(Theyre currently on a 79-game winning streak.) Eddie Feigner was still anxious to play. After last Thursday's game in Linden, Hoppe, who has been clean and sober for two decades, briefly shared his story with the crowd. He was 81 years old. And the guy blinks and says, `Right.' 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. I was lucky enough to be invited to come film the . At his peak, Mr. Feigner threw a softball harder than any. Oh yeah, Eisenhower Park. He was more than a player; he was a showman. Sign up to receive a daily email of today's top military news stories from Stars and Stripes and top news outlets Insulted, Feigner bet the guy he could beat his team with just four players -- himself, a catcher, a first baseman and an infielder. Larry, thanks. When joining the Marines during World War II, he had to find details of his birth. We need heroes now especially in the Sports world. (And don't rule out the Rays grabbing this year's wild card spot yet.) I was lucky enough to be invited to watch and film. 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 threw an in-raise as well as an in-drop pitches others couldn't figure out how to throw. Become an Annual VIP member today and get access to VIP content, ad-free forums & more. Camden Yards, Baltimore: 92 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 those games, an average of 3.8 runs were scored per seven innings. But the 65-year tour of duty ends Saturday night in Feigner's hometown of Walla Walla, Wash., playing a team that includes former major leaguer Jeff Cirillo, a two-time All-Star and five-time .300 hitter. 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. Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles: 88 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. What you should have noticed in this fragment is that Ruth not only is listed as the pitcher, he's listed as the only pitcher in the Yankees boxcore. It was incredible. 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. On The Tonight Show, a blindfolded Feigner knocked a cigar from Johnny Carsons mouth. Will King and His Court die when he retires? 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. And maybe he deserved it. "YEAH, THAT'S why I'm gonna steal," retorts Booth, to the delight of the crowd. He made Nolan Ryan look like a Little Leaguer. Bueller? 3. And the second is that pitchers can throw harder overhand, and real men like to throw the ball hard. The Yankees rewarded the biggest star in the their history with a 30 percent paycut. Later that night, Hoppe saw two children blown up right in front of him during a Viet Cong raid. There are a couple of reasons. In the 2000 Olympics, the gold-medal-winning U.S. softball team allowed only seven runs and 24 hits in 10 games. Prooyen, a six-time national champion whom Feigner calls the "best pitcher at his age (25) today," later pitches an inning or two. Eddie Feigner did this when he was 56 years old. A baseball batter has no concept how to hit a fastball that rises like mine, or sliders and curves that break 18 inches.. Which isnt to say there arent great hittersof course there are. That gave him season marks of .301, 34 home runs, 101 RBIs, a 1.023 OPS and a 1-0 record. Please enable JavaScript to experience Vimeo in all of its glory. 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. But the week's most interesting line was by Philadelphia's Roy Oswalt, who officially started games on consecutive days and didn't allow a run in either. "It's entertainment -- it's comedy," Hoppe says. He is Rich Hoppe -- Bayonne native and pitcher for the King and His Court, the iconic four-man barnstorming softball team. In international competition, the pitchers plate (or rubber, as baseball fans know it) is only 43 feet from home plate. Host virtual events and webinars to increase engagement and generate leads. "I found a way out.". Due to a planned power outage on Friday, 1/14, between 8am-1pm PST, some services may be impacted. I was lucky enough to be invited to come film the event. 4. Eddie Feigner winds up during a game at Camp Zama, Japan, in May, 1989. It's beyond dangerous, it's numb.". Busch Stadium, St. Louis: 78 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. Feigner knew he was the only one of his kind in the history of the world. 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. 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. 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. 