August 14 -- Wiffle Ball Day

Today is Wiffle Ball Day. Wiffles were introduced on this date in 1953.

From the official Wiffle Ball, Inc. home page:

 Dear WIFFLE^® Enthusiast:

Thank you for choosing one of America’s favorite backyard games – WIFFLE ball! Three generations of our family have dedicated themselves to the company, and of course, to you our valued customers. We thought we’d take a moment to tell you a little about ourselves, and how the game of WIFFLE ball originated.

It all began when our grandfather was watching our father (who was 12 years old at the time) and a friend play a game in their backyard in Fairfield Connecticut, using a perforated plastic golf ball and a broomstick handle. They had given up on baseball and softball – not enough players for two teams, not enough space for a field, and too many broken windows.

After days of trying to throw curves and sliders with the golf ball, Dad told Gramp that his arm felt "like jelly". Gramp had been a semi-pro pitcher and knew that throwing curveballs was not good for young arms and thought he might be able to help. He got some parts from a nearby factory, cut various designs into them and sent Dad out to test them. They both agreed that the ball with eight oblong perforations worked best. That’s how the WIFFLE perforated plastic ball was invented. To this day, we don’t know exactly why it works… it just does!!