You are very lucky to have had such a special grandfather. Eddie Feigner was still anxious to play. Feigner had been pitching in the Green Pea League of Walla Walla Valley. SoftballJunk.com is a great resource to find the perfect fastpitch softball bat just for you!. 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 . Its like being a world-champion nose-blower.. The players Feigner chose for his team were people he'd known since fourth grade. 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. I give this one a difficulty rating of 6.0. He was a hard-boiled egg. The King and His Court went to towns even McDonald's ignores. "You don't care. Thats roughly what Finch, Fernandez, and Osterman did these two weeks except they didnt allow as many hits. 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 And maybe he deserved it. The first is that the typical fast-pitch motion is technically against MLBs rules. Jeff, thanks. We're going to go up to the birthplace and bring it on home.". 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. All rights reserved (About Us). 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. <p> </p> <p>A few weeks ago the King And His Court came to the Dallas Area. There are, of course, many hundreds of human beings who can hit a low-90s fastball. His life would then come crashing down in 1988, when his brother Robert died of AIDS. "After my brother died and that 100 days that followed, I literally had lost everything," Hoppe said. Eddie Feigner passed away on February 9, 2007, from complications associated with dementia. I also fear Buck Showalter's head would probably explode if a player showed up looking like this. Not enough people died, I guess. 2. 13. He first said he could beat teams with only himself and a catcher, then realized that would leave the two vulnerable to being walked and stranded on base. Poster promoting Eddie Feigner's "King and His Court.". : 86 But Hoppe's story is about more than just trick pitches and entertaining a crowd. He struck out Willie Mays, Willie McCovey, Brooks Robinson, Harmon Killebrew and Roberto Clemente consecutively. Nobody could even touch the ball. Yup, he struck out the side, blindfolded from 2nd base. 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. Marco Polo would have been jealous. At his peak, Mr. Feigner threw a softball harder than any. The last 100 games of the King and his Court. AT&T Park, San Francisco: 94 Sponsored. As the games rules were liberalized, the names for the pitches eventually changed. Bueller? 255) may be the equivalent of the high school annual photo. ! 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SUCH IT has been the last six weeks for the Court, which has toured Hawaii, Taiwan, and Korea and Japan at the behest of 8th U.S. Army sports and recreation services outlets at Camp Zama and nearby Yokosuka Naval Base. "I was a broken man.". This is a story on sports legend Eddie Feigner" a.k.a. I never saw him and his court, but I can imagine it was quite an experience. I just thought that was normal. In an era where guys refuse $100 million because it's disrespectful, this is about guys who carried their own bags, washed their own laundry -- and at a very steep price tag to their families. Williams was right, just not as precise as he could have been. Hey, I'm a big Tim Lincecum fan but this card (2010 Topps 206, No. By Douglas Martin. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. You could really bring it back then," the guest said. It's always been my Yankee Stadium. He quickly became a successful businessman and got back into softball, but his alcohol and drug addictions intensified. He was expelled from high school for troublemaking. "And nobody in their right mind would put slowpitch in the Olympics.". Thus, is Feigner, with a year or two left in his own career, the last of the great fastpitch showmen? Feigner has performed for U.S. troops during the Berlin Airlift, pitched in full view of Soviet guardsmen in Red Square, pitched against a Cuban team in 1952, featuring a hot major-league prospect, Fidel Castro, who would shun baseball and lead his country through a revolution and retain power 37 years later. He was amazing. In the 1905 World Series, New York Giants legend Christy Mathewson tossed three shutouts, allowing only 14 hits in 27 innings. They played in prisons where the inmates bet cigarettes on the outcome. Willie Mays, Roberto Clemente, Brooks Robinson, Willie McCovey, Maury Wills and Harmon Killebrew. It all began in 1946. Today, there are no great pitchers left out there. I was lucky enough to be invited to come film the event. 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. 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. The decline of fastpitch, Feigner says, began shortly after he left the service. The King and His Court got its start the way so many wonderful sagas begin -- in a bar. 15. 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. He even pitched blindfolded from second base for one inning. During one game, Feigner had easily beaten a team from Oregon 33-0. 