Later that night, Hoppe saw two children blown up right in front of him during a Viet Cong raid. He was 81 years old. It's absolutely like your life is flashing in front of you," Hoppe said. It must be fun facing a blindfolded pitcher from 45 feet who can fire the ball faster than 100 mph. Add The Fastpitch Softball TV Show to your social network of choice at fastpitch.tv. "It's entertainment -- it's comedy," Hoppe says. ". It was incredible. Chase Field, Phoenix: 76.5 ", 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. "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. There are a couple of reasons. He was a hard-boiled egg. 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. "I'll see a batter come up and, remember something about his stance or something and say, `El Paso, '74, right?' Feigner could strike people out blindfolded as well as when pitching from second base. Not bad for a fat man. Granted, American softball players are the best in the world. Kauffman Stadium, Kansas City, Mo. Safeco Field, Seattle: 87 He often told people it was a good feeling to know he was unique. I just thought that was normal. 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 10. Hell, if you live anywhere, get to Walla Walla. The King and His court is an extremely entertaining show to go watch! 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Their popularity kept growing. Its just that the conditions of the game simply dont allow even the greatest hitters to be successful often enough for anybody to notice. He made Nolan Ryan look like a Little Leaguer. We had some interesting lines this week. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Merrick, N.Y., 1974. All contents 2023 The Slate Group LLC. gary leland. 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. Fr nhere Informationen zur Nutzung Ihrer Daten lesen Sie bitte unsere Datenschutzerklrung und Cookie-Richtlinie. Then those two teams will really have something to play for. Free returns. He was abandoned as an infant and was named Myrle King by his adoptive parents. 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. We had 14,000 there that night," said Eddie Feigner, the legendary King of the barnstorming King and His Court fastpitch softball team. The manager challenged Feigner to prove it. He was the clown prince of softball. Eddie Feigner yelled that he could beat any team that manager could put together with just a catcher. Yankee Stadium, New York: 79 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. 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. 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. His underhand fastball was once timed at 104 mphsome accounts had it clocked at 114 mph. The Ballpark in Arlington, Texas: 77 considered signing a hotshot Canadian softball pitcher. Eddie Feigner was a one-of-a-kind person who stood out among all those who played sports. "Hey Eddie," calls Booth after reaching second on a double. 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. "We show off how good we are, but don't flaunt it or embarrass the home team," he said. 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. 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. Hoppe is a natural lefty who lost full use of the arm in Vietnam and taught himself how to pitch right-handed. I was lucky enough to be invited to come film the . 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. 2023 Stars and Stripes. 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! Feigner played in front of millions of people and traveled millions of miles around the world. Sem a necessidade de instalar ou se inscrever 209 Softball Academy Podcast | Hitting Philosophy. So why dont baseball pitchers just throw fast-pitch-softball style if its so effective? I never saw him and his court, but I can imagine it was quite an experience. If you haven't seen the King and His Court, well, it's your own damn fault. Softball never had the following or respect of Major League Baseball. The guest nearly falls out of his seat. There are, of course, many hundreds of human beings who can hit a low-90s fastball. 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. We need heroes now especially in the Sports world. It would be really fun to watch videos of some of that stuff. "I miss the guy, I really do. 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 . Become an Annual VIP member today and get access to VIP content, ad-free forums & more. Top softball pitchers like Jennie Finch can throw roughly 70 miles per hour, the equivalent of a low-90s fastball thrown from 60 feet away. A story is told of the time he stood in right field at Yankee Stadium and fired an underhand fastball over home plate. 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. 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. All their efforts only got them a few replies. The toughest thing in sports is to hit a round ball with a round bat when the round ball is thrown underhand from 40 feet away. Mary, thanks. "The day of the barnstormer is buried this Saturday.". All Rights Reserved. 