Feigner and his team, known as the King and His Court, traveled around the world with a flamboyance that recalled the barnstorming teams assembled by Babe Ruth and that perhaps most resembled basketballs Harlem Globetrotters. He was an incredible athlete and person. Add The Fastpitch Softball TV Show to your social network of choice at fastpitch.tv. During a 1967 exhibition game at Dodger Stadium, Eddie Feigner faced a lineup of six big leaguers. And the second is that pitchers can throw harder overhand, and real men like to throw the ball hard. (Its worth noting, though, that pitchers dont dominate the game to the same extent in mens fast-pitch softball. We're going to go up to the birthplace and bring it on home.". 23K 2.9K comments "I remember something about nearly every game I've ever played," said Feigner, who's only played in more than 8,500 games, with more than 125,000 strikeouts to his credit. This didn't stop them. Marco Polo would have been jealous. And oh yeah, the Court of 4 won the game! They keep the batters guessing with rise balls, drop balls, curves, and in-shoots. Feigner was confident he could win with only himself and a catcher but worried the other team would just walk the two and leave them without a batter. 1983 The King and His Court ~ 4-Man Softball Team ~ Signed Autographed Program. 5. Eddie Feigner was asked to participate. This Space For Rent Stadium, Florida. Which isnt to say there arent great hittersof course there are. Thats roughly what Finch, Fernandez, and Osterman did these two weeks except they didnt allow as many hits. Poster promoting Eddie Feigner's "King and His Court.". Bayonne native Rich Hoppe, a member of the fast-pitch softball team the King and His Court, on the diamond at Memorial Park in Linden last week. from around the world. And anyway, fast-pitch pitchers dont just throw fastballs. He struck out all six. <p> </p> <p>A few weeks ago the King And His Court came to the Dallas Area. I saw the King and his Court in Pittsfield, MA in the early 1960's. The King and His Court" and his visit to. 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. They were awesome. (R.J. Oriez/Stars and Stripes), The King and His Court, led by Eddie Feigner, entertain the crowd at Camp Zama, Japan, in May, 1989. The King and His Court got its start the way so many wonderful sagas begin -- in a bar. 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). HE HAS a book planned and a movie scripted, but there's no ending to either, yet; thus, they're both on the shelf. Feigner was able to play an exhibition game in front of more than 15,500 fans at the Silverdome located in Pontiac, Michigan. Will King and His Court die when he retires? Not bad for a fat man. Good luck, Jeff. Upon returning home after two years at war, Hoppe opened a bar in Bayonne and began attending night school. I also fear Buck Showalter's head would probably explode if a player showed up looking like this. A baseball batter has no concept how to hit a fastball that rises like mine, or sliders and curves that break 18 inches.. 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. 2023 Stars and Stripes. The Quad Cities had gathered an All-Star team of fast pitch softball players and beat The King and She survives him, as do his son Eddie Jr.; his daughters Shirley, Carol and Debbie; nine grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. Feigner had an exaggerated windup and he would do things like pitch blindfolded, or pitch an inning from behind second base. It took me years to talk about it," Hoppe said. He kept meticulous records of his achievements: 9,743 victories, 141, 517 strikeouts, 930 no-hitters and 238 perfect games. All contents 2023 The Slate Group LLC. CBS Sports is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc. Posted on Feb 18th, 2011, 9:14 AM, , User Since 218 months ago, User Post Count: 9400, Posted on Feb 18th, 2011, 9:25 AM, , User Since 171 months ago, User Post Count: 1611, Posted on Feb 18th, 2011, 9:36 AM, , User Since 193 months ago, User Post Count: 30934, Posted on Feb 18th, 2011, 10:06 AM, , User Since 150 months ago, User Post Count: 4812, Posted on Feb 19th, 2011, 8:27 AM, , User Since 150 months ago, User Post Count: 20258, Posted on Feb 19th, 2011, 9:42 AM, , User Since 255 months ago, User Post Count: 27279, Posted on Feb 20th, 2011, 8:21 AM, , User Since 150 months ago, User Post Count: 797, Posted on Feb 20th, 2011, 8:58 AM, , User Since 207 months ago, User Post Count: 51346, Locked Topic - No more replies can be posted. 