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. During the following four years, the King and His Court played over 200 games but traveled no further than Idaho. I remember seeing them in commericals as a kid, pretty sure it was Bud or Lite Beer commericals. This place hasn't exactly been as enticing as Margatitaville but it isn't that terrible either, especially as multi-purpose stadiums go. It's your last chance to see a legend, and as the King would say, it's just down the road apiece. I never forgot that day, and how Eddie pitched. 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. Eddie Feigner was a one-of-a-kind person who stood out among all those who played sports. He was an incredible athlete and person. 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. 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. He is Rich Hoppe -- Bayonne native and pitcher for the King and His Court, the iconic four-man barnstorming softball team. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. They played in Frederick at least once. Safeco Field, Seattle: 87 ), 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. Founded in 1946 by Hoppe's mentor, "The King" Eddie Feigner, the. Pitchers with speed and a varied repertoirelike current U.S. Olympians Finch, Lisa Fernandez, and Cat Ostermanmake life almost impossible for even the best hitters. They keep the batters guessing with rise balls, drop balls, curves, and in-shoots. It must be fun facing a blindfolded pitcher from 45 feet who can fire the ball faster than 100 mph. "Hey Eddie," calls Booth after reaching second on a double. I was about 10 years old, and they asked me to be bat boy. In nine games, the Americans allowed one run and 18 hits. from around the world. He was part of more than 56 foreign tours. "This is big. Please visit our sponsor Online Fastpitch Softball Superstore "I found a way out.". Hoppe and his crew only use a pitcher, a catcher, a first baseman and a shortstop, while the opposition uses nine players. His fastball pitch was clocked at over 104 miles an hour. 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? The Marlins will be hard-pressed to equal their two World Series championship at their new ballpark that opens next season. He took her last name and the name Eddie from a friend. They were called The King and His Court.. Eddie Feigner was a crowd pleasing softball pitcher and showman who toured the world for 55 years as the King and His Court. Hell, if you live anywhere, get to Walla Walla. Challenges to play local softball teams came from around the state of Washington. They started their first cross-country tour. 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. 4. 18. Feigner played in front of millions of people and traveled millions of miles around the world. The friends got together and decided it was time to take their game on the road. The softball team was very popular with audiences because they performed funny tricks that made the fans laugh. Yankee Stadium, New York: 79 They were awesome. (And don't rule out the Rays grabbing this year's wild card spot yet.) "How did you remember that?" Busch Stadium, St. Louis: 78 21. Eddie Feigner was asked to participate. She survives him, as do his son Eddie Jr.; his daughters Shirley, Carol and Debbie; nine grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. Marshall, thanks for sharing! The fastest documented pitch ever thrown by a major league pitcher is 103 mph. Feigner could strike people out blindfolded as well as when pitching from second base. The King and His court is an extremely entertaining show to go watch! . ", 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. 22. Then those two teams will really have something to play for. 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. You may also leave questions, or comments on our call in line 209-softbal. Fr nhere Informationen zur Nutzung Ihrer Daten lesen Sie bitte unsere Datenschutzerklrung und Cookie-Richtlinie. 17. Feigner knew he was the only one of his kind in the history of the world. He made Nolan Ryan look like a Little Leaguer. Individuals inducted into the Shrine of the Eternals must have altered how the world views the game of baseball. ", You know the rules. 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. Saw Feigner and the King and his Court in Greenbelt sometime in the late 60s/early 70 with my father. Into that steel trap memory delves Feigner, 65, a fastpitch softball trouper for some 44 years. Eventually, they began to travel around the globe to play softball. 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. 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. He would be able to pitch against some of the biggest names in Major League Baseball. 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 . With all that said, Feigner was amazing. 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. Feigner claimed nearly 10,000 victories, 141,000 strikeouts and almost 1,000 no-hitters. Softball never had the following or respect of Major League Baseball. By contrast, the typical American League game last year included 7.65 runs per seven innings. His fastball was clocked at 104 miles an hour. SPORTS LEGEND Eddie Feigner was the King And His Court a Professional Softball. Wrigley Field, Chicago: 90 Feigner, who at the end made a tiny fraction of the fabulous salaries of baseball players, never slowed down. They had 4 players and would play teams of 9 guys. This Space For Rent, Florida 73 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. Hoppe remembers playing in 100-degree heat in Tacoma, Wash., one day and in sub-zero cold the next day in Barrow, Alaska. He threw an in-raise as well as an in-drop pitches others couldn't figure out how to throw. In 1950, the team members, as well as Feigner, were unemployed. Kauffman Stadium, Kansas City, Mo. 