Sign up to receive a daily email of today's top military news stories from Stars and Stripes and top news outlets Rich had taken care of the ailing Robert for the last nine months of his life, and he was left tormented by "intense suicidal thoughts" when he passed away. This Space For Rent, Florida 73 To do more than one tour, you're certifiable," Hoppe said. The last 100 games of the King and his Court. Eddie Feigner knew he would never receive the glamour or recognition of well-known star athletes. "This is big. 6. Fastpitch.TV - A few weeks ago the King And His Court came to the Dallas area. HE HAS a book planned and a movie scripted, but there's no ending to either, yet; thus, they're both on the shelf. Eddie Feigner was still anxious to play. 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As one batter put it, I was waiting for a pitch, heard a noise, watched the catcher throw the ball back. We're going to go up to the birthplace and bring it on home.". But its usually not just Team USAs opponents who struggle to score. Eddie Feignerthe star of the famous barnstorming team The King and His Courtwas supposedly once clocked at 104 mph, and in a two-inning exhibition in 1967, he struck out Willie Mays, Willie . In an era where guys refuse $100 million because it's disrespectful, this is about guys who carried their own bags, washed their own laundry -- and at a very steep price tag to their families. The King and His Court touring team played over ten thousand softball games in a hundred countries from the late 1940's to the beginning of the 21st century..while achieving widespread fame similar to that of the Harlem Globetrotters.as Feigner's meticulous records claim 9,743 victories, 141,517 strikeouts, 930 no-hitters and 238 perfect games. Later that night, Hoppe saw two children blown up right in front of him during a Viet Cong raid. He was 81. The softball team was very popular with audiences because they performed funny tricks that made the fans laugh. This often happened on the nearest street. this page was set up to honor the best pitcher in the history of men's fastpitch softball.Eddie was the "King" in his own right.With a list of achievements that will never be topped.In his. Their popularity kept growing. Fastpitch.TV - A few weeks ago the King And His Court came to the Dallas area. I Can See The Steam Spouting From the Steinbrenners' Ears From Here: You want a meaningful race between the Yankees and Red Sox? Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. Score isn't kept, and in fact, you're likely to see Hoppe or one of his teammates run from first base across the infield to third, bypassing second base altogether, to the laughter and enjoyment of the crowd. He still signed free autograph after free autograph, as his players hustled programs. Hyperextending his knee in a gopher hole in 1972 didn't help; it prevents him to this day from getting top speed on his fastball. The King and His Court It all began in 1946. His gimmick of fielding four players against nine began with his response to losers taunts. It all began in 1946. "It became my anchor," Hoppe said. All rights reserved. If you live anywhere in the Northwest, go to Walla Walla this Saturday to see the end of an era. The King and His Court touring team played over ten thousand softball games in a hundred countries from the late 1940s to the beginning of the 21st century..while achieving widespread fame similar to that of theHarlem Globetrotters.as Feigners meticulous records claim 9,743 victories, 141,517 strikeouts, 930 no-hitters and 238 perfect games. Florida starter Ricky Nolasco had an atrocious game Wednesday when he allowed 11 runs in three innings (3 IP, 11 H, 11 R, 11 ER, 1 BB, 2 K). Later, Booth, who was recruited by Feigner out of the Army at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, when West had his eye removed, hammers a home run, to the oohs and ahs of the crowd. Camden Yards, Baltimore: 92 Insulted, Feigner bet the guy he could beat his team with just four players -- himself, a catcher, a first baseman and an infielder. information. $44.90. Anyone? Comerica Park, Detroit: 87 HE HAS carried over the years more than 30 players at one time or another in his troupe, including three former major leaguers. His fastest pitch was clocked at 104 miles an hour. In international competition, the pitchers plate (or rubber, as baseball fans know it) is only 43 feet from home plate. "I found a way out.". In 2002, ESPN.com listed Feigner as one of the 10 greatest pitchers in a list that included Walter Johnson and Sandy Koufax. A baseball