Nipsie

Nipsie was a game played in the coal regions around Bethlehem, PA in the early 20th century.

The game required a bat and a short length of wood with sharpened ends - which was named the "nipsie". Both of these were usually carved out of a discarded broom handle. The game began when the hitter would strike a nipsie on the ground. This launched it into the air where the hitter then tried to hit it a second time towards the catchers, similar to baseball.