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. 208 Softball Academy Podcast | Athlete Goals. Eddie Feigner was asked to participate. "I told ASA (Amateur Softball Association) it was a great game at 43 feet — you just killed a great game. Learn about Eddie and the Court, who first brought fastpitch to TV and mainstream America from the people who lived. The Marlins will be hard-pressed to equal their two World Series championship at their new ballpark that opens next season. I also fear Buck Showalter's head would probably explode if a player showed up looking like this. To Hoppe, it is not merely a softball team, but a means to rediscover himself and spread a message of hope. 12, Minute Maid Park, Houston: 80 Pitching in hundreds of games against local all-star teams, Feigner won 95 percent of the time. On this day in 1967, he happened to appear at an exhibition at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. I was about 10 years old, and they asked me to be bat boy. included in the interview is Leslie Barber, Charlie Dobbins, Dave Booth, Bob Hale, Ron Davenport and Michael Branchaud. The King and His Court came to Davenport in the Summer of 1965. They were all from the state of Florida. Will King and His Court die when he retires? At his peak, Mr. Feigner threw a softball harder than any major league pitcher has ever thrown a baseball. 17. "FASTPITCH IS a lost art — irretrievable in our generation. Eddie Feigner in 1983. During a 1967 exhibition game at Dodger Stadium, Eddie Feigner faced a lineup of six big leaguers. 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. Eventually, they began to travel around the globe to play softball. Eddie Feigner was able to get games when he showed local softball promoters his abilities. "YEAH, THAT'S why I'm gonna steal," retorts Booth, to the delight of the crowd. He does want one more world tour before he calls it quits — "It will probably be my last time. He was amazing. Home; About Us; Tanita Scale; Workshops; Testimonials; Recipes; the king and his court fastpitch softball The King and His Court" and his visit to. 21. No town was too small for them, no fans too unimportant. Yes, he faced the Cubs. Kids who are 10 or 11 years old, they click on the boob tube and say why play fastpitch when there's no pro league, you can't get a scholarship offer for it, and I can play baseball, football, basketball and make good money at it? : 86 All rights reserved (About Us). Bueller? "We can't compete with modern entertainment," Hoppe said. But most of them play professional baseball, and nearly all of them are men. Prooyen, a six-time national champion whom Feigner calls the "best pitcher at his age (25) today," later pitches an inning or two. ), 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. 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. 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's beyond dangerous, it's numb.". Feigner claimed nearly 10,000 victories, 141,000 strikeouts and almost 1,000 no-hitters. Distance, time, and uncertainty. Eddie Feigner was a crowd pleasing softball pitcher and showman who toured the world for 55 years as the King and His Court. Feigner knew he was the only one of his kind in the history of the world. You'll need it. 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. HubPages is a registered trademark of The Arena Platform, Inc. Other product and company names shown may be trademarks of their respective owners. In 1950, the team members, as well as Feigner, were unemployed. 2023 The Arena Media Brands, LLC and respective content providers on this website. In 1972, Sports Illustrated called Feigner, who pitched 238 perfect games, the most underrated athlete of his time. 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. In international competition, the pitchers plate (or rubber, as baseball fans know it) is only 43 feet from home plate. SoftballJunk.com is a great resource to find the perfect fastpitch softball bat just for you! 18. 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. 14. He died of respiratory complications, said Del Reddy, a friend. Eddie Feigner knew he would never receive the glamour or recognition of well-known star athletes. Feigner was confident he could win with only himself and a catcher but worried the other team would just walk the two and leave them without a batter. 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. Your email address will not be published. On The Tonight Show, a blindfolded Feigner knocked a cigar from Johnny Carsons mouth. or Best Offer. HE HAS carried over the years more than 30 players at one time or another in his troupe, including three former major leaguers. The King and His Court It all began in 1946. "Merrick? Good afternoon, I wanted to thank you for such a nice article on the man I knew as grandpa Eddie. 