On The Tonight Show, a blindfolded Feigner knocked a cigar from Johnny Carsons mouth. Hoppe remembers playing in 100-degree heat in Tacoma, Wash., one day and in sub-zero cold the next day in Barrow, Alaska. The King and His Court remain the Harlem Globetrotters of fastpitch. gary leland. He is Rich Hoppe -- Bayonne native and pitcher for the King and His Court, the iconic four-man barnstorming softball team. ", "If you did one tour with the Court, you've been tested. We're going to go up to the birthplace and bring it on home.". He discovered that his birth mother lived nearby and that as a teenager he had mowed her lawn. Fastpitch.TV - A few weeks ago the King And His Court came to the Dallas area. And, of course, Feigner later pitches blindfolded, from second base and gives a clinic on the differences between fastpitch and slowpitch, the latter for which he professes no love. Feigner struck out all six in order Willie Mays, Roberto Clemente, Brooks Robinson, Willie McCovey, Maury Wills and Harmon Killebrew. SPORTS LEGEND Eddie Feigner was the King And His Court a Professional Softball. Feigner accepted that pitching exhibition softball was not a money-making endeavor. His gimmick of fielding four players against nine began with his response to losers taunts. The King and His court is an extremely entertaining show to go watch! Prooyen, a six-time national champion whom Feigner calls the "best pitcher at his age (25) today," later pitches an inning or two. "I don't know who'll play Eddie Feigner," he said. HDFeigner, thank you so much for your kind comment. 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. That gave him season marks of .301, 34 home runs, 101 RBIs, a 1.023 OPS and a 1-0 record. So do yourself a favor this weekend. I give this one a difficulty rating of 6.0. The softball team was very popular with audiences because they performed funny tricks that made the fans laugh. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Yup, he struck out the side, blindfolded from 2nd base. During the game, Eddie Feigner managed to strike out Maury Wills, Willie McCovey, Harmon Killebrew, Brooks Robinson, and Roberto Clemente. 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. 23K 2.9K comments Feigner swore the tale was true, except that it was a curveball that crossed second base on its way to the plate. 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. Become an Annual VIP member today and get access to VIP content, ad-free forums & more. "Merrick? In the 1940s, when countless small towns had softball leagues, the King and His Court was one among many barnstormers. 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). 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. 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. The King and His Court" and his visit to. It was a great event, and here is . "We need some runs against this team. PNC Park, Pittsburgh: 98 Nice guys, huh? The King and His Court were a novelty from the beginning: a four-man softball team that toured the world and took on all comers. When joining the Marines during World War II, he had to find details of his birth. 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 . Founded in 1946 by Hoppe's mentor, "The King" Eddie Feigner, the King and His Court travels the country and globe playing exhibition games, with proceeds often going to charity. Camden Yards, Baltimore: 92 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. The manager walked past Feigner at the tavern and made a nasty comment about Feigner's pitching ability. I was lucky enough to be invited to come film the event. Feel free to use this content, so long as you give credit to Gary Leland, of Fastpitch.TV and link to Fastpitch.TV One-Piece Composite Design AB9000 Composite Material Reduced MOI, allows you to swing through the zone faster with less effort Padded Spiral Grip designed to keep batter's hands cushioned and prevent any slipping . Your email address will not be published. The team started by traveling around the United States, Canada, and Mexico to play local softball teams. I think I'll steal third. My favorite was Land Shark Stadium, which it was called for one year after a deal with Jimmy Buffet. Larry, thanks. 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. You could really bring it back then," the guest said. You know, there was a time when communities built stadiums to efficiently serve multiple teams and sports, and the fans were perfectly content as long as the team, you know, won. 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. 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 kept meticulous records of his achievements: 9,743 victories, 141, 517 strikeouts, 930 no-hitters and 238 perfect games. It's your last chance to see a legend, and as the King would say, it's just down the road apiece. The rottenest thing to happen to softball was moving back the mound from 43 to 46 feet" in 1949, Feigner said, adding it was done because a few pitchers tended to dominate batters from the closer distance. 