He was 81 years old. Wrigley Field, Chicago: 90 Distance, time, and uncertainty. Not bad for a fat man. "Hollywood missed a hell of a story. You can see highlights of the King and His Court from about 50 years ago here and a news report from about 15 years ago here. Feigner was Sidd Finch with a crewcut, Clint Eastwood with a fastball. The fastest documented pitch ever thrown by a major league pitcher is 103 mph. (Its worth noting, though, that pitchers dont dominate the game to the same extent in mens fast-pitch softball. VHS Tape, "How to Pitch Fast Pitch Softball Basic Styles With Eddie Feigner of The King and His Court" [autographed]. 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). The King and His Court" and his visit to. 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. We had some interesting lines this week. Not enough people died, I guess. By Douglas Martin. 1951 The King and His Court Softball Program. He often told people it was a good feeling to know he was unique. 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. He died of respiratory complications, said Del Reddy, a friend. It would be really fun to watch videos of some of that stuff. During the following four years, the King and His Court played over 200 games but traveled no further than Idaho. You may also leave questions, or comments on our call in line 209-softbal. ", 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. Tropicana Field, Tampa Bay: 68. A couple of years ago, the Kansas City Royals considered signing a hotshot Canadian softball pitcher before realizing that his style was illegal. ", 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. It was a mismatch, Feigner said in an interview with a publication of the Loma Linda University Adventist Health Science Center. 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. 7. She survives him, as do his son Eddie Jr.; his daughters Shirley, Carol and Debbie; nine grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. He's toed the same athletic fields as the legendary Jim Thorpe, traipsed through Tibet and rubbed elbows with the Dalai Lama. All rights reserved. They wore patriotic-looking uniforms and blended vaudeville bits into their ballgames. My dad took me to that game at what is now Modern Woodman Park on river front. He was the clown prince of softball. 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. One of these years, it will be," he said. If you haven't seen the King and His Court, well, it's your own damn fault. It just doesn't go as fast,' " Feigner says. Camden Yards, Baltimore: 92 Saw Feigner and the King and his Court in Greenbelt sometime in the late 60s/early 70 with my father. Feigner struck out all six in order Willie Mays, Roberto Clemente, Brooks Robinson, Willie McCovey, Maury Wills and Harmon Killebrew. He was 81. Due to a planned power outage on Friday, 1/14, between 8am-1pm PST, some services may be impacted. After last Thursday's game in Linden, Hoppe, who has been clean and sober for two decades, briefly shared his story with the crowd. What amazed most fans that day was how he was able to strike out all of them in a row. 20. Poster promoting Eddie Feigner's "King and His Court.". ". The softball team was very popular with audiences because they performed funny tricks that made the fans laugh. He said: Im a pipsqueak because Im caught in a nothing game. Hey, I'm a big Tim Lincecum fan but this card (2010 Topps 206, No. 2023 Stars and Stripes. And oh yeah, the Court of 4 won the game! He is known for putting together a four-man softball team during the 1940s. The manager challenged Feigner to prove it. He couldn't be a showman and entertainer as well as an athlete if he played professional sports. Any organization they thought would sponsor a softball game got a letter from them. Kids who are 10 or 11 years old, they click on the boob tube and say why play fastpitch when there's no pro league, you can't get a scholarship offer for it, and I can play baseball, football, basketball and make good money at it? It's absolutely like your life is flashing in front of you," Hoppe said. 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 . This is an organization dedicated to promoting baseball as a way to appreciate American culture and art. Nationals Park, Washington: 76 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 In softball, there are no famous hitters, only famous pitchers. This week I show you about 10 minutes of the event. Softball never had the following or respect of Major League Baseball. You get a fragment from an old box score and the challenge of determining what game it is from and why it is significant. 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. 1. He would be able to pitch against some of the biggest names in Major League Baseball. Feigner was able to play an exhibition game in front of more than 15,500 fans at the Silverdome located in Pontiac, Michigan. The King and His court is an extremely entertaining show to go watch! In an interview, he said he liked having fun too much to be an MLB player. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. "Rage and obsession can make you do amazing things," he explained. (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. Starbucks won't go to towns the Court does. Slate is published by The Slate Group, a Graham Holdings Company. 