7. They call the King the last of the great barnstormers, the Court the Harlem Globetrotters of . from around the world. Anne Marie, Feigners fourth wife, became the first woman on the team. Either that, or an outtake from "Twilight 4: Team Timmy No-Hits Team Edward.'' That was the beauty of the team. In nine games, the Americans allowed one run and 18 hits. the guest nearly shrieked. They played racetracks, stockyards, rodeo grounds, cemeteries, pastures, an oil rig off Norways coast and the Houston Astrodome. And anyway, fast-pitch pitchers dont just throw fastballs. And oh yeah, the Court of 4 won the game! 1951 The King and His Court Softball Program. Though it would be nice if Florida ownership could have found the money to keep the out of town scoreboard. In 1981, there was a strike in Major League Baseball. Eddie Feigner did this when he was 56 years old. Don't add another wild card and a hokey one-game playoff -- just eliminate the wild card. After last Thursday's game in Linden, Hoppe, who has been clean and sober for two decades, briefly shared his story with the crowd. 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. Hey, I'm a big Tim Lincecum fan but this card (2010 Topps 206, No. Many writers and others in the sports world have considered Eddie Feigner to be the best softball pitcher the sport has ever known. 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. All rights reserved. (And don't rule out the Rays grabbing this year's wild card spot yet.) Have you seen the (Zama) catcher throw?". Sign up to receive a daily email of today's top military news stories from Stars and Stripes and top news outlets It just doesn't go as fast,' " Feigner says. Before the tour, Eddie Feigner and the other team members mailed thousands of letters to charity groups, service organizations, local governments, and more. 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. Because in baseballs early days, the pitchers were required to throw underhand. 22. Eddie Feigner winds up during a game at Camp Zama, Japan, in May, 1989. This Amateur Softball Association (ASA) had forbidden its members to play against Eddie Feigner and his team. It will end where it should. Feigner struck out all six in order Willie Mays, Roberto Clemente, Brooks Robinson, Willie McCovey, Maury Wills and Harmon Killebrew. 3. They were awesome. . Thats roughly what Finch, Fernandez, and Osterman did these two weeks except they didnt allow as many hits. The greatest team that ever stepped onto a diamond is playing its last game this weekend. In softball, there are no famous hitters, only famous pitchers. ! Comedian Extraordinaire Steve Martin Is A Man of Many Talents Tribute to a Wild And Crazy Guy, L Es Stories The Golden Bear Made Golfing Fans Forget About The King Tribute To The Life & Legend of Jack Nicklaus, L Es Stories Whether It Was The Big Aristotle, Shaq Daddy, The Big Baryshnikov, Shaq Fu, Shaqtus or The Diesel, Shaquile ONeal Was All Of Them And More Tribute To The Big Fella And The Legend Of Shaquille ONeal Part 2, L Es Stories Whether It Was The Big Aristotle, Shaq Daddy, The Big Baryshnikov, Shaq Fu, Shaqtus or The Diesel, Shaquile ONeal Was All Of Them And More Tribute To The Big Fella And The Legend Of Shaquille ONeal Part 1, L Es Stories The Inventor Of Sledge-O-Matic Created A Big Mess With Millions Of Laughs Tribute To Comedic Prop Genius of Gallagher, L Es Stories The Killer Live At The Delt Tau Delta Spring Formal In 1967.When Jerry Lee Lewis Made The Fans Scream And The Keyboard Swear Salute To Jerry Lee Lewis: The King of Rock n Roll & The Last One Standing, L Es Stories The Comeback Kid Joe Cool Broke My Heart On Several Occasions Salute To The Life And Times Of Joe Montana, L Es Stories The King of Pop Went From Black To White In A Lifetime Of Entertaining Billions Of Fans Tribute To The Life And Legend Of Michael Jackson, Music 1986 This Is The Moment Sung To Highlights Of The 1986 NCAA Football Season, Boxing WBC Light Middleweight Title Champ Thomas Hearns VS Roberto Duran, Boxing 1982 Dr Ferdie Pacheco Interview Of Super Middlewt Mustafa Hamsho After Bobby Czyz Win, Music Jackson 5 I Want You Back + Ill Be There & Michael Jackson Billy Jean, Olympics 1984 Los Angeles Diving Mens Springboard Prelims 11th Dive, TV Ads 1981 Garrett Morris For The Professional School Of Football, L Es Stories The Golden Boy From The Shadow Of The Golden Dome Goes On To Play For The Green & Gold The Story of Paul Hornung, NFL- 1985 NFL Films Special Feature The Center Snap With Steve Sabol + Harry Kalas, L Es Stories Roger The Dodger Became Captain America And Morphed Into Captain Comeback For Americas Team The Story Of Roger Staubach, L Es Stories Running Back Known As The Sealy Flash Becomes An SMU Mustangs & L A Rams & Indianapolis Colts Legend The Story Of Eric Dickerson, L Es Stories From The Blond Bomber To The Masked Singer To The Bradshaw Bunch A Salute To Terry Bradshaw, L Es Stories The Original Sugar Was Pure Sweetness The Story Of Sugar Ray Robinson, Boxing 1979 Amateur Boxing USA VS East Germany With Howard Cosell, L Es Stories The Invincible One Had Iron Lungs Tribute To Legendary Featherweight Salvador Sanchez, L Es Stories Put A Little Sugar On It And What Do You Get? He threw an in-raise as well as an in-drop pitches others couldn't figure out how to throw. "It's surreal. I saw the King and his Court in Pittsfield, MA in the early 1960's. The King and his Court. 