Coors Field, Denver: 87 NO MAS NO MAS Tribute To Sugar Ray Leonard, L Es Stories He Talks Black, Lives White and Thinks Green.Cuz Even Crooks Can Be Patriotic The Story Of Boxing Promoter Extraordinaire Don King, L Es Stories From Humble Beginnings To Being The Marvelous One The Story Of Marvin Hagler, Boxing 1987 Larry Merchant Claims Judge Joe Guerra Saw A Fight Nobody Else Saw Leonard Vs Hagler, L Es Stories From The New Bethel Baptist Church To The Queen Of Soul Tribute To Aretha Franklin, L Es Stories Lonesome George & Spooky Old Alice The Story of George Gobel, Music 1986 The Shmenge Brothers Cabbage Rolls And Coffee With John Candy + Eugene Levy, L Es Stories A Kid Called Pork Chop Becomes A Beloved And Revered Legend Of The Highest Order Called Hammerin Hank The Story Of Henry Aaron, Comedy 1978 Skit Roseanne Roseannadana On Unwanted Things In Your Food Order. It just doesn't go as fast,' " Feigner says. Not bad for a fat man. Safeco Field, Seattle: 87 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. Unfortunately, I'm not talking about the New York Yankees. Inspire employees with compelling live and on-demand video experiences. He threw an in-raise as well as an in-drop pitches others couldn't figure out how to throw. "I miss the guy, I really do. I was lucky enough to be invited to watch and film. <p> </p> <p>A few weeks ago the King And His Court came to the Dallas Area. AT&T Park, San Francisco: 94 He was 81. It would be really fun to watch videos of some of that stuff. So do yourself a favor this weekend. 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. Feigner was able to play an exhibition game in front of more than 15,500 fans at the Silverdome located in Pontiac, Michigan. 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. In 2000, the same magazine ranked the King and His Court as the United States eighth-greatest team of the 20th century. 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 nine games, the Americans allowed one run and 18 hits. 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. He left the military in 1944. This year, Team USA won again and was even more dominant. Later that night, Hoppe saw two children blown up right in front of him during a Viet Cong raid. 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. I just thought that was normal. ", 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. Feigner could strike people out blindfolded as well as when pitching from second base. In an interview, he said he liked having fun too much to be an MLB player. 21. A celebrity charity softball game was held in February of 1967. Hoppe has fought his own wars away from the diamond, on the battlefields of Vietnam and in the darkest trenches of his personal life. Busch Stadium, St. Louis: 78 The King and His court is an extremely entertaining show to go watch! SoftballJunk.com is a great resource to find the perfect fastpitch softball bat just for you!. "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. They had 4 players and would play teams of 9 guys. "We can't compete with modern entertainment," Hoppe said. This Space For Rent, Florida 73 Because in baseballs early days, the pitchers were required to throw underhand. Jan 24, 2012 - Produced by http://Fastpitch.TV - A few weeks ago the King And His Court came to the Dallas area. Fastpitch.TV - A few weeks ago the King And His Court came to the Dallas area. In 1950, the team members, as well as Feigner, were unemployed. It was a great event, and here is . HDFeigner, thank you so much for your kind comment. Thanks for sharing such a great childhood memory. You'll need it. "I know what I am, a recovering addict," he said. 22. They keep the batters guessing with rise balls, drop balls, curves, and in-shoots. (And don't rule out the Rays grabbing this year's wild card spot yet.) All rights reserved (About Us). Target Field, Minneapolis: 91 "We got to live our summers in small towns where you feel like it's the 1950s. SoftballJunk.com is a great resource to find the perfect fastpitch softball bat just for you! The King and His Court" and his visit to. I also fear Buck Showalter's head would probably explode if a player showed up looking like this. They endured enough 30-hour rides between cities that Feigner referred to a 10-hour ride as "just down the road apiece. His gimmick of fielding four players against nine began with his response to losers taunts. He took her last name and the name Eddie from a friend. Anne Marie, Feigners fourth wife, became the first woman on the team. He couldn't be a showman and entertainer as well as an athlete if he played professional sports. "I told ASA (Amateur Softball Association) it was a great game at 43 feet — you just killed a great game. Lies, Damn Lies and Statistics: How big was the crowd in Williamsport for the Little League World Series? VHS Tape, "How to Pitch Fast Pitch Softball Basic Styles With Eddie Feigner of The King and His Court" [autographed]. It's beyond dangerous, it's numb.". On The Tonight Show, a blindfolded Feigner knocked a cigar from Johnny Carsons mouth. 