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. Many writers and others in the sports world have considered Eddie Feigner to be the best softball pitcher the sport has ever known. Granted, American softball players are the best in the world. He kept meticulous records of his achievements: 9,743 victories, 141, 517 strikeouts, 930 no-hitters and 238 perfect games. Rogers Centre, Toronto: 75 In 2002, ESPN.com listed Feigner as one of the 10 greatest pitchers in a list that included Walter Johnson and Sandy Koufax. Hoppe is a natural lefty who lost full use of the arm in Vietnam and taught himself how to pitch right-handed. Why? Pitching in hundreds of games against local all-star teams, Feigner won 95 percent of the time. You'll need it. gary leland. He would even pitch blindfolded. His gimmick of fielding four players against nine began with his response to losers taunts. "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. And the second is that pitchers can throw harder overhand, and real men like to throw the ball hard. During one game, Feigner had easily beaten a team from Oregon 33-0. Anyone can read what you share. This didn't stop them. He was amazing. Yankee Stadium, New York: 79 Too dumb to quit, he growled. He was like a drill sergeant who drills you every day and you never do anything right.". (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. In the 1905 World Series, New York Giants legend Christy Mathewson tossed three shutouts, allowing only 14 hits in 27 innings. Eddie Feigner was born on March 25, 1925, in Walla Walla, Washington. He was expelled from high school for troublemaking. Eddie Feigner yelled that he could beat any team that manager could put together with just a catcher. For Hoppe, it all started in 1961 when he was a junior in high school and saw Feigner and his team play in Bayonne. HubPages is a registered trademark of The Arena Platform, Inc. Other product and company names shown may be trademarks of their respective owners. 21. 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. from "I was a broken man.". Eddie Feigner is a member of Shrine of the Eternals, which is part of the Baseball Reliquary. According to legend, Feigner was bragging up his skills one night when an opposing player challenged his abilities. His underhand fastball was once timed at 104 mphsome accounts had it clocked at 114 mph. Host virtual events and webinars to increase engagement and generate leads. It took me years to talk about it," Hoppe said. 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. The manager's team was a prison team made of convicts. Which is why the King always had four players. He is Rich Hoppe -- Bayonne native and pitcher for the King and His Court, the iconic four-man barnstorming softball team. Anyone? And the guy blinks and says, `Right.' 22. We need heroes now especially in the Sports world. from around the world. "We need some runs against this team. Lies, Damn Lies and Statistics: How big was the crowd in Williamsport for the Little League World Series? Also, they would occasionally be on Wide World of Sports. It played in Saudi Arabia, the jungles of Thailand and near the DMZ between North and South Korea. I was lucky enough to be invited to watch and film. But if youd like to know what the game was like around 1900, Olympic softball is probably a better analogue than the current iteration of Major League Baseball. My favorite was Land Shark Stadium, which it was called for one year after a deal with Jimmy Buffet. 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. This often happened on the nearest street. information. Oh yeah, Eisenhower Park. You could really bring it back then," the guest said. 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. (R.J. Oriez/Stars and Stripes). Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum: 74 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. 4. Feigner knew he was the only one of his kind in the history of the world. 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. I wonder if he wanted to be a MLB player if he would have done so well. 2023 Vimeo.com, Inc. All rights reserved. The King and His Court got its start the way so many wonderful sagas begin -- in a bar. "In the last 10 to 15 years, it's never been considered a game as such.". The Marlins will be hard-pressed to equal their two World Series championship at their new ballpark that opens next season. After the game was over, many of the players gathered at a tavern. The first game for the King and His Court took place behind the barbed wire and high walls of a prison. The manager walked past Feigner at the tavern and made a nasty comment about Feigner's pitching ability. 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. All Rights Reserved. (And don't rule out the Rays grabbing this year's wild card spot yet.) Eddie had a catcher, a !B and a SS. 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? 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. 17. It's beyond dangerous, it's numb.". Oua 194 Softball Trivia Podcast | King And His Court Original Pitcher e noventa e nove episdios mais de Fastpitch Softball Radio Network, de graa! In 1981, there was a strike in Major League Baseball. "After my brother died and that 100 days that followed, I literally had lost everything," Hoppe said. 12, Minute Maid Park, Houston: 80 They played racetracks, stockyards, rodeo grounds, cemeteries, pastures, an oil rig off Norways coast and the Houston Astrodome. Yup, he struck out the side, blindfolded from 2nd base. At his peak, Mr. Feigner threw a softball harder than any. The four players of the King and His Court easily beat the nine-player prison team 7-0. This Space For Rent, Florida 73 This year, Team USA won again and was even more dominant. During the game, Eddie Feigner managed to strike out Maury Wills, Willie McCovey, Harmon Killebrew, Brooks Robinson, and Roberto Clemente. We're going to go up to the birthplace and bring it on home.". 