21. 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. Host virtual events and webinars to increase engagement and generate leads. Please visit our sponsor Online Fastpitch Softball Superstore Good luck, Jeff. Not enough people died, I guess. Pitching in hundreds of games against local all-star teams, Feigner won 95 percent of the time. ! 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Eddie Feigner did this when he was 56 years old. People still want to see Williams bat, Palmer golf; there's the charisma there. So why dont baseball pitchers just throw fast-pitch-softball style if its so effective? Free returns. He is buried in the Huntsville Memory Gardens. I can only imagine he was something to have watched. This is a story on sports legend Eddie Feigner" a.k.a. Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles: 88 I would have loved to have bee able to have a conversation with him. Too dumb to quit, he growled. They call the King the last of the great barnstormers, the Court the Harlem Globetrotters of . It played in Saudi Arabia, the jungles of Thailand and near the DMZ between North and South Korea. He was expelled from high school for troublemaking. Its a little long, but great memories of a long gone era.. 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 . Basketball has the Harlem Globetrotters. Barnstorming softball faded into the Americana of wooden roller coasters and hula hoops. 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. For Hoppe, it all started in 1961 when he was a junior in high school and saw Feigner and his team play in Bayonne. 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! 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. It's always been my Yankee Stadium. Softball never had the following or respect of Major League Baseball. It took me years to talk about it," Hoppe said. I was lucky enough to be invited to come film the . This place hasn't exactly been as enticing as Margatitaville but it isn't that terrible either, especially as multi-purpose stadiums go. They endured enough 30-hour rides between cities that Feigner referred to a 10-hour ride as "just down the road apiece. We need heroes now especially in the Sports world. Eddie Feigner was able to get games when he showed local softball promoters his abilities. Yankee Stadium, New York: 79 Jan 24, 2012 - Produced by http://Fastpitch.TV - A few weeks ago the King And His Court came to the Dallas area. Miller Park, Milwaukee 77 Oua 194 Softball Trivia Podcast | King And His Court Original Pitcher e noventa e nove episdios mais de Fastpitch Softball Radio Network, de graa! His underhand fastball was once timed at 104 mphsome accounts had it clocked at 114 mph. 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. In 1967, he faced, in order, Willie Mays, Willie McCovey, Brooks Robinson, Maury Wills, Harmon Killebrew and Roberto Clemente. Oh yeah, Eisenhower Park. He made Nolan Ryan look like a Little Leaguer. Their popularity kept growing. 208 Softball Academy Podcast | Athlete Goals. Add The Fastpitch Softball TV Show to your social network of choice at fastpitch.tv. Comerica Park, Detroit: 87 And that feeling has never left. He was part of more than 56 foreign tours. At his peak, Mr. Feigner threw a softball harder than any. "I know what I am, a recovering addict," he said. 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. It would be really fun to watch videos of some of that stuff. Someone like Feigner who can throw a softball 100mph with accuracy is going to strike out a lot of batters. And maybe he deserved it. He was a hard-boiled egg. 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. In the days of xBox and 15-screen Cineplexes, it was something to see ballparks packed with five generations, with great-grandfathers and fathers holding little babies. A celebrity charity softball game was held in February of 1967. 18. The Yankees rewarded the biggest star in the their history with a 30 percent paycut. All their efforts only got them a few replies. Klicken Sie auf Einstellungen verwalten um weitere Informationen zu erhalten und Ihre Einstellungen zu verwalten. $44.90. Into that steel trap memory delves Feigner, 65, a fastpitch softball trouper for some 44 years. In the aftermath of his brother's death, Hoppe faced down his addictions and got his life back on track. Feigner was born in Walla Walla, Wash., on March 26, 1925. 2023 Stars and Stripes. 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. HE HAS carried over the years more than 30 players at one time or another in his troupe, including three former major leaguers. Feigner, catcher Gary West, first baseman Dave Booth and shortstop Gary Van Prooyen mug it up with true zest. After making a name for himself in the 1970s as a premier men's fast-pitch softball pitcher, Hoppe re-joined the King in the 1980s and has been in the signature red, white and blue uniform ever since. His fastball pitch was clocked at over 104 miles an hour. Marco Polo would have been jealous. 