Tropicana Field, Tampa Bay: 68. After the game was over, many of the players gathered at a tavern. "Hollywood missed a hell of a story. 12, Minute Maid Park, Houston: 80 You may also leave questions, or comments on our call in line 209-softbal. In 1972, Sports Illustrated called Feigner, who pitched 238 perfect games, the most underrated athlete of his time. Lies, Damn Lies and Statistics: How big was the crowd in Williamsport for the Little League World Series? The decline of fastpitch, Feigner says, began shortly after he left the service. 18. I'm still the biggest thing in softball.". Oh yeah, Eisenhower Park. ", 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. It has been estimated the team played over 10,000 softball games in over 100 countries. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. Because in baseballs early days, the pitchers were required to throw underhand. Merrick, N.Y., 1974. With all that said, Feigner was amazing. 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. 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 . This often happened on the nearest street. 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. Hoppe remembers playing in 100-degree heat in Tacoma, Wash., one day and in sub-zero cold the next day in Barrow, Alaska. He is a member of theBaseball Reliquary. They had 4 players and would play teams of 9 guys. Into that steel trap memory delves Feigner, 65, a fastpitch softball trouper for some 44 years. In 1981, there was a strike in Major League Baseball. ! 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They were awesome. information. 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"). Feigner had an exaggerated windup and he would do things like pitch blindfolded, or pitch an inning from behind second base. Not bad for a fat man. 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. Good afternoon, I wanted to thank you for such a nice article on the man I knew as grandpa Eddie. They were all from the state of Florida. 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. In the 1905 World Series, New York Giants legend Christy Mathewson tossed three shutouts, allowing only 14 hits in 27 innings. 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. Have you seen the (Zama) catcher throw?". At his peak, Mr. Feigner threw a softball harder than any. Please visit our sponsor Online Fastpitch Softball Superstore It all began in 1946. It's always been my Yankee Stadium. So do yourself a favor this weekend. ", "If you did one tour with the Court, you've been tested. Im now 66 years old. That gave him season marks of .301, 34 home runs, 101 RBIs, a 1.023 OPS and a 1-0 record. "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. Five of the six were later elected to Cooperstown. The Marlins will be hard-pressed to equal their two World Series championship at their new ballpark that opens next season. Founded in 1946 by Hoppe's mentor, "The King" Eddie Feigner, the. 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. Feigner swore the tale was true, except that it was a curveball that crossed second base on its way to the plate. And there were not enough bare-chested women, though there were a few of those, too. Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles: 88 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). You get a fragment from an old box score and the challenge of determining what game it is from and why it is significant. 23K 2.9K comments 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 . Free returns. 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 never saw him and his court, but I can imagine it was quite an experience. For softball training videos, training aids, softball equipment, or softball bats visit softballjunk.com/. 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. "How did you remember that?" Eddie Feigner did this when he was 56 years old. His fastest pitch was clocked at 104 miles an hour. The news of a four-man team beating nine players spread all over the state. 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. We had 14,000 there that night," said Eddie Feigner, the legendary King of the barnstorming King and His Court fastpitch softball team. He pitched behind his back, from second base, between his legs, when kneeling and, of course, while blindfolded. How did he do it? She survives him, as do his son Eddie Jr.; his daughters Shirley, Carol and Debbie; nine grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. It's absolutely like your life is flashing in front of you," Hoppe said. 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. In an interview, he said he liked having fun too much to be an MLB player. He is Rich Hoppe -- Bayonne native and pitcher for the King and His Court, the iconic four-man barnstorming softball team. I was lucky enough to be invited to come film the . Your email address will not be published. Chase Field, Phoenix: 76.5 Thanks for sharing such a great childhood memory. Hoppe has fought his own wars away from the diamond, on the battlefields of Vietnam and in the darkest trenches of his personal life. The Ballpark in Arlington, Texas: 77 Eddie Feigner in 1983. Eddie Feigner was a crowd pleasing softball pitcher and showman who toured the world for 55 years as the King and His Court. This didn't stop them. "We got to live our summers in small towns where you feel like it's the 1950s. Yes, he faced the Cubs. 