208 Softball Academy Podcast | Athlete Goals. Jeff, thanks. He is buried in the Huntsville Memory Gardens. "Now every pitcher has to be a big, strong pitcher. Top Rated Plus. Daten ber Ihr Gert und Ihre Internetverbindung, wie Ihre IP-Adresse, Browsing- und Suchaktivitten bei der Nutzung von Yahoo Websites und -Apps. Eddie Feigner was a one-of-a-kind person who stood out among all those who played sports. He struck out all six in succession. considered signing a hotshot Canadian softball pitcher. They played racetracks, stockyards, rodeo grounds, cemeteries, pastures, an oil rig off Norways coast and the Houston Astrodome. Poster promoting Eddie Feigner's "King and His Court.". "No matter what they trained you in, you haven't seen that.". Power your marketing strategy with perfectly branded videos to drive better ROI. For softball training videos, training aids, softball equipment, or softball bats visit softballjunk.com/. Progressive Field, Cleveland: 82 The King and His Court went to towns even McDonald's ignores. Lies, Damn Lies and Statistics: How big was the crowd in Williamsport for the Little League World Series? 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. The fastest documented pitch ever thrown by a major league pitcher is 103 mph. You'll need it. Saw Feigner and the King and his Court in Greenbelt sometime in the late 60s/early 70 with my father. Marco Polo would have been jealous. And oh yeah, the Court of 4 won the game! He still signed free autograph after free autograph, as his players hustled programs. "We need some runs against this team. He hopes to inspire all of those who have battled addiction and felt trapped within their own lives. We had some interesting lines this week. 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). So do yourself a favor this weekend. He pitched for Kilburg's Grocery store. "We show off how good we are, but don't flaunt it or embarrass the home team," he said. We are at game number 30.. in Deland Florida tonight. During a 1967 exhibition game at Dodger Stadium, Eddie Feigner faced a lineup of six big leaguers. He often told people it was a good feeling to know he was unique. 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). 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. So why dont baseball pitchers just throw fast-pitch-softball style if its so effective? Skip to main content. Feigner played in front of millions of people and traveled millions of miles around the world. 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. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. They were called The King and His Court.. My favorite was Land Shark Stadium, which it was called for one year after a deal with Jimmy Buffet. As Feigner recently observed, In fast-pitch softball, you have to swing four or five inches above the ball or four or five inches below the ball. ", "If you did one tour with the Court, you've been tested. I never forgot that day, and how Eddie pitched. "How did you remember that?" "Hey Eddie," calls Booth after reaching second on a double. 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. "And nobody in their right mind would put slowpitch in the Olympics.". Sports Illustrated once called Eddie Feigner one of the most underrated athletes of our time. "I know what I am, a recovering addict," he said. Slate is published by The Slate Group, a Graham Holdings Company. 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. Mr. Feigner faced a lineup of six major leaguers (5 of whom were later inducted in the Baseball Hall of Fame). Then those two teams will really have something to play for. During one game, Feigner had easily beaten a team from Oregon 33-0. Eddie Feigner knew he would never receive the glamour or recognition of well-known star athletes. Eddie Feigner was a crowd pleasing softball pitcher and showman who toured the world for 55 years as the King and His Court. And anyway, fast-pitch pitchers dont just throw fastballs. The King and His Court came to Davenport in the Summer of 1965. They were all from the state of Florida. The first game for the King and His Court took place behind the barbed wire and high walls of a prison. He left the military in 1944. 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. Feigner, catcher Gary West, first baseman Dave Booth and shortstop Gary Van Prooyen mug it up with true zest. 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. In the aftermath of his brother's death, Hoppe faced down his addictions and got his life back on track. In the 1905 World Series, New York Giants legend Christy Mathewson tossed three shutouts, allowing only 14 hits in 27 innings. But its usually not just Team USAs opponents who struggle to score. The manager walked past Feigner at the tavern and made a nasty comment about Feigner's pitching ability. 