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 King changed my life, and he was the toughest guy I've ever been around. During one game, Feigner had easily beaten a team from Oregon 33-0. 10. 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. He would be able to pitch against some of the biggest names in Major League Baseball. Of course, the Stones never played my hometown or the hundreds of other towns that are even smaller. Eddie Feigner passed away on February 9, 2007, from complications associated with dementia. 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. You could really bring it back then," the guest said. 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.". A world traveler is he. Nationals Park, Washington: 76 His underhand fastball was once timed at 104 mphsome accounts had it clocked at 114 mph. 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. Prooyen, a six-time national champion whom Feigner calls the "best pitcher at his age (25) today," later pitches an inning or two. Nice guys, huh? included in the interview is Leslie Barber, Charlie Dobbins, Dave Booth, Bob Hale, Ron Davenport and Michael Branchaud. And, of course, Feigner later pitches blindfolded, from second base and gives a clinic on the differences between fastpitch and slowpitch, the latter for which he professes no love. 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. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. Skip to main content. According to legend, Feigner was bragging up his skills one night when an opposing player challenged his abilities. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Not enough people died, I guess. He was like a drill sergeant who drills you every day and you never do anything right.". 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. Its just that the conditions of the game simply dont allow even the greatest hitters to be successful often enough for anybody to notice. I saw the King and his Court in Jasper, Alabama in the early 1960s. The players Feigner chose for his team were people he'd known since fourth grade. His life would then come crashing down in 1988, when his brother Robert died of AIDS. Eddie Feigner: King and His Court - YouTube 0:00 / 29:30 Eddie Feigner: King and His Court allendale101 5.05K subscribers 546K views 4 years ago Video on the story of the famed. Ted Williams was fond of saying that the toughest thing in sports is hitting a round ball with a round bat. There are a couple of reasons. His team, clad in red, white and blue uniforms modeled after those of the Globetrotters, played in ever-smaller parks. Why? Will King and His Court die when he retires? 17. 6. "I wanted to recognize in his birthplace that something so special happened. Feigner was born in Walla Walla, Wash., on March 26, 1925. Rich had taken care of the ailing Robert for the last nine months of his life, and he was left tormented by "intense suicidal thoughts" when he passed away. No town was too small for them, no fans too unimportant. As the games rules were liberalized, the names for the pitches eventually changed. He was able to throw pitches that only he had mastered. Many of them were major league players. He was a hard-boiled egg. 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 died of respiratory complications, said Del Reddy, a friend. This episodes trivia question is a simple one, so now its time to play! "Who was the original pitcher for the legendary men's softball team, The King and His Court" New questions each week on The Trivia Show with your host Gary Leland. "I'll see a batter come up and, remember something about his stance or something and say, `El Paso, '74, right?' Good luck, Jeff. PNC Park, Pittsburgh: 98 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. He and his Court were able to defeat a team with nine players. Eddie Feigner was a one-of-a-kind person who stood out among all those who played sports. Distance, time, and uncertainty. Feigner developed athletic skills and abilities in ways nobody thought possible. 20. Feigner had an exaggerated windup and he would do things like pitch blindfolded, or pitch an inning from behind second base. 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. On this day in 1967, he happened to appear at an exhibition at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. In the 2000 Olympics, the gold-medal-winning U.S. softball team allowed only seven runs and 24 hits in 10 games. 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). Beaten a team from Oregon 33-0 his visit to 's head would probably explode if player!, Washington: 76 his underhand fastball was once timed at 104 mphsome accounts had it at. 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