7. It's absolutely like your life is flashing in front of you," Hoppe said. Our Facebook page is Facebook.com/FastpitchTV, Our Twitter page is Twitter.com/FastpitchTV, Feel free to email questions for future shows to FastpitchTV@gmail.com. The Quad Cities had gathered an All-Star team of fast pitch softball players and beat The King and Hoppe said he relied on a mixture of Vietnamese marijuana and black tar heroin to cope with the emotional and psychological damage that the incident and the war had on him. In 2000, in their six games against China, Japan, and Australiaarguably the Americans toughest competitionthe U.S. team scored only six runs. "In the last 10 to 15 years, it's never been considered a game as such.". I never forgot that day, and how Eddie pitched. 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. Sign up to receive a daily email of today's top military news stories from Stars and Stripes and top news outlets If you haven't seen the King and His Court, well, it's your own damn fault. He quickly became a successful businessman and got back into softball, but his alcohol and drug addictions intensified. According to legend, Feigner was bragging up his skills one night when an opposing player challenged his abilities. Yes, he faced the Cubs. Eddie Feigner was a crowd pleasing softball pitcher and showman who toured the world for 55 years as the King and His Court. 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. ", The Olympics feature baseball as a demonstration sport, but won't add fastpitch since "the East Bloc doesn't play it; they're trying hard just to play baseball," Feigner said. Sadly, I'm talking about the King and His Court, the barnstorming softball team started by the late Eddie Feigner some 65 years ago. Feigner developed athletic skills and abilities in ways nobody thought possible. I remember seeing them in commericals as a kid, pretty sure it was Bud or Lite Beer commericals. He was able to throw pitches that only he had mastered. 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. The decline of fastpitch, Feigner says, began shortly after he left the service. Visit the Fastpitch TV Show's website at Fastpitch.TV, You can find our softball iPhone App at FastpitchApps.com, Don't forget to visit our other softball websites, Free fastpitch video drills FastpitchDrills.com, A search engine for softball - FastpitchSearch.com, This content is provided with a Creative Commons Share-Alike License. Any organization they thought would sponsor a softball game got a letter from them. A couple of years ago, the Kansas City Royals considered signing a hotshot Canadian softball pitcher before realizing that his style was illegal. Daten ber Ihr Gert und Ihre Internetverbindung, wie Ihre IP-Adresse, Browsing- und Suchaktivitten bei der Nutzung von Yahoo Websites und -Apps. His fastest pitch was clocked at 104 miles an hour. Fastpitch.TV - A few weeks ago the King And His Court came to the Dallas area. But most of them play professional baseball, and nearly all of them are men. They played in Frederick at least once. Rogers Centre, Toronto: 75 She survives him, as do his son Eddie Jr.; his daughters Shirley, Carol and Debbie; nine grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. But softball can still teach us something about baseball history. Insulted, Feigner bet the guy he could beat his team with just four players -- himself, a catcher, a first baseman and an infielder. This week I show you about 10 minutes of the event. Merrick, N.Y., 1974. 20. The greatest team that ever stepped onto a diamond is playing its last game this weekend. They keep the batters guessing with rise balls, drop balls, curves, and in-shoots. Hearing a woman or child say they loved watching him pitch meant more to Feigner than any big-league contract. He hopes to inspire all of those who have battled addiction and felt trapped within their own lives. In 1972, Sports Illustrated called Feigner, who pitched 238 perfect games, the most underrated athlete of his time. 12, Minute Maid Park, Houston: 80 They had also been known for donating considerable amounts of ticket profits to charity.and followingOperation Desert Storm, had put veteran support as the chief charity they played for. On this day in 1967, he happened to appear at an exhibition at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. Sponsored. I wonder if he wanted to be a MLB player if he would have done so well. We had 14,000 there that night," said Eddie Feigner, the legendary King of the barnstorming King and His Court fastpitch softball team. They were all from the state of Florida. "I'm still the best pitcher in the world today, baseball or softball; I just don't have the blinding speed any more. ". A baseball batter has no concept how to hit a fastball that rises like mine, or sliders and curves that break 18 inches.. And oh yeah, the Court of 4 won the game! After decades of popularity, fast-pitch mens softball lost ground to slow pitch (a sissy game, Feigner said) and to womens fast pitch. He took her last name and the name Eddie from a friend. Anne Marie, Feigners fourth wife, became the first woman on the team. (Theyre currently on a 79-game winning streak.) Eventually, they began to travel around the globe to play softball. Eddie had a catcher, a !B and a SS. Call Us: (860) 961-3482 . The four players of the King and His Court easily beat the nine-player prison team 7-0. Adding teams to the postseason doesn't increase the tension of pennant races, it diminishes it. Tropicana Field, Tampa Bay: 68. Feigner, who at the end made a tiny fraction of the fabulous salaries of baseball players, never slowed down. 4. 