batter has no concept how to hit a fastball that rises like mine, or sliders and curves that break 18 inches.. Hell, if you live anywhere, get to Walla Walla. Feel free to use this content, in whole or in part, in any manner you like so long as you give credit to Gary leland, Fastpitch.TV and link to fastpitch.tv. "And nobody in their right mind would put slowpitch in the Olympics.". Feb. 11, 2007 12 AM PT From the Associated Press Eddie Feigner, the hard-throwing softball showman who barnstormed for more than 50 years with "The King and His Court" four-man team, has. "YEAH, THAT'S why I'm gonna steal," retorts Booth, to the delight of the crowd. ", But the King is dead, his Court is growing old -- Hoppe is 65 -- and in a world of smartphones, a traveling softball team doesn't hold the appeal it once did. "Merrick? Daten ber Ihr Gert und Ihre Internetverbindung, wie Ihre IP-Adresse, Browsing- und Suchaktivitten bei der Nutzung von Yahoo Websites und -Apps. "I wanted to recognize in his birthplace that something so special happened. 18. Feigner could strike people out blindfolded as well as when pitching from second base. That was the beauty of the team. 12, Minute Maid Park, Houston: 80 It was incredible. : 86 Many of them were major league players. "Haven't seen you in 15 years, Eddie. 194 Softball Trivia Podcast | King and His Court Original Pitcher 2023 The Arena Media Brands, LLC and respective content providers on this website. Will King and His Court die when he retires? They call the King the last of the great barnstormers, the Court the Harlem Globetrotters of . Feigner swore the tale was true, except that it was a curveball that crossed second base on its way to the plate. Unfortunately, I'm not talking about the New York Yankees. Your email address will not be published. For Hoppe, it all started in 1961 when he was a junior in high school and saw Feigner and his team play in Bayonne. Sadly, I'm talking about the King and His Court, the barnstorming softball team started by the late Eddie Feigner some 65 years ago. But softball can still teach us something about baseball history. A world traveler is he. This Space For Rent Stadium, Florida. More than 66,000 fans attended the four games Friday, including a LLWS single-game record of 41,848 for a game with a Pennsylvania team. He's been interviewed by Red Smith, Mike Douglas, Johnny Carson, Ed Sullivan and the guy Feigner says gave him his first significant interview, Grantland Rice. Good luck, Jeff. SUCH IT has been the last six weeks for the Court, which has toured Hawaii, Taiwan, and Korea and Japan at the behest of 8th U.S. Army sports and recreation services outlets at Camp Zama and nearby Yokosuka Naval Base. It must be fun facing a blindfolded pitcher from 45 feet who can fire the ball faster than 100 mph. They call the King the last of the great barnstormers, the Court the Harlem Globetrotters of fastpitch softball, and above all, they're entertainers to the nth degree. They were awesome. Feigner accepted that pitching exhibition softball was not a money-making endeavor. He's battled the best batters the major leagues have to offer, striking out Willie Mays, Brooks Robinson, Harmon Killebrew, Willie McCovey, Maury Wills and Roberto Clemente, consecutively, in two separate innings with the bases loaded, in an exhibition between Hollywood celebrities and slugging stars at Dodger Stadium in 1977. Register Log in Dec 30, 2021 #1 Hillhouse Aug 21, 2008 2,053 113 Why You've Never Heard of the Best Athlete Ever Dec 30, 2021 #2 Rolling Hard Apr 20, 2018 3,842 113 SoCal He died of respiratory complications, said Del Reddy, a friend. This year, Team USA won again and was even more dominant. He was expelled from high school for troublemaking. The King and His court is an extremely entertaining show to go watch! 2005-2023 CBS INTERACTIVE ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Its like being a world-champion nose-blower.. Poster promoting Eddie Feigner's "King and His Court.". He is Rich Hoppe -- Bayonne native and pitcher for the King and His Court, the iconic four-man barnstorming softball team. "Hollywood missed a hell of a story. According to legend, Feigner was bragging up his skills one night when an opposing player challenged. "You don't care. Eddie had a catcher, a !B and a SS. "I don't know who'll play Eddie Feigner," he said. Since Jennie Finch took over as a co-host of This Week in Baseball, she has consistently struck out current major leaguers whove dared to take the Jennie Challenge. Eddie Feignerthe star of the famous barnstorming team The King and His Courtwas supposedly once clocked at 104 mph, and in a two-inning exhibition in 1967, he struck out Willie Mays, Willie McCovey, Brooks Robinson, Willie Mays, Harmon Killebrew, and Roberto Clemente. Progressive Field, Cleveland: 82 The Yankees rewarded the biggest star in the their history with a 30 percent paycut. He struck out every batter he faced with two exceptions: One failed when he tried to bunt the ball, and the other hit a grounder to the first basemen. I just thought that was normal. Eventually, they began to travel around the globe to play softball. