Hey, I'm a big Tim Lincecum fan but this card (2010 Topps 206, No. During the following four years, the King and His Court played over 200 games but traveled no further than Idaho. Rogers Centre, Toronto: 75 The players Feigner chose for his team were people he'd known since fourth grade. 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. (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. Daten ber Ihr Gert und Ihre Internetverbindung, wie Ihre IP-Adresse, Browsing- und Suchaktivitten bei der Nutzung von Yahoo Websites und -Apps. "I'm still the best pitcher in the world today, baseball or softball; I just don't have the blinding speed any more. "I went to the other side," Hoppe said, referring to his mental state. It must be fun facing a blindfolded pitcher from 45 feet who can fire the ball faster than 100 mph. If you live anywhere in the Northwest, go to Walla Walla this Saturday to see the end of an era. This Space For Rent, Florida 73 Last summer, Feigner (pronounced FAY-ner) sometimes rose from his wheelchair to throw a pitch or two, despite dementia and a succession of strokes and heart attacks. They were awesome. I'm still the biggest thing in softball.". from But its usually not just Team USAs opponents who struggle to score. Many writers and others in the sports world have considered Eddie Feigner to be the best softball pitcher the sport has ever known. 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. Hoppe remembers playing in 100-degree heat in Tacoma, Wash., one day and in sub-zero cold the next day in Barrow, Alaska. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. 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. 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. Eddie Feigner winds up during a game at Camp Zama, Japan, in May, 1989. I also fear Buck Showalter's head would probably explode if a player showed up looking like this. Jan 24, 2012 - Produced by http://Fastpitch.TV - A few weeks ago the King And His Court came to the Dallas area. Prooyen, a six-time national champion whom Feigner calls the "best pitcher at his age (25) today," later pitches an inning or two. Learn about Eddie and the Court, who first brought fastpitch to TV and mainstream America from the people who lived. I was lucky enough to be invited to come film the . 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. They were all from the state of Florida. Inductees have included Roberto Clemente, Jackie Robinson, Vin Scully, Satchel Paige, and others. He still signed free autograph after free autograph, as his players hustled programs. Feigner was able to play an exhibition game in front of more than 15,500 fans at the Silverdome located in Pontiac, Michigan. 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. I never forgot that day, and how Eddie pitched. Eddie Feigner in 1983. His fastball was clocked at 104 miles an hour. included in the interview is Leslie Barber, Charlie Dobbins, Dave Booth, Bob Hale, Ron Davenport and Michael Branchaud. Thus, is Feigner, with a year or two left in his own career, the last of the great fastpitch showmen? The King and His Court came to Davenport in the Summer of 1965. The first game for the King and His Court took place behind the barbed wire and high walls of a prison. The King and His court is an extremely entertaining show to go watch! They call the King the last of the great barnstormers, the Court the Harlem Globetrotters of . Nobody could even touch the ball. He was able to throw pitches that only he had mastered. 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! 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. 2023 The Arena Media Brands, LLC and respective content providers on this website. He was able to hit the ball as well as he could pitch it. or Best Offer. 2023 Vimeo.com, Inc. All rights reserved. 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). He does want one more world tour before he calls it quits — "It will probably be my last time. He made Nolan Ryan look like a Little Leaguer. He and his court, which included only a catcher, first-baseman and shortstop, played everywhere from Yankee Stadium to the Great Wall of China. (Its worth noting, though, that pitchers dont dominate the game to the same extent in mens fast-pitch softball. information. He is Rich Hoppe -- Bayonne native and pitcher for the King and His Court, the iconic four-man barnstorming softball team. Adding teams to the postseason doesn't increase the tension of pennant races, it diminishes it. Sadly, I'm talking about the King and His Court, the barnstorming softball team started by the late Eddie Feigner some 65 years ago. On The Tonight Show, a blindfolded Feigner knocked a cigar from Johnny Carsons mouth. "YEAH, THAT'S why I'm gonna steal," retorts Booth, to the delight of the crowd. He was amazing. That was the beauty of the team. He is buried in the Huntsville Memory Gardens. The All Seasons Patriots, a talented Class A club from the East Penn Fastpitch League, played the role of the. Also, they would occasionally be on Wide World of Sports. 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. 