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. The manager's team was a prison team made of convicts. 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. Hell, if you live anywhere, get to Walla Walla. 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. I was lucky enough to be invited to come film the event. 11. 3. Coors Field, Denver: 87 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. He was like a drill sergeant who drills you every day and you never do anything right.". 2023 The Arena Media Brands, LLC and respective content providers on this website. Cleveland's Chris Perez hit two batters, walked another and allowed an unearned run Monday (1 IP 0 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 K, 2 HBP) while Atlanta Jair Jurrjens pitched 6 1/3 scoreless innings despite allowing 13 baserunners (6 1/3 IP, 8 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 5 BB, 1 K). And oh yeah, the Court of 4 won the game! The four players of the King and His Court easily beat the nine-player prison team 7-0. 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. 5. 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. Then those two teams will really have something to play for. I remember seeing them in commericals as a kid, pretty sure it was Bud or Lite Beer commericals. Feigner could strike people out blindfolded as well as when pitching from second base. Marco Polo would have been jealous. 13. 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. 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. Comerica Park, Detroit: 87 22. 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. "I was a broken man.". "It was like being on the Rolling Stones, only with a softball.". "I got to be part of something where they watch you tie your shoelaces," Hoppe said of the attention the Court occasionally received. Free 3 day shipping. During a 1967 exhibition game at Dodger Stadium, Eddie Feigner faced a lineup of six big leaguers. Its like being a world-champion nose-blower.. Eddie Feigner was a one-of-a-kind person who stood out among all those who played sports. So, thank you for showing others what a great athlet he was. But if you have an honest show, and they say `King and His Court, they're always great,' well, that's all you can do.". All contents 2023 The Slate Group LLC. The King and His Court" and his visit to. "The King changed my life, and he was the toughest guy I've ever been around. Anyone can read what you share. Hey, I'm a big Tim Lincecum fan but this card (2010 Topps 206, No. Feigner developed athletic skills and abilities in ways nobody thought possible. His fastball pitch was clocked at over 104 miles an hour. 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. He was expelled from high school for troublemaking. He threw an in-raise as well as an in-drop pitches others couldn't figure out how to throw. Inspire employees with compelling live and on-demand video experiences. Target Field, Minneapolis: 91 ), 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. 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. 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. As the team ate and slept in their station wagon, they discovered something in El Paso, TX. No town was too small for them, no fans too unimportant. 17. Feigner was able to play an exhibition game in front of more than 15,500 fans at the Silverdome located in Pontiac, Michigan. Anyone? In nine games, the Americans allowed one run and 18 hits. Become an Annual VIP member today and get access to VIP content, ad-free forums & more. I also fear Buck Showalter's head would probably explode if a player showed up looking like this. He left the military in 1944. He struck out Willie Mays, Willie McCovey, Brooks Robinson, Harmon Killebrew and Roberto Clemente consecutively. 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. 7. Either that, or an outtake from "Twilight 4: Team Timmy No-Hits Team Edward.'' Feigner, who at the end made a tiny fraction of the fabulous salaries of baseball players, never slowed down. In the 2000 Olympics, the gold-medal-winning U.S. softball team allowed only seven runs and 24 hits in 10 games. And maybe he deserved it. I saw the King and his Court in Jasper, Alabama in the early 1960s. Which is why the King always had four players. 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. 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. He just made me better," Hoppe said. He and his Court were able to defeat a team with nine players. If you haven't seen the King and His Court, well, it's your own damn fault. You can follow him on Twitter at jimcaple. Many writers and others in the sports world have considered Eddie Feigner to be the best softball pitcher the sport has ever known. (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. Though it would be nice if Florida ownership could have found the money to keep the out of town scoreboard. Legend Christy Mathewson tossed three shutouts, allowing only 14 hits in 27.... Of course, while blindfolded and abilities in ways nobody thought possible team played over 10,000 softball games in 100! 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