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. And that feeling has never left. Your email address will not be published. In 1972, Sports Illustrated called Feigner, who pitched 238 perfect games, the most underrated athlete of his time. Its just that the conditions of the game simply dont allow even the greatest hitters to be successful often enough for anybody to notice. Adding teams to the postseason doesn't increase the tension of pennant races, it diminishes it. He said: Im a pipsqueak because Im caught in a nothing game. Comerica Park, Detroit: 87 Eddie Feigner passed away on February 9, 2007, from complications associated with dementia. For Hoppe, it all started in 1961 when he was a junior in high school and saw Feigner and his team play in Bayonne. I would have loved to have bee able to have a conversation with him. "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. His life would then come crashing down in 1988, when his brother Robert died of AIDS. Feigner was born in Walla Walla, Wash., on March 26, 1925. "I went to the other side," Hoppe said, referring to his mental state. The King and His court is an extremely entertaining show to go watch! After the game was over, many of the players gathered at a tavern. Since Jennie Finch took over as a co-host of This Week in Baseball, she has consistently struck out current major leaguers whove dared to take the Jennie Challenge. Eddie Feignerthe star of the famous barnstorming team The King and His Courtwas supposedly once clocked at 104 mph, and in a two-inning exhibition in 1967, he struck out Willie Mays, Willie McCovey, Brooks Robinson, Willie Mays, Harmon Killebrew, and Roberto Clemente. The King and His court is an extremely entertaining show to go watch! I saw the King and his Court in Pittsfield, MA in the early 1960's. He was able to throw pitches that only he had mastered. They call the King the last of the great barnstormers, the Court the Harlem Globetrotters of . In the 1940s, when countless small towns had softball leagues, the King and His Court was one among many barnstormers. "It's surreal. ", 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. 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. 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 had 4 players and would play teams of 9 guys. Any organization they thought would sponsor a softball game got a letter from them. Its like being a world-champion nose-blower.. Good afternoon, I wanted to thank you for such a nice article on the man I knew as grandpa Eddie. "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. 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. He pitched for Kilburg's Grocery store. He struck out all six. A former marine with a crew cut and a right arm noticeably more muscular than his left, Feigner threw hard. 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). "In the last 10 to 15 years, it's never been considered a game as such.". Though it would be nice if Florida ownership could have found the money to keep the out of town scoreboard. Our Facebook page is Facebook.com/FastpitchTV, Our Twitter page is Twitter.com/FastpitchTV, Feel free to email questions for future shows to FastpitchTV@gmail.com. He kept meticulous records of his achievements: 9,743 victories, 141, 517 strikeouts, 930 no-hitters and 238 perfect games. The manager challenged Feigner to prove it. 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. 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. Target Field, Minneapolis: 91 Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. 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. 14. They were awesome. Basketball has the Harlem Globetrotters. He and his court, which included only a catcher, first-baseman and shortstop, played everywhere from Yankee Stadium to the Great Wall of China. Too bad we didn't have today's technology back then. The King and his Court. Upon returning home after two years at war, Hoppe opened a bar in Bayonne and began attending night school. 11. Eddie Feigner is a member of Shrine of the Eternals, which is part of the Baseball Reliquary. You could really bring it back then," the guest said. Nice guys, huh? He was the clown prince of softball. 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. No town was too small for them, no fans too unimportant. The King and His Court It all began in 1946. Which is why the King always had four players. Jim Caple is a senior writer for ESPN.com. Sadly, I'm talking about the King and His Court, the barnstorming softball team started by the late Eddie Feigner some 65 years ago. Barnstorming softball faded into the Americana of wooden roller coasters and hula hoops. Many of them were major league players. He just made me better," Hoppe said. the guest nearly shrieked. Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum: 74 They started their first cross-country tour. 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. 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. Nobody could even touch the ball. I never saw him and his court, but I can imagine it was quite an experience. Feigner claimed nearly 10,000 victories, 141,000 strikeouts and almost 1,000 no-hitters. 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. $44.90. Feigner played in over 5,000 games and struck out over 15,000 people when he was blindfolded. "The King changed my life, and he was the toughest guy I've ever been around. 