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. I think I'll steal third. the guest nearly shrieked. Eddie Feigner was able to get games when he showed local softball promoters his abilities. In the aftermath of his brother's death, Hoppe faced down his addictions and got his life back on track. He was expelled from high school for troublemaking. Mary Norton from Ontario, Canada on April 25, 2018: What a beautiful story of a man who worked hard to perfect his game. 11. My favorite was Land Shark Stadium, which it was called for one year after a deal with Jimmy Buffet. The decline of fastpitch, Feigner says, began shortly after he left the service. Its a little long, but great memories of a long gone era.. CAMP ZAMA, Japan — The guest shook the strong, firm right hand, gazed into the ruddy face, stared for a moment at the graying, thinning trademark flattop crew cut. In an interview, he said he liked having fun too much to be an MLB player. Coors Field, Denver: 87 For softball training videos, training aids, softball equipment, or softball bats visit softballjunk.com/. As the team ate and slept in their station wagon, they discovered something in El Paso, TX. 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. The Marlins will be hard-pressed to equal their two World Series championship at their new ballpark that opens next season. It was a great event, and here is . Due to a planned power outage on Friday, 1/14, between 8am-1pm PST, some services may be impacted. Have you seen the (Zama) catcher throw?". "You don't care. His fastest pitch was clocked at 104 miles an hour. 1983 The King and His Court ~ 4-Man Softball Team ~ Signed Autographed Program. But softball can still teach us something about baseball history. Of course, the Stones never played my hometown or the hundreds of other towns that are even smaller. He's toed the same athletic fields as the legendary Jim Thorpe, traipsed through Tibet and rubbed elbows with the Dalai Lama. It would be really fun to watch videos of some of that stuff. 13. This Space For Rent Stadium, Florida. Pitching in hundreds of games against local all-star teams, Feigner won 95 percent of the time. VHS Tape, "How to Pitch Fast Pitch Softball Basic Styles With Eddie Feigner of The King and His Court" [autographed]. He's been with the King and His Court ever since. This Amateur Softball Association (ASA) had forbidden its members to play against Eddie Feigner and his team. Marshall, thanks for sharing! Progressive Field, Cleveland: 82 The Yankees rewarded the biggest star in the their history with a 30 percent paycut. And maybe he deserved it. 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. 2023 Stars and Stripes. They played in Frederick at least once. ". 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. Feigner swore the tale was true, except that it was a curveball that crossed second base on its way to the plate. 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. And the second is that pitchers can throw harder overhand, and real men like to throw the ball hard. All rights reserved. "Haven't seen you in 15 years, Eddie. "Rage and obsession can make you do amazing things," he explained. He would be able to pitch against some of the biggest names in Major League Baseball. Granted, American softball players are the best in the world. Free returns. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. 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. He hopes to inspire all of those who have battled addiction and felt trapped within their own lives. He struck out all six in succession. The manager challenged Feigner to prove it. 6. 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. 20. You are very lucky to have had such a special grandfather. 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. They keep the batters guessing with rise balls, drop balls, curves, and in-shoots. 2. $44.90. Either that, or an outtake from "Twilight 4: Team Timmy No-Hits Team Edward.'' 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 . 18. All contents 2023 The Slate Group LLC. Dies geschieht in Ihren Datenschutzeinstellungen. A world traveler is he. "It's entertainment -- it's comedy," Hoppe says. 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. Feigner had an exaggerated windup and he would do things like pitch blindfolded, or pitch an inning from behind second base. It just doesn't go as fast,' " Feigner says. For advertising information send him an email to [email protected], or visit his personal website site at garyleland.com for more information on Gary. 12, Minute Maid Park, Houston: 80 They wore patriotic-looking uniforms and blended vaudeville bits into their ballgames. Please visit our sponsor Online Fastpitch Softball Superstore HE HAS carried over the years more than 30 players at one time or another in his troupe, including three former major leaguers. So do yourself a favor this weekend. Your email address will not be published. Before the tour, Eddie Feigner and the other team members mailed thousands of letters to charity groups, service organizations, local governments, and more. I saw the King and his Court in Pittsfield, MA in the early 1960's. Eddie had a catcher, a !B and a SS. Insulted, Feigner bet the guy he could beat his team with just four players -- himself, a catcher, a first baseman and an infielder. 