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. He's toed the same athletic fields as the legendary Jim Thorpe, traipsed through Tibet and rubbed elbows with the Dalai Lama. Learn about Eddie and the Court, who first brought fastpitch to TV and mainstream America from the people who lived. ", You know the rules. "We can't compete with modern entertainment," Hoppe said. A former marine with a crew cut and a right arm noticeably more muscular than his left, Feigner threw hard. Later that night, Hoppe saw two children blown up right in front of him during a Viet Cong raid. The King and His Court went to towns even McDonald's ignores. He struck out all six in succession. Rogers Centre, Toronto: 75 If you swing at the ball, youll strike out every time.. "I found a way out.". It played in Saudi Arabia, the jungles of Thailand and near the DMZ between North and South Korea. 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). But the 65-year tour of duty ends Saturday night in Feigner's hometown of Walla Walla, Wash., playing a team that includes former major leaguer Jeff Cirillo, a two-time All-Star and five-time .300 hitter. You could really bring it back then," the guest said. He pitched for Kilburg's Grocery store. included in the interview is Leslie Barber, Charlie Dobbins, Dave Booth, Bob Hale, Ron Davenport and Michael Branchaud. Home; About Us; Tanita Scale; Workshops; Testimonials; Recipes; the king and his court fastpitch softball 14. He said: Im a pipsqueak because Im caught in a nothing game. The news of a four-man team beating nine players spread all over the state. The six? Thus, is Feigner, with a year or two left in his own career, the last of the great fastpitch showmen? ". Camden Yards, Baltimore: 92 This is an organization dedicated to promoting baseball as a way to appreciate American culture and art. Nobody could even touch the ball. Feigner had been pitching in the Green Pea League of Walla Walla Valley. It just doesn't go as fast,' " Feigner says. or Best Offer. 6. 1. Daten ber Ihr Gert und Ihre Internetverbindung, wie Ihre IP-Adresse, Browsing- und Suchaktivitten bei der Nutzung von Yahoo Websites und -Apps. the guest nearly shrieked. Feigner claimed nearly 10,000 victories, 141,000 strikeouts and almost 1,000 no-hitters. Sports Illustrated once called Eddie Feigner one of the most underrated athletes of our time. Feigner, catcher Gary West, first baseman Dave Booth and shortstop Gary Van Prooyen mug it up with true zest. Feigner, who at the end made a tiny fraction of the fabulous salaries of baseball players, never slowed down. The greatest team that ever stepped onto a diamond is playing its last game this weekend. I was lucky enough to be invited to come film the . He often told people it was a good feeling to know he was unique. Drafted into the Army and sent to Vietnam in 1966, on his 13th day at war the 19-year-old Hoppe witnessed three fellow soldiers get decapitated by a mine. "I was a broken man.". I hope they think of me as an honest, sincere performer who always put on a good show, he said. "In the last 10 to 15 years, it's never been considered a game as such.". He is a member of theBaseball Reliquary. 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 other batters, died on Friday in Huntsville, Ala. He was like a drill sergeant who drills you every day and you never do anything right.". As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. Feigner knew he was the only one of his kind in the history of the world. Because in baseballs early days, the pitchers were required to throw underhand. Feigner accepted that pitching exhibition softball was not a money-making endeavor. 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. Eddie Feigner is a member of Shrine of the Eternals, which is part of the Baseball Reliquary. Those days are long gone -- now luxury suites and revenue streams are all-important -- and based on the vast expanses of orange, empty seats always visible at Marlins games, those days may have never existed here. He pitched behind his back, from second base, between his legs, when kneeling and, of course, while blindfolded. 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. I never forgot that day, and how Eddie pitched. Yes, he faced the Cubs. Feigner was Sidd Finch with a crewcut, Clint Eastwood with a fastball. Eddie Feigner pitched a perfect game. The toughest thing in sports is to hit a round ball with a round bat when the round ball is thrown underhand from 40 feet away. Of who might take it over, such as his son, Eddie Jr., by first marriage — he has been married three times — Feigner says, "In sports, they say they'll never replace so-and-so. They escaped flash floods and tornadoes. 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. "I went to the other side," Hoppe said, referring to his mental state. Though it would be nice if Florida ownership could have found the money to keep the out of town scoreboard. It was a great event, and here is . Hey, I'm a big Tim Lincecum fan but this card (2010 Topps 206, No. Merrick, N.Y., 1974. 