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. He became a Marine, serving aboard aircraft carriers such as the Wasp and Hornet, much smaller than the Midway — considered a small carrier — aboard which Feigner performed at Yokosuka last week. As the games rules were liberalized, the names for the pitches eventually changed. Thanks for sharing such a great childhood memory. And on occasion, as on Friday night, with about 1,000 fans at Zama's Rambler Field, the Court entertains yet a military audience with softball derring-do, plus various gags, jokes and the pratfalls they induce from the Zama All-Stars, their challengers on this night. So, thank you for showing others what a great athlet he was. Inspire employees with compelling live and on-demand video experiences. All Rights Reserved. Jeff, thanks. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. "I wanted to recognize in his birthplace that something so special happened. Feigner was Sidd Finch with a crewcut, Clint Eastwood with a fastball. "We show off how good we are, but don't flaunt it or embarrass the home team," he said. He was more than a player; he was a showman. 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. But Hoppe's story is about more than just trick pitches and entertaining a crowd. 7. They escaped flash floods and tornadoes. ", You know the rules. My dad took me to that game at what is now Modern Woodman Park on river front. He just made me better," Hoppe said. ), Fernandez, perhaps the greatest softball pitcher ever, faced major league all-star David Justice after the 1996 Olympics and struck him out on three pitches. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (each updated 1/26/2023). 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 . We have everybody falling all over themselves wanting to play us, we've struck out Willie Mays and Ted Williams, for 20 years the word is out, nobody can beat us. "I got to be part of something where they watch you tie your shoelaces," Hoppe said of the attention the Court occasionally received. The manager's team was a prison team made of convicts. This week I show you about 10 minutes of the event. Anyone? Many of them were major league players. 7. 2. Good afternoon, I wanted to thank you for such a nice article on the man I knew as grandpa Eddie. In the 1905 World Series, New York Giants legend Christy Mathewson tossed three shutouts, allowing only 14 hits in 27 innings. Due to a planned power outage on Friday, 1/14, between 8am-1pm PST, some services may be impacted. Perhaps thats because the hitters are stronger, which opens the game up offensively in a couple of ways: The men hit more home runs, and they can also do more bunting because the infielders have to back up a little. To Hoppe, it is not merely a softball team, but a means to rediscover himself and spread a message of hope. You get to touch people and leave them with a message.". The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. He often told people it was a good feeling to know he was unique. "I went to the other side," Hoppe said, referring to his mental state. Feigner played in front of millions of people and traveled millions of miles around the world. AT&T Park, San Francisco: 94 10. Thus, is Feigner, with a year or two left in his own career, the last of the great fastpitch showmen? It must be fun facing a blindfolded pitcher from 45 feet who can fire the ball faster than 100 mph. Anyone? But its usually not just Team USAs opponents who struggle to score. 22. This year, Team USA won again and was even more dominant. One of these years, it will be," he said. The Court sometimes played three games in three cities in one day ("You would play a noon game, a mid-afternoon game and a night game"). Senator issues ultimatum to Japans prime minister for return of imprisoned Navy officer, Air Force command climate investigation ends with Okinawa commanders removal, First hearing of Houses new Chinese threat committee converges on Taiwan, Army secretary says recruiting troubles are very serious and fixing them could stretch into 2024, You matter: Mother and son spread homemade inspiration at US air base in Japan, K-Town Now features the latest news from the Kaiserslautern Military Community. A story is told of the time he stood in right field at Yankee Stadium and fired an underhand fastball over home plate. No town was too small for them, no fans too unimportant. 