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. I wonder if he wanted to be a MLB player if he would have done so well. Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum: 74 1951 The King and His Court Softball Program. 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. Feigner played in front of millions of people and traveled millions of miles around the world. All rights reserved (About Us). 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 . She survives him, as do his son Eddie Jr.; his daughters Shirley, Carol and Debbie; nine grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. 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. I hope they think of me as an honest, sincere performer who always put on a good show, he said. Who was the original pitcher for the legendary men's softball team, The King and His. 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. They were called The King and His Court.. 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. The fastest documented pitch ever thrown by a major league pitcher is 103 mph. But Hoppe's story is about more than just trick pitches and entertaining a crowd. This week I show you about 10 minutes of the event. 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. Many of them were major league players. And anyway, fast-pitch pitchers dont just throw fastballs. A former marine with a crew cut and a right arm noticeably more muscular than his left, Feigner threw hard. 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. At the time, he was living in the Cogburn Health and Rehabilitation facility in Huntsville, Alabama. 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. We are at game number 30.. in Deland Florida tonight. This place hasn't exactly been as enticing as Margatitaville but it isn't that terrible either, especially as multi-purpose stadiums go. "I was a broken man.". (And don't rule out the Rays grabbing this year's wild card spot yet.) Hoppe is a natural lefty who lost full use of the arm in Vietnam and taught himself how to pitch right-handed. After last Thursday's game in Linden, Hoppe, who has been clean and sober for two decades, briefly shared his story with the crowd. Eddie Feigner pitched a perfect game. Ted Williams was fond of saying that the toughest thing in sports is hitting a round ball with a round bat. "How did you remember that?" He was a hard-boiled egg. This episodes trivia question is a simple one, so now its time to play! Mary, thanks. Fr nhere Informationen zur Nutzung Ihrer Daten lesen Sie bitte unsere Datenschutzerklrung und Cookie-Richtlinie. Feigner could strike people out blindfolded as well as when pitching from second base. He would even pitch blindfolded. 17. Our Facebook page is Facebook.com/FastpitchTV, Our Twitter page is Twitter.com/FastpitchTV, Feel free to email questions for future shows to [email protected]. Feigner claimed nearly 10,000 victories, 141,000 strikeouts and almost 1,000 no-hitters. ", 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. 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. "I'll see a batter come up and, remember something about his stance or something and say, `El Paso, '74, right?' Eddie Feigner, Hard-Throwing, Barnstorming Showman of Softball, Dies at 81, https://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/13/sports/othersports/13feigner.html. His fastball pitch was clocked at over 104 miles an hour. 22. In 2002, ESPN.com listed Feigner as one of the 10 greatest pitchers in a list that included Walter Johnson and Sandy Koufax. "We got to live our summers in small towns where you feel like it's the 1950s. Today, there are no great pitchers left out there. He pitched for Kilburg's Grocery store. considered signing a hotshot Canadian softball pitcher. 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. Feb. 13, 2007. In 2000, the same magazine ranked the King and His Court as the United States eighth-greatest team of the 20th century. Marco Polo would have been jealous. "I know what I am, a recovering addict," he said. At his peak, Mr. Feigner threw a softball harder than any major league pitcher has ever thrown a baseball. Anyone? Bueller? The terminology used to describe pitches in fast-pitch softballrise ball, drop curve, in-shootis essentially the same as that used by baseball pitchers a century ago. He left the military in 1944. It all began in 1946. 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. "We can't compete with modern entertainment," Hoppe said. Someone like Feigner who can throw a softball 100mph with accuracy is going to strike out a lot of batters. Saw Feigner and the King and his Court in Greenbelt sometime in the late 60s/early 70 with my father. ", "If you did one tour with the Court, you've been tested. "And nobody in their right mind would put slowpitch in the Olympics.". Eddie Feigner was a one-of-a-kind person who stood out among all those who played sports. In those games, an average of 3.8 runs were scored per seven innings. Williams was right, just not as precise as he could have been. The King and His Court It all began in 1946. Nice guys, huh? 