1983 The King and His Court ~ 4-Man Softball Team ~ Signed Autographed Program. Build a site and generate income from purchases, subscriptions, and courses. During the following four years, the King and His Court played over 200 games but traveled no further than Idaho. Tropicana Field, Tampa Bay: 68. The King and His Court" and his visit to. So, thank you for showing others what a great athlet he was. He was expelled from high school for troublemaking. I think I'll steal third. 10. "I miss the guy, I really do. He is known for putting together a four-man softball team during the 1940s. Not bad for a fat man. Rogers Centre, Toronto: 75 I wonder if he wanted to be a MLB player if he would have done so well. Free returns. "We can't compete with modern entertainment," Hoppe said. Today, there are no great pitchers left out there. To do more than one tour, you're certifiable," Hoppe said. On this day in 1967, he happened to appear at an exhibition at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. Fastpitch.TV - A few weeks ago the King And His Court came to the Dallas area. 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. The All Seasons Patriots, a talented Class A club from the East Penn Fastpitch League, played the role of the. "You don't care. 19. Sie knnen Ihre Einstellungen jederzeit ndern. 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. If you have a few young girls/guys looking to get into baseball or softball then taking them to one of these games would be a great event for the whole family! 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! One time he was even able to strike a person out from centerfield. Feigner had an exaggerated windup and he would do things like pitch blindfolded, or pitch an inning from behind second base. But softball can still teach us something about baseball history. During one game, Feigner had easily beaten a team from Oregon 33-0. Safeco Field, Seattle: 87 They wore patriotic-looking uniforms and blended vaudeville bits into their ballgames. 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. Eddie had a catcher, a !B and a SS. Yup, he struck out the side, blindfolded from 2nd base. He was a hard-boiled egg. 1. Miller Park, Milwaukee 77 Of course, the Stones never played my hometown or the hundreds of other towns that are even smaller. from around the world. Thats roughly what Finch, Fernandez, and Osterman did these two weeks except they didnt allow as many hits. 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"). Why? 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. Wrigley Field, Chicago: 90 He quickly became a successful businessman and got back into softball, but his alcohol and drug addictions intensified. Eddie Feigner was born on March 25, 1925, in Walla Walla, Washington. Hoppe has fought his own wars away from the diamond, on the battlefields of Vietnam and in the darkest trenches of his personal life. Men's fast-pitch softball has the King and His Court. It would be really fun to watch videos of some of that stuff. In 1967, he faced, in order, Willie Mays, Willie McCovey, Brooks Robinson, Maury Wills, Harmon Killebrew and Roberto Clemente. Anne Marie, Feigners fourth wife, became the first woman on the team. 255) may be the equivalent of the high school annual photo. "Merrick? As the games rules were liberalized, the names for the pitches eventually changed. Individuals inducted into the Shrine of the Eternals must have altered how the world views the game of baseball. PNC Park, Pittsburgh: 98 He's toed the same athletic fields as the legendary Jim Thorpe, traipsed through Tibet and rubbed elbows with the Dalai Lama. 23K 2.9K comments It just doesn't go as fast,' " Feigner says. He and his Court were able to defeat a team with nine players. This Space For Rent Stadium, Florida. It all began in 1946. He is a member of theBaseball Reliquary. 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. "It became my anchor," Hoppe said. Feigner developed athletic skills and abilities in ways nobody thought possible. You get to touch people and leave them with a message.". The decline of fastpitch, Feigner says, began shortly after he left the service. By contrast, the typical American League game last year included 7.65 runs per seven innings. Thus, is Feigner, with a year or two left in his own career, the last of the great fastpitch showmen? Feigner agreed, and the only stipulation was that Feigner needed four players to bat in case the bases were loaded. 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. It will end where it should. It took me years to talk about it," Hoppe said. Coors Field, Denver: 87 Yankee Stadium, New York: 79 Hoppe remembers playing in 100-degree heat in Tacoma, Wash., one day and in sub-zero cold the next day in Barrow, Alaska. 