20. Five of the six were later elected to Cooperstown. Have you seen the (Zama) catcher throw?". Prooyen, a six-time national champion whom Feigner calls the "best pitcher at his age (25) today," later pitches an inning or two. You are very lucky to have had such a special grandfather. With all that said, Feigner was amazing. He took her last name and the name Eddie from a friend. "I had lost any courage to do anything. Free 3 day shipping. He was able to throw pitches that only he had mastered. In the 1940s, when countless small towns had softball leagues, the King and His Court was one among many barnstormers. The Marlins will be hard-pressed to equal their two World Series championship at their new ballpark that opens next season. 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). According to legend, Feigner was bragging up his skills one night when an opposing player challenged. Feigner died in 2007, but his team has continued on without him, like the Glenn Miller Orchestra or Lynyrd Skynyrd (roughly three dozen players have played for the Court over the years). Sem a necessidade de instalar ou se inscrever 209 Softball Academy Podcast | Hitting Philosophy. 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. Progressive Field, Cleveland: 82 Their popularity kept growing. It's beyond dangerous, it's numb.". The King and His court is an extremely entertaining show to go watch! And the guy blinks and says, `Right.' Lies, Damn Lies and Statistics: How big was the crowd in Williamsport for the Little League World Series? I'm still the biggest thing in softball.". He even pitched blindfolded from second base for one inning. 12, Minute Maid Park, Houston: 80 During one game, Feigner had easily beaten a team from Oregon 33-0. In nine games, the Americans allowed one run and 18 hits. HDFeigner, thank you so much for your kind comment. I was lucky enough to be invited to come film the event. A story is told of the time he stood in right field at Yankee Stadium and fired an underhand fastball over home plate. Whats more, thanks to liberal rules, softball pitchers release the ball from even closer than that, slightly less than 40 feetabout 20 feet closer than a baseball pitcher. "I'll see a batter come up and, remember something about his stance or something and say, `El Paso, '74, right?' Busch Stadium, St. Louis: 78 You get to touch people and leave them with a message.". His gimmick of fielding four players against nine began with his response to losers taunts. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. He threw an in-raise as well as an in-drop pitches others couldn't figure out how to throw. 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. . Marshall, thanks for sharing! He just made me better," Hoppe said. No town was too small for them, no fans too unimportant. Any organization they thought would sponsor a softball game got a letter from them. 2005-2023 CBS INTERACTIVE ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Gary leland is a new media producer of fastpitch softball. 22. I saw the King and his Court in Jasper, Alabama in the early 1960s. He first said he could beat teams with only himself and a catcher, then realized that would leave the two vulnerable to being walked and stranded on base. 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. If you live anywhere in the Northwest, go to Walla Walla this Saturday to see the end of an era. After the game was over, many of the players gathered at a tavern. Yet, "It's like Bob Feller said: `I can still throw as hard as I ever did. Ted Williams was fond of saying that the toughest thing in sports is hitting a round ball with a round bat. But the week's most interesting line was by Philadelphia's Roy Oswalt, who officially started games on consecutive days and didn't allow a run in either. Williams was right, just not as precise as he could have been. His fastball pitch was clocked at over 104 miles an hour. So do yourself a favor this weekend. Safeco Field, Seattle: 87 "And nobody in their right mind would put slowpitch in the Olympics.". Kauffman Stadium, Kansas City, Mo. Too bad we didn't have today's technology back then. During the following four years, the King and His Court played over 200 games but traveled no further than Idaho. Tropicana Field, Tampa Bay: 68. Now they're all in their 40s. Founded in 1946 by Hoppe's mentor, "The King" Eddie Feigner, the. He hopes to inspire all of those who have battled addiction and felt trapped within their own lives. information. The manager walked past Feigner at the tavern and made a nasty comment about Feigner's pitching ability. (Theyre currently on a 79-game winning streak.) Eddie Feigner, "What Little I Know About Pitching and Hitting", 7. He pitched for Kilburg's Grocery store. "I miss the guy, I really do. On this day in 1967, he happened to appear at an exhibition at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. 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