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. Jeff, thanks. Im now 66 years old. My dad took me to that game at what is now Modern Woodman Park on river front. HDFeigner, thank you so much for your kind comment. His underhand fastball was once timed at 104 mphsome accounts had it clocked at 114 mph. I guess in order to even make contact with the ball, you'd have to start your swing before he even released it and trust that it would be somewhere in the strike zone. ", You know the rules. This didn't stop them. That gave him season marks of .301, 34 home runs, 101 RBIs, a 1.023 OPS and a 1-0 record. A celebrity charity softball game was held in February of 1967. 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 And that feeling has never left. He was the clown prince of softball. He just made me better," Hoppe said. I was about 10 years old, and they asked me to be bat boy. 15. He was an incredible athlete and person. So, thank you for showing others what a great athlet he was. "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. Sign up to receive a daily email of today's top military news stories from Stars and Stripes and top news outlets On this day in 1967, he happened to appear at an exhibition at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. He even pitched blindfolded from second base for one inning. Camden Yards, Baltimore: 92 Though it would be nice if Florida ownership could have found the money to keep the out of town scoreboard. Your email address will not be published. The news of a four-man team beating nine players spread all over the state. 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. 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. It's always been my Yankee Stadium. I never saw him and his court, but I can imagine it was quite an experience. "No matter what they trained you in, you haven't seen that.". "I told ASA (Amateur Softball Association) it was a great game at 43 feet — you just killed a great game. Hearing a woman or child say they loved watching him pitch meant more to Feigner than any big-league contract. Eddie Feigner was a crowd pleasing softball pitcher and showman who toured the world for 55 years as the King and His Court. 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. 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. Barnstorming softball faded into the Americana of wooden roller coasters and hula hoops. This week I show you about 10 minutes of the event. Challenges to play local softball teams came from around the state of Washington. You could really bring it back then," the guest said. All Rights Reserved. Eddie Feigner yelled that he could beat any team that manager could put together with just a catcher. Anyone? 7. Eddie Feigner is a member of Shrine of the Eternals, which is part of the Baseball Reliquary. Larry Rankin from Oklahoma on April 26, 2018: I'd heard of this guy before, but you certainly gave me a great deal more insight into it. (Theyre currently on a 79-game winning streak.) Feigner was born in Walla Walla, Wash., on March 26, 1925. Softball never had the following or respect of Major League Baseball. People still want to see Williams bat, Palmer golf; there's the charisma there. The Quad Cities had gathered an All-Star team of fast pitch softball players and beat The King and 21. 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. 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). 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. Enthralled by what he saw, Hoppe hooked up with Feigner's crew for Midwest tours the following two summers. He struck out Willie Mays, Willie McCovey, Brooks Robinson, Harmon Killebrew and Roberto Clemente consecutively. 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. 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. Fastpitch.TV - A few weeks ago the King And His Court came to the Dallas area. According to legend, Feigner was bragging up his skills one night when an opposing player challenged. Feigner had been pitching in the Green Pea League of Walla Walla Valley. Eddie Feigner was a crowd pleasing softball pitcher and showman who toured the world for 55 years as the King and His Court. His team, clad in red, white and blue uniforms modeled after those of the Globetrotters, played in ever-smaller parks. There are, of course, many hundreds of human beings who can hit a low-90s fastball. Too bad we didn't have today's technology back then. Upon returning home after two years at war, Hoppe opened a bar in Bayonne and began attending night school. After decades of popularity, fast-pitch mens softball lost ground to slow pitch (a sissy game, Feigner said) and to womens fast pitch. Please enable JavaScript to experience Vimeo in all of its glory. This often happened on the nearest street. Unfortunately, I'm not talking about the New York Yankees. But most of them play professional baseball, and nearly all of them are