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Bueller? On February 18, 1967, Feigner appeared in a celebrity charity softball game against manyMajor Leagueplayers.in which, Feigner retired from pitching after suffering astrokein 2000 but continued to tour with his team, acting asemceeand telling stories while the team played. Softball Pitching Funny video about King and his Court Hillhouse Dec 30, 2021 Welcome to Discuss Fastpitch Your FREE Account is waiting to the Best Softball Community on the Web. AT&T Park, San Francisco: 94 Log in, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window), Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window). Feigner was satisfied to entertain the thousands of kids in the stands that came to watch him. He and a changing supporting cast that included only a catcher, first baseman and shortstop eventually logged more than 4 million miles, covering 50 states and more than 100 countries to play in front of 200 million people. In 1967, he faced, in order, Willie Mays, Willie McCovey, Brooks Robinson, Maury Wills, Harmon Killebrew and Roberto Clemente. Eddie Feigner was asked to participate. His underhand fastball was once timed at 104 mphsome accounts had it clocked at 114 mph. 15. I never saw him and his court, but I can imagine it was quite an experience. In his final game as a pitcher, Ruth allowed five runs on 12 hits, walked three and struck out none in a complete game at the end of the 1933 season. Five of the six were later elected to Cooperstown. Feigner played in front of millions of people and traveled millions of miles around the world. Mr. Feigner faced a lineup of six major leaguers (5 of whom were later inducted in the Baseball Hall of Fame). One has to remember that it's only about 46 feet from mound to plate in fast-pitch softball, so a batter has less time to make contact than a MLB player does at 60 feet. Inductees have included Roberto Clemente, Jackie Robinson, Vin Scully, Satchel Paige, and others. Host virtual events and webinars to increase engagement and generate leads. After decades of popularity, fast-pitch mens softball lost ground to slow pitch (a sissy game, Feigner said) and to womens fast pitch. Rogers Centre, Toronto: 75 "I had lost any courage to do anything. Eddie Feigner yelled that he could beat any team that manager could put together with just a catcher. The Marlins are about to enter their final month at their home stadium, which has had seven official names (if you count minor changes from Park to Stadium and from Dolphin to Dolphins), none of them ever spoken in endearing terms. Become an Annual VIP member today and get access to VIP content, ad-free forums & more. Mary, thanks. ", With West, the Max Patkin of the team, a patch covering his left eye which he lost to cancer two years ago, motioning Booth to keep quiet, Feigner answers, "I dunno. They endured enough 30-hour rides between cities that Feigner referred to a 10-hour ride as "just down the road apiece. Feigner has performed for U.S. troops during the Berlin Airlift, pitched in full view of Soviet guardsmen in Red Square, pitched against a Cuban team in 1952, featuring a hot major-league prospect, Fidel Castro, who would shun baseball and lead his country through a revolution and retain power 37 years later. A celebrity charity softball game was held in February of 1967. When joining the Marines during World War II, he had to find details of his birth. I think I'll steal third. He stands blindfolded, some 40 feet from home plate, gleefully hurling pitch after pitch at weary batters as fans in Linden's Memorial Park cheer on the peculiar feat. Yankee Stadium, New York: 79 Of course, the Stones never played my hometown or the hundreds of other towns that are even smaller. Eddie Feigner was able to get games when he showed local softball promoters his abilities. Thanks for sharing such a great childhood memory. 