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. Anyone? The Ballpark in Arlington, Texas: 77 He was able to hit the ball as well as he could pitch it. It must be fun facing a blindfolded pitcher from 45 feet who can fire the ball faster than 100 mph. He died of respiratory complications, said Del Reddy, a friend. His fastball pitch was clocked at over 104 miles an hour. And on occasion, as on Friday night, with about 1,000 fans at Zama's Rambler Field, the Court entertains yet a military audience with softball derring-do, plus various gags, jokes and the pratfalls they induce from the Zama All-Stars, their challengers on this night. To Hoppe, it is not merely a softball team, but a means to rediscover himself and spread a message of hope. Have you seen the (Zama) catcher throw?". 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Jan 24, 2012 - Produced by http://Fastpitch.TV - A few weeks ago the King And His Court came to the Dallas area. He would be able to pitch against some of the biggest names in Major League Baseball. HubPages is a registered trademark of The Arena Platform, Inc. Other product and company names shown may be trademarks of their respective owners. Fastpitch.TV - A few weeks ago the King And His Court came to the Dallas area. At his peak, Mr. Feigner threw a softball harder than any major league pitcher has ever thrown a baseball. 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. The manager's team was a prison team made of convicts. "It's magical and joyful in a way, but this has been on my radar since 1958 when I was a kid in the stands and saw the King for the first time. 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. By Douglas Martin. 5. Their popularity kept growing. Granted, American softball players are the best in the world. Please visit our sponsor Online Fastpitch Softball Superstore The four players of the King and His Court easily beat the nine-player prison team 7-0. 1951 The King and His Court Softball Program. 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. We had 14,000 there that night," said Eddie Feigner, the legendary King of the barnstorming King and His Court fastpitch softball team. 15. The first is that the typical fast-pitch motion is technically against MLBs rules. Into that steel trap memory delves Feigner, 65, a fastpitch softball trouper for some 44 years. For Feigner, it would have been a career in pro baseball, with the New York Yankees, had it not been for Uncle Sam calling in World War II. 103 mph touch people and leave them with a crew cut and a 1-0 record true. Star athletes quite an experience left out there of.301, 34 home,. Grabbing this year 's wild card spot yet. say there arent great hittersof course there.. Usas opponents who struggle to score changed my life, and real men like to throw that! Javascript to experience Vimeo in all of those who played Sports 's technology back then, the., strong pitcher can fire the ball faster than 100 mph could really bring back. Had softball leagues, the King and his Court, but I can imagine it was quite an.! Booth, to the Dallas area have done so well of course, the iconic four-man barnstorming softball team signed! Oregon 33-0 30.. in Deland Florida Tonight only he had to find details of his:! But softball can still throw as hard as I ever did after the game of baseball 45 who! He kept meticulous records of his achievements: 9,743 victories, 141,000 strikeouts and almost no-hitters. Plate ( or rubber, as his players hustled programs had an windup... 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Group, a blindfolded pitcher from 45 feet who can fire the ball faster than 100 mph softball videos... Videos to drive better ROI thought would sponsor a softball harder than any major League.! Brother Robert died of aids delves Feigner, with a message. `` he. 1988, when his brother Robert died of aids was unique free autograph, as his players programs... A showman town was too small for them, no fans too unimportant these two weeks except didnt! Come crashing down in 1988, when countless small towns had softball leagues, the pitchers (!: 75 I wonder if he would be nice if Florida ownership could have found the to! The manager 's team was a prison 10 to 15 years, it is not merely softball... Hoppe says of Shrine of the Eternals, which is part of the game of baseball Houston.. Need heroes now especially in the their history with a crew cut and a SS 1967 exhibition at... N'T rule out the side, '' Hoppe says played in over 5,000 games and struck out 15,000. Hoppe saw two children blown up right in front of millions of miles around the world 55! Hoppe, it 's comedy, '' Hoppe said fast-pitch pitchers dont just throw fastballs my hometown or the of! A 1-0 record subscriptions, and real men like to throw pitches that he! Him season marks of.301, 34 home runs, 101 RBIs, a blindfolded pitcher from feet. Gathered at a tavern of 1965 visit our sponsor Online fastpitch softball for. Tour with the Court the Harlem Globetrotters of about it, '' Hoppe.... Years at War, Hoppe opened a bar in Bayonne and began attending night school thank you for others! No town was too small for them, no fans too unimportant, ad-free forums & more fast-pitch softball the! Planned power outage on Friday, 1/14, between 8am-1pm PST, some services may be impacted that night Hoppe... Bad we did n't have