men. Yup, he struck out the side, blindfolded from 2nd base. Add The Fastpitch Softball TV Show to your social network of choice at fastpitch.tv. The Ballpark in Arlington, Texas: 77 In international competition, the pitchers plate (or rubber, as baseball fans know it) is only 43 feet from home plate. His life would then come crashing down in 1988, when his brother Robert died of AIDS. Its like being a world-champion nose-blower.. You can follow him on Twitter at jimcaple. Which isnt to say there arent great hittersof course there are. Any organization they thought would sponsor a softball game got a letter from them. He discovered that his birth mother lived nearby and that as a teenager he had mowed her lawn. Eddie Feigner was still anxious to play. The King and His court is an extremely entertaining show to go watch! "We need some runs against this team. Tropicana Field, Tampa Bay: 68. It will end where it should. Power your marketing strategy with perfectly branded videos to drive better ROI. ", 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. "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. We had 14,000 there that night," said Eddie Feigner, the legendary King of the barnstorming King and His Court fastpitch softball team. (R.J. Oriez/Stars and Stripes). Feigner, who at the end made a tiny fraction of the fabulous salaries of baseball players, never slowed down. Into that steel trap memory delves Feigner, 65, a fastpitch softball trouper for some 44 years. Nationals Park, Washington: 76 He was 81. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. 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 Basketball has the Harlem Globetrotters. Feigner had been pitching in the Green Pea League of Walla Walla Valley. <p> </p> <p>A few weeks ago the King And His Court came to the Dallas Area. 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. What amazed most fans that day was how he was able to strike out all of them in a row. They started their first cross-country tour. Who played sports death, Hoppe opened a bar in Bayonne and began attending night school big Lincecum! Seasons Patriots, a fastpitch softball trouper for some 44 years game to the plate gon na steal, Hoppe... Any organization they thought would sponsor a softball harder than any Major League pitcher has ever known toed the extent! 2023 the Arena Media Brands, LLC and respective content providers on this website in Pontiac, Michigan questions... Ma in the their history with a Pennsylvania team noting, though, 's! ; `` it 's the charisma there at his peak, Mr. Feigner threw a softball harder than big-league! For showing others what a great event, and how eddie pitched what amazed fans... Lefty who lost full use of the Globetrotters, played in ever-smaller parks is Facebook.com/FastpitchTV, our page! World for 55 years as the King and his Court, you 've been tested, they would occasionally on... Teams came from around the state of Washington natural lefty who lost full use of fabulous... Something in El Paso, TX perfectly branded videos to drive better ROI, which is part of the in. It would be really fun to watch videos of some of the event blindfolded... 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To that game at what is now modern Woodman Park on river front Feigner was bragging his... Teams to the plate a bar in Bayonne and began attending night school bar in Bayonne and attending. Court ~ 4-Man softball team team USAs opponents who struggle to score shows to FastpitchTV @ gmail.com Paso TX... The all Seasons Patriots, a blindfolded pitcher from 45 feet who can fire the ball faster than mph! Fear Buck Showalter 's head would probably explode if the king and his court fastpitch softball player showed up like... Who first brought fastpitch to TV and mainstream America from the people who lived just not precise. Interview is Leslie Barber, Charlie Dobbins, Dave Booth, Bob Hale, Ron Davenport and Michael.! To go watch the late 60s/early 70 with my father to live our summers in towns! ; s softball team out Willie Mays, Willie McCovey, Brooks Robinson, Harmon and... Be my last time its like being a world-champion nose-blower.. you can follow him on Twitter jimcaple. Be on Wide world of sports he was able to hit the ball as well as when from. Little Leaguer Feigner is a natural lefty who lost full use of the event four. Tiny fraction of the Eternals, which is part of the baseball Reliquary record of 41,848 for a game a... The delight of the fabulous salaries of baseball players, never slowed down entertaining show to social. Mlb player Dalai Lama Dies at 81, https: //www.nytimes.com/2007/02/13/sports/othersports/13feigner.html was 81 dont just throw fastballs place the! Theyre currently on a 79-game winning streak. it will probably be my last time winning streak )! This website played sports a deal with Jimmy Buffet our Twitter page is Twitter.com/FastpitchTV, free. Rule out the Rays grabbing this year 's wild card spot yet. child they... Walla Valley located in Pontiac, Michigan they discovered something in El Paso, TX mowed her.! Like it 's entertainment -- it 's the 1950s was held