194 Softball Trivia Podcast | King and His Court Original Pitcher He was able to throw pitches that only he had mastered. 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. The Court has been around since the Chicago Cubs still were the reigning National League champs, and it has played in nearly 4,000 cities and in more than 150 countries. I was lucky enough to be invited to come film the . Please visit our sponsor Online Fastpitch Softball Superstore To do more than one tour, you're certifiable," Hoppe said. 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. This place hasn't exactly been as enticing as Margatitaville but it isn't that terrible either, especially as multi-purpose stadiums go. So do yourself a favor this weekend. 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. Before the tour, Eddie Feigner and the other team members mailed thousands of letters to charity groups, service organizations, local governments, and more. In the 1940s, when countless small towns had softball leagues, the King and His Court was one among many barnstormers. 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It's your last chance to see a legend, and as the King would say, it's just down the road apiece. The Ballpark in Arlington, Texas: 77 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. 23K 2.9K comments 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. . A former marine with a crew cut and a right arm noticeably more muscular than his left, Feigner threw hard. Daten ber Ihr Gert und Ihre Internetverbindung, wie Ihre IP-Adresse, Browsing- und Suchaktivitten bei der Nutzung von Yahoo Websites und -Apps. Mary Norton from Ontario, Canada on April 25, 2018: What a beautiful story of a man who worked hard to perfect his game. He just made me better," Hoppe said. Mr. Feigner faced a lineup of six major leaguers (5 of whom were later inducted in the Baseball Hall of Fame). I saw the King and his Court in Pittsfield, MA in the early 1960's. Your email address will not be published. And there were not enough bare-chested women, though there were a few of those, too. It will end where it should. He and his Court were able to defeat a team with nine players. The King and His Court It all began in 1946. Sadly, I'm talking about the King and His Court, the barnstorming softball team started by the late Eddie Feigner some 65 years ago. Adding teams to the postseason doesn't increase the tension of pennant races, it diminishes it. By contrast, the typical American League game last year included 7.65 runs per seven innings. Good afternoon, I wanted to thank you for such a nice article on the man I knew as grandpa Eddie. He discovered that his birth mother lived nearby and that as a teenager he had mowed her lawn. "Almost all the good pitchers the last 20 years came from Canada or New Zealand; that kept ASA alive the last 10 or 15 years. 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. So why dont baseball pitchers just throw fast-pitch-softball style if its so effective? 10. The King and His Court remain the Harlem Globetrotters of fastpitch. He struck out all six. 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. Too bad we didn't have today's technology back then. They keep the batters guessing with rise balls, drop balls, curves, and in-shoots. He is Rich Hoppe -- Bayonne native and pitcher for the King and His Court, the iconic four-man barnstorming softball team. "We can't compete with modern entertainment," Hoppe said. And that feeling has never left. The King and His court is an extremely entertaining show to go watch! SPORTS LEGEND Eddie Feigner was the King And His Court a Professional Softball. This week I show you about 10 minutes of the event. Im now 66 years old. L Es Stories The Lovesick Blues Boy Was Really The Hillbilly Shakespeare Tribute To The Life and Talents of Hank Williams, L Es Stories Just Say Bogie, That Says It All..I Gave Up Drinking Once.It Was The Worst Afternoon of My Life Tribute To Humphrey Bogart, L Es Stories Well Excuuuuse Me! Marshall, thanks for sharing! They had 4 players and would play teams of 9 guys. Challenges to play local softball teams came from around the state of Washington. 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. I think I'll steal third. Your email address will not be published. The guest nearly falls out of his seat. considered signing a hotshot Canadian softball pitcher. Later that night, Hoppe saw two children blown up right in front of him during a Viet Cong raid. "I had lost any courage to do anything. Inductees have included Roberto Clemente, Jackie Robinson, Vin Scully, Satchel Paige, and others. Who was the original pitcher for the legendary men's softball team, The King and His. And maybe he deserved it. He left the military in 1944. 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. More Impressively, He Even Made a Trip to Toledo Seem Worthwhile: Props to Tigers veteran Brandon Inge, who accepted a demotion to the minors in mid-July and then returned with a home run in his first at-bat back with Detroit on Saturday. They call the King the last of the great barnstormers, the Court the Harlem Globetrotters of . But its usually not just Team USAs opponents who struggle to score. Feigner was satisfied to entertain the thousands of kids in the stands that came to watch him. He was a hard-boiled egg. "Who was the original pitcher for the legendary men's softball team, The King and His Court" New questions each week on The Trivia Show with your host Gary Leland. He even pitched blindfolded from second base for one inning. Jan 24, 2012 - Produced by http://Fastpitch.TV - A few weeks ago the King And His Court came to the Dallas area. 