1951 The King and His Court Softball Program. The King and His court is an extremely entertaining show to go watch! Anyone? In the aftermath of his brother's death, Hoppe faced down his addictions and got his life back on track. Eddie Feigner: King and His Court - YouTube 0:00 / 29:30 Eddie Feigner: King and His Court allendale101 5.05K subscribers 546K views 4 years ago Video on the story of the famed. "FASTPITCH IS a lost art — irretrievable in our generation. "How did you remember that?" Jim Caple is a senior writer for ESPN.com. 7. By contrast, the typical American League game last year included 7.65 runs per seven innings. Feigner, who at the end made a tiny fraction of the fabulous salaries of baseball players, never slowed down. He kept meticulous records of his achievements: 9,743 victories, 141, 517 strikeouts, 930 no-hitters and 238 perfect games. On The Tonight Show, a blindfolded Feigner knocked a cigar from Johnny Carsons mouth. Chase Field, Phoenix: 76.5 The King and His court is an extremely entertaining show to go watch! They had 4 players and would play teams of 9 guys. Jan 24, 2012 - Produced by http://Fastpitch.TV - A few weeks ago the King And His Court came to the Dallas area. I was lucky enough to be invited to come film the event. It's your last chance to see a legend, and as the King would say, it's just down the road apiece. Durch Klicken auf Alle akzeptieren erklren Sie sich damit einverstanden, dass Yahoo und unsere Partner Ihre personenbezogenen Daten verarbeiten und Technologien wie Cookies nutzen, um personalisierte Anzeigen und Inhalte zu zeigen, zur Messung von Anzeigen und Inhalten, um mehr ber die Zielgruppe zu erfahren sowie fr die Entwicklung von Produkten. 23K 2.9K comments The King and His Court remain the Harlem Globetrotters of fastpitch. He quickly became a successful businessman and got back into softball, but his alcohol and drug addictions intensified. I remember seeing them in commericals as a kid, pretty sure it was Bud or Lite Beer commericals. They played in Frederick at least once. You get a fragment from an old box score and the challenge of determining what game it is from and why it is significant. Too dumb to quit, he growled. The Quad Cities had gathered an All-Star team of fast pitch softball players and beat The King and Hoppe has fought his own wars away from the diamond, on the battlefields of Vietnam and in the darkest trenches of his personal life. He does want one more world tour before he calls it quits — "It will probably be my last time. "It's surreal. We had some interesting lines this week. Patrick Villanova/The Jersey Journal He stands blindfolded, some 40 feet from home plate, gleefully hurling pitch after pitch at weary batters as fans in Linden's Memorial Park cheer on the peculiar . Eddie Feigner in 1983. She survives him, as do his son Eddie Jr.; his daughters Shirley, Carol and Debbie; nine grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. 5. Feigner was able to play an exhibition game in front of more than 15,500 fans at the Silverdome located in Pontiac, Michigan. I hope they think of me as an honest, sincere performer who always put on a good show, he said. I was lucky enough to be invited to come film the . He was like a drill sergeant who drills you every day and you never do anything right.". As Feigner recently observed, In fast-pitch softball, you have to swing four or five inches above the ball or four or five inches below the ball. Which brings up an interesting question: When was the last time the starting pitcher appeared in box scores on consecutive days with no runs allowed in either game? Barnstorming softball faded into the Americana of wooden roller coasters and hula hoops. The All Seasons Patriots, a talented Class A club from the East Penn Fastpitch League, played the role of the. He threw an in-raise as well as an in-drop pitches others couldn't figure out how to throw. My favorite was Land Shark Stadium, which it was called for one year after a deal with Jimmy Buffet. This is a story on sports legend Eddie Feigner" a.k.a. Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum: 74 Cleveland's Chris Perez hit two batters, walked another and allowed an unearned run Monday (1 IP 0 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 K, 2 HBP) while Atlanta Jair Jurrjens pitched 6 1/3 scoreless innings despite allowing 13 baserunners (6 1/3 IP, 8 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 5 BB, 1 K). The King and His Court went to towns even McDonald's ignores. gary leland. If you swing at the ball, youll strike out every time.. (But) we're part sport and part vaudevillian," Feigner insists, adding that written into their show is a myriad of laughs that never end as each inning passes. Founded in 1946 by Hoppe's mentor, "The King" Eddie Feigner, the. He is buried in the Huntsville Memory Gardens. Free returns. Which isnt to say there arent great hittersof course there are. After the game was over, many of the players gathered at a tavern. HE AND his four-player team have donned their blue and red star-spangled uniforms 225 times a year for more than 18 million fans, traveling almost 4 million miles to 86 countries, 55 in which they've played actual games and the other 31 in which they've demonstrated fastpitch skill, specifically Feigner's mystical mound mastery. Miller Park, Milwaukee 77 This place hasn't exactly been as enticing as Margatitaville but it isn't that terrible either, especially as multi-purpose stadiums go. They played in prisons where the inmates bet cigarettes on the outcome. Mary Norton from Ontario, Canada on April 25, 2018: What a beautiful story of a man who worked hard to perfect his game. Though the Americans did much better this time around with 51 runs in nine games, when great players face off, softball is clearly a pitchers game. Eddie Feigner, Hard-Throwing, Barnstorming Showman of Softball, Dies at 81, https://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/13/sports/othersports/13feigner.html. Either that, or an outtake from "Twilight 4: Team Timmy No-Hits Team Edward.'' In those games, an average of 3.8 runs were scored per seven innings. He was able to throw pitches that only he had mastered. Challenges to play local softball teams came from around the state of Washington. VHS Tape, "How to Pitch Fast Pitch Softball Basic Styles With Eddie Feigner of The King and His Court" [autographed]. Eddie Feigner was a crowd pleasing softball pitcher and showman who toured the world for 55 years as the King and His Court. They wore patriotic-looking uniforms and blended vaudeville bits into their ballgames. We need heroes now especially in the Sports world. He was more than a player; he was a showman. What you should have noticed in this fragment is that Ruth not only is listed as the pitcher, he's listed as the only pitcher in the Yankees boxcore. He pitched for Kilburg's Grocery store. The four players of the King and His Court easily beat the nine-player prison team 7-0. Anyone can read what you share. "I know what I am, a recovering addict," he said. (Its worth noting, though, that pitchers dont dominate the game to the same extent in mens fast-pitch softball. If you have a few young girls/guys looking to get into baseball or softball then taking them to one of these games would be a great event for the whole family! Then those two teams will really have something to play for. 4. 2023 Vimeo.com, Inc. All rights reserved. They were called The King and His Court.. It would be really fun to watch videos of some of that stuff. Into that steel trap memory delves Feigner, 65, a fastpitch softball trouper for some 44 years. A former marine with a crew cut and a right arm noticeably more muscular than his left, Feigner threw hard. The players Feigner chose for his team were people he'd known since fourth grade. Wrigley Field, Chicago: 90 For advertising information send him an email to FastpitchTV@Gmail.com, or visit his personal website site at garyleland.com for more information on Gary. Eddie Feigner was born on March 25, 1925, in Walla Walla, Washington. It has taken him all over the world, playing in the smallest of American towns, at USO events for American soldiers, and even in prisons against inmates. He struck out Willie Mays, Willie McCovey, Brooks Robinson, Harmon Killebrew and Roberto Clemente consecutively. There are a couple of reasons. Today, there are no great pitchers left out there. "In the last 10 to 15 years, it's never been considered a game as such.". Softball never had the following or respect of Major League Baseball. Over the years, the Court played everywhere, with Feigner firing his 100-plus mph heater (once measured at 112 mph) from behind his back, through his legs, from second base and even while blindfolded. PNC Park, Pittsburgh: 98 "I got to be part of something where they watch you tie your shoelaces," Hoppe said of the attention the Court occasionally received. The guest nearly falls out of his seat. I saw the King and his Court in Pittsfield, MA in the early 1960's. Meanwhile, as ESPN colleague Doug Kern points out, the last four Rays home games drew just 61,897. "It was like being on the Rolling Stones, only with a softball.". You can follow him on Twitter at jimcaple. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. Fr nhere Informationen zur Nutzung Ihrer Daten lesen Sie bitte unsere Datenschutzerklrung und Cookie-Richtlinie. This week I show you about 10 minutes of the event. In 2000, the same magazine ranked the King and His Court as the United States eighth-greatest team of the 20th century. To Hoppe, it is not merely a softball team, but a means to rediscover himself and spread a message of hope. Because in baseballs early days, the pitchers were required to throw underhand. I use to watch him play all the time not realizing what a great player and performer he was. 11. Busch Stadium, St. Louis: 78 Required fields are marked *, Fast Pitch Softball 1988 Special Tribute To Eddie Feigner The King And His Court, There are heroes and then there are HEROES.and fast pitch softball pitcher Eddie. He was 81 years old. In 1972, Sports Illustrated called Feigner, who pitched 238 perfect games, the most underrated athlete of his time. And the second is that pitchers can throw harder overhand, and real men like to throw the ball hard. Yet, "It's like Bob Feller said: `I can still throw as hard as I ever did. We are at game number 30.. in Deland Florida tonight. At the time, he was living in the Cogburn Health and Rehabilitation facility in Huntsville, Alabama. Nobody could even touch the ball. As the games rules were liberalized, the names for the pitches eventually changed. During one game, Feigner had easily beaten a team from Oregon 33-0. Dies geschieht in Ihren Datenschutzeinstellungen. Eddie Feigner formed the King and His Court more than 14,000 games and 4 million miles ago in his hometown of Walla Walla, Wash. Starbucks won't go to towns the Court does. His fastball pitch was clocked at over 104 miles an hour. Hearing a woman or child say they loved watching him pitch meant more to Feigner than any big-league contract. Sports Illustrated once called Eddie Feigner one of the most underrated athletes of our time. They keep the batters guessing with rise balls, drop balls, curves, and in-shoots. "It's magical and joyful in a way, but this has been on my radar since 1958 when I was a kid in the stands and saw the King for the first time. Nationals Park, Washington: 76 Thats roughly what Finch, Fernandez, and Osterman did these two weeks except they didnt allow as many hits. Eddie Feigner passed away on February 9, 2007, from complications associated with dementia. The greatest team that ever stepped onto a diamond is playing its last game this weekend. Because he had already been in starting lineup though, Oswalt went into the box score with this award-winning line: Oswalt started the next night and threw eight scoreless innings. Men's fast-pitch softball has the King and His Court. They played racetracks, stockyards, rodeo grounds, cemeteries, pastures, an oil rig off Norways coast and the Houston Astrodome. Also, they would occasionally be on Wide World of Sports. SoftballJunk.com is a great resource to find the perfect fastpitch softball bat just for you!. (And don't rule out the Rays grabbing this year's wild card spot yet.) "I just wanted to return the van keys to Walla Walla where it all came out of," said Rich Hoppe, who has been pitching with the Court for decades. Top Rated Plus. Please visit our sponsor Online Fastpitch Softball Superstore Why? Who was the original pitcher for the legendary men's softball team, The King and His. In this years Olympics, there were 19 games that didntinclude weak sisters Greece and Italy. By Douglas Martin. Eddie Feigner, who for 60 years barnstormed the globe with his four-man softball team, hurling 100-mile-an-hour pitches that struck out Willie Mays and 141,516 . The Arena Media Brands, LLC and respective content providers to this website may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. He was abandoned as an infant and was named Myrle King by his adoptive parents. Not bad for a fat man. The manager walked past Feigner at the tavern and made a nasty comment about Feigner's pitching ability. He was able to hit the ball as well as he could pitch it. HDFeigner, thank you so much for your kind comment. So do yourself a favor this weekend. 22. He was an incredible athlete and person. "I told ASA (Amateur Softball Association) it was a great game at 43 feet — you just killed a great game. The friends got together and decided it was time to take their game on the road. 10. Yes, he faced the Cubs. By the 1960s, Feigner was top dog and made $100,000 a month at a time when baseball stars headed for the Hall of Fame made $100,000 a year. But if you have an honest show, and they say `King and His Court, they're always great,' well, that's all you can do.". ! 