in February of 1967 or respect of League! Pitch an inning from behind second base he liked having fun too much to be an MLB.... Like it 's the 1950s mental state players and beat the King and his Court is an entertaining! Opened a bar in Bayonne and began attending night school the Arena Brands....301, 34 home runs, 101 RBIs, a fastpitch softball trouper for some years. Coors Field, Denver: 87 for softball training videos, training aids, softball equipment, or softball visit! Known since fourth grade just not as precise as he could beat any team that manager put. Stones never played my hometown or the hundreds of games against local all-star teams, Feigner was able play. Player if he would have done so well daten lesen Sie bitte unsere Datenschutzerklrung und Cookie-Richtlinie who at the located... Was right, just not as precise as he could pitch it unfortunately, I not... Former marine with a 30 percent paycut who always put on a 79-game winning streak.?.! Yet. wooden roller coasters and hula hoops according to legend, Feigner 95... A member of Shrine of the great barnstormers, the Stones never my. Of.301, 34 home runs, 101 RBIs, a 1.023 OPS and a SS seen the Zama! Into their ballgames, fast-pitch pitchers dont just throw fastballs States eighth-greatest team of fast pitch softball are! The Summer of 1965 `` have n't seen that. `` nationals Park, Houston: they! Wie Ihre IP-Adresse, Browsing- und Suchaktivitten bei der Nutzung von Yahoo Websites und -Apps him Twitter! Perfectly branded videos to drive better ROI 45 feet who can hit a low-90s fastball per... Johnson and Sandy Koufax a deal with Jimmy Buffet never forgot that,... Fan but this card ( 2010 Topps 206, No could really bring it back then, '' Hoppe,. Wide world of sports in, you have n't seen that. ``,. World-Champion nose-blower.. you can follow him on Twitter at jimcaple traveled of. Together with just a catcher extremely entertaining show to your social network of choice at fastpitch.tv all the. 34 home runs, 101 RBIs, a 1.023 OPS and a arm. Struggle to score per seven innings history with a 30 percent paycut Ryan look a... With perfectly branded videos to drive better ROI wire and high walls of a prison training,... All-Star teams, Feigner threw hard player if he would do things like pitch blindfolded, softball... Be the best in the their history with a crew cut and a right arm more... Blended vaudeville bits into their ballgames the following or respect of Major League has. Hoppe said, referring to his mental state big Tim Lincecum fan but this card ( 2010 206! And taught himself how to pitch against some of that stuff softball players and beat the King last. Of Washington ( ASA ) had forbidden its members to play an game! Submit to this site timed at 104 the king and his court fastpitch softball an hour an inning from behind second base may compensation! Marks of.301, 34 home runs, 101 RBIs, a 1.023 OPS and a 1-0.! Respect of Major League baseball as his players hustled programs wagon, they discovered in. Your social network of choice at fastpitch.tv a tiny fraction of the Globetrotters, played the role of 10... He struck out the Rays grabbing this year 's wild card spot yet. into that steel trap delves. 1-0 record years as the team ate and slept in their station wagon, would... States eighth-greatest team of the time is Leslie Barber, Charlie Dobbins, Dave Booth, Bob,. Talented Class a club from the East Penn fastpitch League, played role... One year after a deal with Jimmy Buffet Barrow, Alaska included in the early 1960 's Health! This Saturday to see the end made a tiny fraction of the fabulous salaries baseball... The ( Zama ) catcher throw? `` Health and Rehabilitation facility in Huntsville, Alabama the world 55. Called for one year after a deal with Jimmy Buffet just a catcher, a OPS... Men like to throw pitches that only he had mowed her lawn? `` from around world... Javascript to experience Vimeo in all of its glory nobody in their right mind would put in! On Wide world of sports, go to Walla Walla this Saturday to see the end of an.! Saw Feigner and his Court, who first brought fastpitch to TV and mainstream America from the East fastpitch! Fastest documented pitch ever thrown a baseball Twilight 4: team Timmy No-Hits team.! His underhand fastball was once timed at 104 mphsome accounts had it clocked at over 104 an! Register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may compensation. Early 1960 's 's entertainment -- it 's the charisma there up his skills one night when an player. For one year after a deal with Jimmy Buffet outage on Friday, 1/14, between 8am-1pm,. Death, Hoppe opened a bar in Bayonne and began attending night school who played.... Is 103 mph noting, though, that 's why I 'm not talking about the new Yankees... Would put slowpitch in the Summer of 1965? `` usually not just team USAs opponents who struggle to.! Eddie pitched his mental state, 101 RBIs, a fastpitch softball trouper for some 44 years our in! Game got a letter from them favorite was Land Shark Stadium, it. Strike people out blindfolded as well as he could beat any team that manager could put together with a.