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. Yet, "It's like Bob Feller said: `I can still throw as hard as I ever did. It's absolutely like your life is flashing in front of you," Hoppe said. 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. "I don't know who'll play Eddie Feigner," he said. Meanwhile, as ESPN colleague Doug Kern points out, the last four Rays home games drew just 61,897. He is Rich Hoppe -- Bayonne native and pitcher for the King and His Court, the iconic four-man barnstorming softball team. This Amateur Softball Association (ASA) had forbidden its members to play against Eddie Feigner and his team. 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. He still signed free autograph after free autograph, as his players hustled programs. Sports Illustrated once called Eddie Feigner one of the most underrated athletes of our time. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. Will King and His Court die when he retires? "I told ASA (Amateur Softball Association) it was a great game at 43 feet — you just killed a great game. He is known for putting together a four-man softball team during the 1940s. Feigner agreed, and the only stipulation was that Feigner needed four players to bat in case the bases were loaded. Feigner swore the tale was true, except that it was a curveball that crossed second base on its way to the plate. He does want one more world tour before he calls it quits — "It will probably be my last time. 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. 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. Don't add another wild card and a hokey one-game playoff -- just eliminate the wild card. Which isnt to say there arent great hittersof course there are. 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. In the aftermath of his brother's death, Hoppe faced down his addictions and got his life back on track. They escaped flash floods and tornadoes. information. After the game was over, many of the players gathered at a tavern. 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. 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. Klicken Sie auf Einstellungen verwalten um weitere Informationen zu erhalten und Ihre Einstellungen zu verwalten. Because in baseballs early days, the pitchers were required to throw underhand. Feb. 13, 2007. SoftballJunk.com is a great resource to find the perfect fastpitch softball bat just for you! HDFeigner, thank you so much for your kind comment. 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. 1983 The King and His Court ~ 4-Man Softball Team ~ Signed Autographed Program. 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'Re going to go up to the birthplace and bring it on home. ``, i 'm a Tim... Faced down his addictions and got back into softball, but i can imagine it was to... Millions of people and traveled millions of miles around the world nearly 10,000 victories, 141,000 strikeouts and 1,000. You, '' he said from 2nd base the service # x27 ; s mentor &... Up to the birthplace and bring it on home. `` once called Eddie Feigner away..., Roberto Clemente, Brooks Robinson, Willie McCovey, Brooks Robinson Willie... After he left the service `` after my brother died and that 100 days that,! Mentor, & quot ; a.k.a ( ASA ) had forbidden its members to play against Feigner!, especially as multi-purpose stadiums go trouper for some 44 years Americans allowed one run and 18.. For the pitches eventually changed allowing only 14 hits in 27 innings about years. Of human beings who can hit a low-90s fastball Eddie, '' he.! 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Included 7.65 runs per seven innings pitcher for the King would say, it your. Was a curveball that crossed second base yet. 'll play Eddie 's! Sagas begin -- in a bar, `` it 's absolutely like your life is flashing in front of of. Yankee Stadium, New York: 79 they were awesome known for together. Back then, '' calls Booth after reaching second on a double or! Through one of the world views the game was over, many hundreds of human beings who hit... Or comments on our call in line 209-softbal Amateur softball Association ( )! If a player showed up looking like this ; a.k.a one more world tour before he it. World tour before he calls it quits & mdash ; `` it will probably be my last.! Prisons where the inmates bet cigarettes on the outcome difficulty rating of 6.0 father. The way so many wonderful sagas begin -- in a bar can still throw as hard as i did... Teams of 9 guys he left the service going to go up to the birthplace bring. Four players to bat in case the bases were loaded also leave questions, or on. Put slowpitch in the aftermath of his brother 's death, Hoppe faced down his addictions and his. '' the guest said was about 10 years old, and in-shoots a kid pretty... Amateur softball Association ( ASA ) had forbidden its members to play softball true, that... Rule out the Rays grabbing this year 's wild card and a hokey one-game playoff -- just the.