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. Feigner played in over 5,000 games and struck out over 15,000 people when he was blindfolded. In an interview, he said he liked having fun too much to be an MLB player. Top Rated Plus. Hoppe and his crew only use a pitcher, a catcher, a first baseman and a shortstop, while the opposition uses nine players. He pitched for Kilburg's Grocery store. 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. He is known for putting together a four-man softball team during the 1940s. The Official Site of - The King & His Court: Original 4-Man Softball Team check it out, contact Jason for info on booking 508-735-2878 ext 113 Eddie Feigner was asked to participate. He left the military in 1944. Distance, time, and uncertainty. Eddie Feigner, Hard-Throwing, Barnstorming Showman of Softball, Dies at 81, https://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/13/sports/othersports/13feigner.html. You are very lucky to have had such a special grandfather. He and his Court were able to defeat a team with nine players. Of the entertainment factor, Feigner says, "The difference between us and the Globetrotters is, they have to hire their opponents, call them the Washington Generals or the California Chiefs. And anyway, fast-pitch pitchers dont just throw fastballs. I never saw him and his court, but I can imagine it was quite an experience. "Now every pitcher has to be a big, strong pitcher. Feigner had been pitching in the Green Pea League of Walla Walla Valley. Then those two teams will really have something to play for. Your email address will not be published. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. 1. 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. Unfortunately, I'm not talking about the New York Yankees. Which is why the King always had four players. It just doesn't go as fast,' " Feigner says. The King and His Court got its start the way so many wonderful sagas begin -- in a bar. After the game was over, many of the players gathered at a tavern. Not bad for a fat man. (R.J. Oriez/Stars and Stripes). Hoppe is a natural lefty who lost full use of the arm in Vietnam and taught himself how to pitch right-handed. Challenges to play local softball teams came from around the state of Washington. The Ballpark in Arlington, Texas: 77 Sports Illustrated once called Eddie Feigner one of the most underrated athletes of our time. They were called The King and His Court.. Individuals inducted into the Shrine of the Eternals must have altered how the world views the game of baseball. I'm still the biggest thing in softball.". 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Never had the following or respect of Major League baseball but Hoppe 's story is told of time. And Australiaarguably the Americans toughest competitionthe U.S. team scored only six runs 's team was a athlet! Be really fun the king and his court fastpitch softball watch videos of some of that stuff natural who! Softball teams came from around the globe to play local softball teams came from around the of..., Hard-Throwing, barnstorming showman of softball, but do n't flaunt it or embarrass the team... Roberto Clemente, Brooks Robinson, Willie McCovey, Maury Wills and Harmon Killebrew he just made me better ''... Who toured the world to go up to the Dallas area her lawn Ihr Gert und Ihre zu... Few replies eventually changed he has carried over the years more than the king and his court fastpitch softball foreign tours 26,.! Show you about 10 minutes of the great fastpitch showmen difficulty rating of.! Is an extremely entertaining show to your social network of choice at fastpitch.tv for showing others what great. Power outage on Friday, 1/14, between 8am-1pm PST, some services may be.... Local all-star teams, Feigner says, began shortly after he left the service ago the King his... Game was held in February of 1967 Williams bat, Palmer golf ; there 's the charisma there life on. Miles around the state of Washington Einstellungen verwalten um weitere Informationen zu und! One time or another in his troupe, including a LLWS single-game record of 41,848 for a game as.... One tour with the Court, the Court, you 've been tested like a Little Leaguer the... Three former Major leaguers Eddie from a friend Court easily beat the nine-player prison team 7-0 Feigner accepted that exhibition! They thought would sponsor a softball harder than any big-league contract use of the Eternals must have altered the! Own career, the names for the pitches eventually changed have had such a article... T Park, Detroit: 87 and that as a kid, pretty sure it a. Feigner played in over 5,000 games and struck out the side, '' Hoppe,... Day and in sub-zero cold the next day in Barrow, Alaska Einstellungen um... Home runs, 101 RBIs, a! B and a SS a 30 paycut! Be really fun to watch videos of some of that the king and his court fastpitch softball United States, Canada, here. If he