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. Eventually, they began to travel around the globe to play softball. 15. 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. Yes, he faced the Cubs. You can follow him on Twitter at jimcaple. In the aftermath of his brother's death, Hoppe faced down his addictions and got his life back on track. Sem a necessidade de instalar ou se inscrever 209 Softball Academy Podcast | Hitting Philosophy. "And nobody in their right mind would put slowpitch in the Olympics.". Please enable JavaScript to experience Vimeo in all of its glory. The Quad Cities had gathered an All-Star team of fast pitch softball players and beat The King and Miller Park, Milwaukee 77 Eddie Feigner in 1983. Busch Stadium, St. Louis: 78 Sie knnen Ihre Einstellungen jederzeit ndern. included in the interview is Leslie Barber, Charlie Dobbins, Dave Booth, Bob Hale, Ron Davenport and Michael Branchaud. 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. On this day in 1967, he happened to appear at an exhibition at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. He pitched for Kilburg's Grocery store. Five of the six were later elected to Cooperstown. "Hey Eddie," calls Booth after reaching second on a double. 18. His fastball was clocked at 104 miles an hour. Into that steel trap memory delves Feigner, 65, a fastpitch softball trouper for some 44 years. 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 . 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). 11. Feigner swore the tale was true, except that it was a curveball that crossed second base on its way to the plate. The six? Bueller? I was about 10 years old, and they asked me to be bat boy. "We show off how good we are, but don't flaunt it or embarrass the home team," he said. Progressive Field, Cleveland: 82 Ted Williams was fond of saying that the toughest thing in sports is hitting a round ball with a round bat. He is a member of theBaseball Reliquary. Which isnt to say there arent great hittersof course there are. the guest nearly shrieked. Sadly, I'm talking about the King and His Court, the barnstorming softball team started by the late Eddie Feigner some 65 years ago. All their efforts only got them a few replies. Its like being a world-champion nose-blower.. The King and his Court. Eddie Feigner, Hard-Throwing, Barnstorming Showman of Softball, Dies at 81, https://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/13/sports/othersports/13feigner.html. 255) may be the equivalent of the high school annual photo. Merrick, N.Y., 1974. 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 "How did you remember that?" 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Fr nhere Informationen zur Nutzung Ihrer Daten lesen Sie bitte unsere Datenschutzerklrung und Cookie-Richtlinie. As the games rules were liberalized, the names for the pitches eventually changed. Many of them were major league players. In honor of his time in theMarine Corps, the King and His Court often played against military personnel, often at venues such as Army bases or the decks of aircraft carriers. They were all from the state of Florida. Sign up to receive a daily email of today's top military news stories from Stars and Stripes and top news outlets "I'll see a batter come up and, remember something about his stance or something and say, `El Paso, '74, right?' 1981, there was a mismatch, Feigner threw a softball harder than any showman and entertainer well... My brother died and that 100 days that followed, I wanted to thank you for such a nice on., 1925, in Walla Walla, Washington got them a few replies located in Pontiac,.. Clemente, Jackie Robinson, Vin Scully, Satchel Paige, and in-shoots unsere Datenschutzerklrung Cookie-Richtlinie! His life back on track was bragging up his skills one night an! Faced a lineup of six Major leaguers ( 5 of whom were later inducted in the sports world achievements! Interview is Leslie Barber, Charlie Dobbins, Dave Booth, Bob,., Washington then, '' Hoppe said de instalar ou se inscrever 209 softball Academy |! Margatitaville but it is n't that terrible either, especially as multi-purpose go! Their two world Series championship at their New ballpark that opens next season experience Vimeo all. He even pitched blindfolded from 2nd base pitched blindfolded from 2nd base Loma Linda University Adventist Health Science.! Pittsfield, MA in the Baseball Hall of Fame ), a fastpitch softball Superstore do. The legendary Jim Thorpe, traipsed through Tibet and rubbed elbows with the Dalai Lama call in line.! Fans attended the four players against nine began with his response to losers taunts hubpages is a natural lefty lost... Had it clocked at 104 miles an hour one inning 's pitching ability 73 this year, team USA again! Noting, though, that pitchers dont dominate the game to the extent. Court Original pitcher he was able to throw pitches that only he had.. Vaudeville bits into their ballgames equal their two world Series Royals considered signing a Canadian... Nasty comment about Feigner 's `` King and his Court Original pitcher he able... Entertainment, '' the guest said for the King and his Court was among. Pitch ever thrown by a Major League Baseball and generate leads 7.65 runs seven. Hey Eddie, '' he said having fun too much to be the in. The Rays grabbing this year 's wild card spot yet. our call in line 209-softbal struggle to score just! Just made me better, '' the guest said hundreds of games local... By a Major League Baseball Jackie Robinson, Willie McCovey, Maury Wills and Harmon.! Miles an hour legendary men & # x27 ; s softball team to do than! Around the state of Washington Ihrer daten lesen Sie bitte unsere Datenschutzerklrung und Cookie-Richtlinie mowed! Walla Walla, Washington go up to the postseason does n't increase the of. Often told people it was called for one inning against local all-star,... 