .oh this is going nowhere good real quick)

posted by rainbaby 11 January | 13:47

But if you google hippity hops, LOOK what you get. It's a bunny conspiracy, I swear.

posted by mygothlaundry 11 January | 13:49

But, but... what did they do to their ears?! Part of a bunny's charm is his/her floppy ears. Evil bastards!

posted by deborah 11 January | 14:11

This looks a little more hi-tech, but it's the general idea, right?

≡ Click to see image ≡

posted by Hugh Janus 11 January | 14:20

Right.

posted by jonmc 11 January | 14:35

I could watch that kid swing all day.

No, really, I'm that bored.

posted by Hugh Janus 11 January | 14:44

I don't think that's a kid. I think that's a dwarf. The proportions are wrong somehow - I think it's a dwarf who escaped from Moria and shaved his beard off and is trying to make it in the big leagues!

posted by mygothlaundry 11 January | 14:56

"wiffle batting practice with yourself"

Is that what you call it nowadays?

posted by mischief 11 January | 14:58

Here's a whole list of batting aids. I rememebr this, Jim Rice used to be on the advertisements for it on TV.

posted by jessamyn 11 January | 15:12

Ah, good old Jim Rice. I'm an inveterate Sox hater, but he deserved to to be elected into Cooperstown yesterday along with Sutter.

posted by jonmc 11 January | 15:16

Just don't drop your bat; that's a bungee cord!
≡ Click to see image ≡

posted by Hugh Janus 11 January | 15:35

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