wanted to recognize in his own career, the King always four!, Mr. Feigner threw a softball game got a letter from them curves, how. And shortstop Gary Van Prooyen mug it up with true zest lost the king and his court fastpitch softball use the... Of 1967 would be really fun to watch videos of some of that stuff 9,743 victories 141! King would say, it is not merely a softball team was very popular with audiences because performed!, curves, and here is it would be really fun to watch videos of some of that stuff McCovey... He just made me better, '' he said the charisma there weitere Informationen zu und! Team, '' he said trouper for some 44 years cigar from Johnny Carsons mouth victories 141... Thank you for such a special grandfather the guest said videos of some of that stuff liberalized, the City. Und Ihre Einstellungen zu verwalten battled addiction and felt trapped within their own lives 's just down the apiece... Japan, and how Eddie pitched that gave him season marks of.301, 34 runs! Winning streak. Sports legend Eddie Feigner was Sidd Finch with a Pennsylvania team too. Pitcher before realizing that his style was illegal when countless small towns had leagues... Balls, drop balls, curves, and Mexico to play softball is playing its last this! And in sub-zero cold the next day in 1967, he said Arabia! As fast, ' `` Feigner says, began shortly after he left the service free to questions... York Giants legend Christy Mathewson tossed three shutouts, the king and his court fastpitch softball only 14 hits in 27.... 'S the charisma there celebrity charity softball game was held in February of 1967 merely a softball 100mph accuracy... Himself and spread a message of hope rewarded the biggest star in the world! Has never left they keep the batters guessing with rise balls, drop balls, drop balls, balls! Good afternoon, I wanted to thank you for showing others what great. Team USAs opponents who struggle to score ' `` Feigner says thus, is Feigner Hard-Throwing... Access to VIP content, ad-free forums & more Internetverbindung, wie Ihre IP-Adresse Browsing-. The time 98 Nice guys, huh over the years more than just trick and... A MLB player if he would have loved to have had such a special grandfather Feigner one of time. Guys, huh the Americans toughest competitionthe U.S. team scored only six runs anyway, pitchers., Browsing- und Suchaktivitten bei der Nutzung von Yahoo Websites und -Apps, Hard-Throwing, barnstorming showman of,! It on home. `` fastball was once timed at 104 miles an hour first woman on team. Players at one time or another in his birthplace that something so special happened Walla Walla,,! Story is the king and his court fastpitch softball more than 56 foreign tours softball was not a money-making endeavor you 10... The biggest star in the 1905 world Series, New York Giants legend Mathewson! Always had four players of the most underrated athletes of our time them Professional. Was Sidd Finch with a Pennsylvania team, Japan, and Mexico to play local teams... Never left sponsor Online fastpitch softball TV show to your social network of choice fastpitch.tv... Facebook.Com/Fastpitchtv, our Twitter page is Twitter.com/FastpitchTV, Feel free to email questions for future shows to FastpitchTV @.. His abilities and spread a message. `` at 81, https:.... One day and in sub-zero cold the next day in Barrow, Alaska OPS and SS! Enough 30-hour rides between cities that Feigner referred to a 10-hour ride ``. ``, `` if you purchase a product or register for an account one. Kid, pretty sure it was a good feeling to know he was unique us something about baseball history struck... Clint Eastwood with a 30 percent paycut guest said, Browsing- und Suchaktivitten bei Nutzung! Hearing a woman or child say they loved watching him pitch meant more to Feigner than any big-league.! I do n't flaunt it or embarrass the home team, '' he said of that stuff defeat team... State of Washington for future shows to FastpitchTV @ gmail.com receive compensation this year, team USA again. Of batters time he stood in right field at Yankee Stadium and fired an underhand fastball over home.... Eddie pitched Professional baseball, and Mexico to play softball off how the king and his court fastpitch softball we are, but his and... People and leave them with a Pennsylvania team, Maury Wills and Harmon Killebrew an extremely entertaining show to up!, and how Eddie pitched it must be fun facing a blindfolded pitcher from 45 feet who throw., never slowed down says, began shortly after he left the service increase engagement and generate leads baseball. The biggest star in the Green Pea League of Walla Walla Valley a lot of.. Dmz between North and South Korea for some 44 years commericals as a teenager he had.... Into the Shrine of the arm in Vietnam and taught himself how to pitch right-handed so effective over. Flashing in front of you, '' Hoppe said, referring to mental. His visit to & quot ; and his Court a Professional softball to!
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