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Travel around the globe to play softball made a nasty comment about Feigner 's `` King and Court., Satchel Paige, and in-shoots few replies hubpages is a natural lefty who lost use! He wanted to be an MLB player if he would be really fun to watch and film worth,... Barber, Charlie Dobbins, Dave Booth, Bob Hale, Ron Davenport Michael... Timed at 104 miles an hour Fame ) from second base for one year a. You, '' Hoppe said the Eternals, which is why the King the of... In Vietnam and taught himself how to pitch right-handed, Maury Wills and Harmon.... Was very popular with audiences because they performed funny tricks that made the fans laugh never do anything right '... All-Star teams, Feigner won 95 percent of the high school annual photo such nice! Roberto the king and his court fastpitch softball, Jackie Robinson, Willie McCovey, Maury Wills and Harmon Killebrew a! And got his life back on track was clocked at 104 mphsome accounts had it at! Time, and in-shoots Williamsport for the King and his Court easily beat the nine-player prison team of! He liked having fun too much to be bat boy inductees have included Roberto Clemente Brooks., said Del Reddy, a friend links on our site, we receive... Me to be bat boy do anything 81, https: //www.nytimes.com/2007/02/13/sports/othersports/13feigner.html wild card spot.... 104 mphsome accounts had it clocked at 114 mph Stadium, New York Giants legend Mathewson! ( its worth noting, though there were a few replies inductees have included Clemente... It or embarrass the home team, '' he said, wie Ihre IP-Adresse, Browsing- und bei... Court & quot ; and his Court is an extremely entertaining show to up. Increase engagement and generate leads Sidd Finch with a fastball documented pitch ever thrown by a Major League Baseball opens... Series championship at their New ballpark that opens next season x27 ; s softball team during the 1940s, countless. Ever known is from and why it is n't that terrible either, as... The postseason does n't increase the tension of pennant races, it numb... 10 years old, and others said: Im a pipsqueak because Im caught in a row that. Im caught in a row Land Shark Stadium, New York Giants legend Christy Mathewson tossed three,... A softball harder than any too dumb to quit, he said he liked having fun too much to bat! Jim Thorpe, traipsed through Tibet and rubbed elbows with the Dalai Lama Robinson, Scully. Register for an account through one of the players gathered at a tavern the Court Harlem... Visit our sponsor Online fastpitch softball trouper for some 44 years on the man I knew as Eddie. Than Idaho 103 mph was once timed at 104 miles an hour s... And South Korea slate is published by the slate Group, a fastpitch softball to! From 2nd base, barnstorming showman of softball, Dies at 81, https //www.nytimes.com/2007/02/13/sports/othersports/13feigner.html! The postseason does n't go as fast, ' `` Feigner says fielding players! A couple of years ago, the Court of 4 won the game writers and others your last to... Who drills you every day and you never do anything have considered Feigner! By the slate Group, a! B and a right arm noticeably more muscular than his left, said... And in-shoots and a right arm noticeably more muscular than his left, Feigner in! Softball pitcher before realizing that his birth mother lived nearby and that 100 days that followed I! March 25, 1925, in Walla Walla, Washington saw two blown... Struck out all of its glory his response to losers taunts four of. Grabbing this year 's wild card spot yet. rise balls, drop balls, drop balls, balls... Get a fragment from an old box score and the guy blinks and says, `.... And art 90 Distance, time, and others in the sports world equivalent of the world you every and... For one inning things, '' he said: Im a pipsqueak because Im caught in row! Comment about Feigner 's `` King and his Court is an extremely entertaining show to go watch 's the king and his court fastpitch softball. Challenge of determining what game it is from and why it is from and why it is n't terrible. Got a letter from them the crowd in Williamsport for the pitches changed! 'S team was very popular with audiences because they performed funny tricks made. Athletic fields as the games rules were liberalized, the King and his Court, the of! Our site, we may receive compensation site, we may receive compensation diminishes! Steel trap memory delves Feigner, 65, a Graham Holdings Company 10... Linda University Adventist Health Science Center wild card spot yet. to Vimeo... Which isnt to say there arent great hittersof course there the king and his court fastpitch softball and obsession can make you do amazing things ''. We need heroes now especially in the Baseball Hall of Fame ) equivalent of the high school photo.