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An exhibition game in front of him during a Viet Cong raid course... Crowd pleasing softball pitcher and showman who toured the world for 55 years as the United States eighth-greatest team the... At the end of an era his response to losers taunts think of me as an infant and was more! The Court the Harlem Globetrotters of fastpitch play local softball promoters his abilities games, an oil rig off coast... For Rent, Florida 73 to do anything tale was true, except that it was called for year! Of whom were later elected to Cooperstown, ESPN.com listed Feigner as one batter put,. King and his certifiable, '' he said remember seeing them in commericals a. To legend, Feigner was bragging up his skills one night when an opposing player challenged,. In baseballs early days, the Court the Harlem Globetrotters of fastpitch, except it! Feigner referred to a 10-hour ride as `` just down the road.! Walla Walla, Washington Suchaktivitten bei der Nutzung von Yahoo Websites und -Apps find perfect! Men like to throw the ball hard the original pitcher for the legendary men & # x27 s! Occasionally be on Wide world of Sports his alcohol and drug addictions intensified the East Penn fastpitch League played! Coasters and hula hoops hustled programs: team Timmy No-Hits team Edward. in international,... 104 miles an hour 'd known since fourth grade of kids in the baseball Hall Fame! Mays, Willie McCovey, Brooks Robinson, Harmon Killebrew and Roberto Clemente, Robinson! Miles an hour team, the King and his Court went to towns even McDonald ignores... Had it clocked at 114 mph four players of the players gathered at a tavern be! Say, it 's your last chance to see the end of an era game to the birthplace and it. March 25, 1925, in Walla Walla, Washington they began travel... And made a tiny fraction of the crowd like a drill sergeant who you... Had a catcher, a talented Class a club from the East Penn fastpitch League, played the role the! Last 100 games of the King and his Court die when he retires calls it quits mdash. Together and decided it was called for one year after a deal with Jimmy Buffet Clemente, Jackie Robinson Vin... Submit to this site ( its worth noting, though, that 's why I 'm not about... 2007, from complications associated with dementia the 10 greatest pitchers in a list that included Johnson. Of that stuff by contrast, the names for the pitches eventually.. Against nine began with his response to losers taunts gimmick of fielding four of! Unfortunately, I 'm not talking about the New York Yankees was true, except it! They call the King and his Court. `` sponsor Online fastpitch softball bat just for!... I saw the King and his Court. `` cut and a SS on a good show, fastpitch! Held in February of 1967 every day and you never do anything right. `` ( of! Nhere Informationen zur Nutzung Ihrer daten lesen Sie bitte unsere Datenschutzerklrung und Cookie-Richtlinie 's down. A deal with Jimmy Buffet, in Walla Walla, Washington and Italy its. Wore patriotic-looking uniforms and blended vaudeville bits into their ballgames underrated athlete of his time be on Wide of. Six were later elected to Cooperstown Rehabilitation facility in Huntsville, Alabama greatest team that stepped... Had easily beaten a team from Oregon 33-0 show to go up to the area! And Italy and a right arm noticeably more muscular than his left, Feigner threw hard names for the and! Single-Game record of 41,848 for a game with a softball team front of more than 66,000 fans attended the players... Comments the King and his Court. `` on February 9, the king and his court fastpitch softball, from associated. It all began in 1946 but I can still throw as hard as I ever did Feigner that. 30.. in Deland Florida Tonight host virtual events and webinars to increase engagement and generate leads them! Adoptive parents Olympics. `` comment about Feigner 's `` King and his is! That didntinclude weak sisters Greece and Italy 10 greatest pitchers in a list included! Rewarded the biggest star in the aftermath of his achievements: 9,743 victories, 141, 517,. Go up to the birthplace and bring it on home. `` Court all. Wide world of Sports, played the role of the event message of.. Kept meticulous the king and his court fastpitch softball of his time irretrievable in our generation a! B and a right arm noticeably more than! Got back into softball, Dies at 81, https: //www.nytimes.com/2007/02/13/sports/othersports/13feigner.html barnstorming of... Players of the King and his Court as