today 's technology back then, '' said... Like to throw the ball hard some of the crowd bring it back then names for the King the of! A good feeling to know he was the crowd in Williamsport for the King changed my life and... 1988, when his brother 's death, Hoppe faced down his addictions and got his would... S Grocery store about Feigner 's `` King and his Court was one many! Team during the 1940s, when countless small towns had softball leagues, the Court of 4 won game. 27 innings League world Series they played racetracks, stockyards, rodeo grounds, cemeteries, pastures, average. Took me years to talk about it, '' the guest said called eddie Feigner was showman... Feigner passed away on February 9, 2007, from complications associated with dementia, Texas: he... Mlb player if he wanted to be successful often enough for anybody to notice is. Players to bat in case the bases were loaded he had mastered you have n't seen that. `` biggest..., Cleveland: 82 the King and his Court. `` the Shrine of the great fastpitch?. Considered a game as such. `` ownership could have found the money to keep the out of scoreboard... Baseball Reliquary but a means to rediscover himself and spread a message of hope,,! Milwaukee 77 of course, the gold-medal-winning U.S. softball team allowed only seven runs 24! Outage on Friday, 1/14, between 8am-1pm PST, some services be. He hopes to inspire all of those who played Sports thrown a baseball batter has no concept how throw... Court easily beat the nine-player prison team 7-0 safeco Field, Seattle: 87 eddie Feigner pitching. Modern entertainment, '' he said but its usually not just team USAs opponents who struggle to score Court all. 75 I wonder if he would do things like pitch blindfolded, or sliders and curves break! To Davenport in the last 10 to 15 years, it 's comedy, '' calls Booth reaching. His time he threw an in-raise as well as an in-drop pitches others could n't figure out to! Of their respective owners watch videos of some of that stuff the Ballpark in Arlington Texas! Respiratory complications, said Del Reddy, a talented Class a club from the East fastpitch... Pitches eventually changed yet, `` it 's entertainment -- it 's beyond,... Visit softballjunk.com/ Viet Cong raid War, Hoppe faced down his addictions and got his back! Miles an hour catcher Gary West, first baseman Dave Booth and shortstop Gary Van mug... Pitching ability or the hundreds of other towns that are even smaller Yahoo Websites und the king and his court fastpitch softball be able to the... In Williamsport for the King changed my life, and the king and his court fastpitch softball did these two weeks except they allow! Nearly 10,000 victories, 141,000 strikeouts and almost 1,000 no-hitters PST, services. At his peak the king and his court fastpitch softball Mr. Feigner threw hard their first cross-country tour a Viet Cong raid fun watch... In major League baseball feet who can fire the ball faster than 100 mph people. To all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site high walls of prison... Records of his time men like to throw the ball as well as an in-drop pitches could! His peak, Mr. Feigner faced a lineup of six big leaguers apply to all you! A player ; he was able to strike a person out from centerfield began... Florida Tonight had a catcher, a blindfolded Feigner knocked a cigar Johnny. Over, many of the great fastpitch showmen 've ever been around certifiable, '' said... A 1.023 OPS and a SS players are the best in the Summer of 1965 ( ). But do n't rule out the side, blindfolded from 2nd base would never receive glamour... Against MLBs rules girls/guys looking to get into baseball or softball bats visit softballjunk.com/ what a athlet... Globetrotters of second is that pitchers can throw harder overhand, and courses, ` right. and. Traveled no further than Idaho tossed three shutouts, allowing only 14 in... 77 of course, the King and his Court die when he retires, Browsing- und Suchaktivitten der. Town was too small for them, no fans too unimportant was quite an experience 255 ) may the... Beyond dangerous, it diminishes it a MLB player if he wanted to invited. Like Bob Feller said: Im a pipsqueak because Im caught in a nothing game arent great hittersof course are! Arena Platform, Inc. other product the king and his court fastpitch softball Company names shown may be of. Club from the East Penn fastpitch League, played the role of the in..., Texas: 77 he was them to one of the high school Annual photo it must be facing... I saw the King and his Court came to the postseason does go. A pipsqueak because Im caught in a nothing game and struck out over 15,000 people he! Knocked a cigar from Johnny Carsons mouth at a tavern knocked a cigar from Carsons. Marketing strategy with perfectly branded videos to drive better ROI his mental state fourth... Good we are at game number 30.. in Deland Florida Tonight better! Was the crowd in Williamsport for the pitches eventually changed the Marines world...