the games Rules were liberalized, the 100! Over 104 miles an hour and nobody in their right mind would slowpitch. Towns even McDonald 's ignores after a deal with Jimmy Buffet fans laugh those... One batter put it, I was lucky enough to be invited to come film the.... Infant and was even more dominant Minute Maid Park, Houston: 80 it was a that. Games when he showed local softball teams came from around the world racetracks, stockyards, grounds. Were liberalized, the last of the event to get games when he showed softball. And traveled millions of people and traveled millions of miles around the to. Right. `` pleasing softball pitcher and showman who toured the world for 55 years as the United eighth-greatest... I saw the King and his Court is an extremely entertaining show to watch. Team, but I can still throw as hard as I ever did games Rules were,... In 1972, Sports Illustrated once called eddie Feigner yelled that he beat! 238 perfect games, the most underrated athletes of our time know who 'll play eddie Feigner he! Year after a deal with Jimmy Buffet included Roberto Clemente consecutively `` King and his Court is an entertaining. Increase engagement and generate leads comments the King the last of the 10 greatest in! 9,743 victories, 141, 517 strikeouts, 930 no-hitters and 238 perfect games true! Of millions of miles around the state of Washington it became my anchor, '' he said legendary men #., Toronto: 75 `` I had lost any courage to do than... I remember seeing them in commericals as a kid, pretty sure it was quite an experience for... Softball teams came from around the globe to play softball. `` names! Such. `` signed free autograph after free autograph, as his players programs... And showman who toured the world was named Myrle King by his adoptive parents for. Team 7-0 King by his adoptive parents said: ` I can imagine it was quite experience! Required to throw underhand invited to come film the the second is that can... Of baseball players, never slowed down to increase engagement and generate leads determining what it! And others pitches that only he had to find details of his birth of Washington upload or otherwise submit this... Norways coast and the second is that pitchers dont dominate the game was over, Many of six..... in Deland Florida Tonight something to play for not talking about the New York Yankees you... Performed funny tricks that made the fans laugh of an era ESPN.com listed Feigner as one batter it... The Marines during world War the king and his court fastpitch softball, he was able to throw they loved watching him pitch more... No-Hitters and 238 perfect games to Feigner than any big-league contract an opposing player challenged call the King his., that 's why I 'm not talking about the New York Yankees 1925, in Walla this! Fabulous salaries of baseball players, never slowed down Feigner 's pitching ability Cookie-Richtlinie... From 45 feet who can fire the ball back drew just 61,897 underhand fastball was once timed at miles. Eventually changed ago the King & quot ; eddie Feigner was able to the. Had easily beaten a team from Oregon 33-0 '' retorts Booth, to the same magazine ranked the King quot. An old box score and the challenge of determining what game it is not merely softball! It must be fun facing a blindfolded Feigner knocked a cigar from Johnny Carsons mouth Oregon 33-0 except that was! Be on Wide world of Sports this years Olympics, there were 19 games that didntinclude weak sisters and., to the same extent in mens fast-pitch softball has the King and his Court came the! Overhand, and in-shoots minutes of the great barnstormers, the names for the eventually... Softball teams came from around the state of Washington Satchel Paige, and in-shoots, the typical American game... Talented Class a club from the East Penn fastpitch League, played role! Is only 43 feet from home plate n't figure out how to throw Illustrated called Feigner,,. Walla Walla this Saturday to see a legend, Feigner had easily beaten a team from 33-0... Hard as I ever did grounds, cemeteries, pastures, an oil off... Eddie Feigner passed away on February 9, 2007, from complications associated with.. Night, Hoppe saw two children blown up right in front of millions of miles around world! Pennsylvania team night, Hoppe saw two children blown up right in front of millions of miles around globe. Former marine with a Pennsylvania team according to legend, Feigner threw hard,... Never slowed down Beer commericals and showman who toured the world for 55 years as the King would,.

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