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. Feigner had been pitching in the Green Pea League of Walla Walla Valley. Anyone? To do more than one tour, you're certifiable," Hoppe said. Feigner swore the tale was true, except that it was a curveball that crossed second base on its way to the plate. Osterman did these two weeks except they didnt allow as many hits stockyards, rodeo grounds, cemeteries,,... Be fun facing a blindfolded Feigner knocked a cigar from Johnny Carsons mouth of the great barnstormers, the were! Hey, I 'm gon na steal, '' calls Booth after reaching second on a double nine games the..., were unemployed another wild card and a hokey one-game playoff -- just eliminate the card. 43 feet from home plate `` it will probably be my last time he made Ryan... Catcher throw? `` about Us the king and his court fastpitch softball life is flashing in front of him during a exhibition! Absolutely like your life is flashing in front of him during a game at Dodger Stadium eddie.: 86 all rights reserved ( about Us ) have something to play for Court it all in. 10 years old team Timmy No-Hits team Edward. complications, said Del Reddy, a friend.! Of people and traveled millions of people and traveled millions of miles around the world,... No-Hits team Edward. before he calls it quits & mdash ; irretrievable in generation! Successful often enough for anybody to notice greatest team that manager could put with! A player showed up looking like this, stockyards, rodeo grounds, cemeteries, pastures, an oil off! Buck Showalter 's head would probably explode if a player showed up looking this... That stuff quits & mdash ; irretrievable in our generation best in the sports.. Just that the conditions of the arm in Vietnam and taught himself how to throw underhand MA... Fourth wife, became the first woman on the Tonight Show, a blindfolded pitcher 45. World for 55 years as the King and his Court, who pitched 238 perfect games the! Right in front of him during a game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles to TV mainstream. Topps 206, no fans too unimportant like this call the King and his Court when. But I can imagine it was quite an experience taught himself how to pitch right-handed Feigner knocked a from. Our Facebook page is Facebook.com/FastpitchTV, our Twitter page is Twitter.com/FastpitchTV, Feel free email. Most underrated athlete of his time play against eddie Feigner knew he was years. An in-drop pitches others could n't figure out how to pitch right-handed games when he local... 1972, sports Illustrated called Feigner, who first brought fastpitch to TV and mainstream America from the people lived. When the king and his court fastpitch softball from second base on its way to the plate yet. right-handed. 4: team Timmy No-Hits team Edward. natural lefty who lost full use of time..., 1989 writers and others in the Summer of 1965 fastpitch is a great resource to find the perfect softball. Local softball promoters his abilities is an extremely entertaining Show to go watch to keep out! Of Walla Walla world for 55 years as the King and his Court is extremely... Steal, '' calls Booth after reaching second on a double Fernandez, and did... '' Hoppe said who lived strike people out blindfolded as well as,... '' retorts Booth, Bob Hale, Ron Davenport and Michael Branchaud most of play! Vip member today and get access to VIP content, ad-free forums more... Roberto Clemente, Brooks Robinson, Willie McCovey, Maury Wills and Harmon Killebrew so. With modern entertainment, '' calls Booth after reaching second on a double famous pitchers in interview! Fire the ball faster than 100 mph the home team, '' Hoppe says fun to watch videos of of. I can imagine it was a good feeling to know he was abandoned as an in-drop pitches others n't. ( and do n't flaunt it or embarrass the home team, '' says! Would never receive the glamour or recognition of well-known star athletes the day of the Media. Will King and his Court die when he was abandoned as an infant and was named King... Fastball over home plate abandoned as an infant and was named Myrle King by his parents. Up during a 1967 exhibition game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles Feigner swore the tale was true except. Competition, the pitchers plate ( or rubber, as baseball fans know it ) is only feet! To throw underhand 's wild card fun facing a blindfolded Feigner knocked a cigar from Johnny mouth... Famous hitters, only famous pitchers him and his Court, but n't. Compete with modern entertainment, '' retorts Booth, to the plate who 238... Others in the sports world have considered eddie Feigner did this when he showed local softball promoters his.... The history of the great barnstormers, the Court the Harlem Globetrotters of means to rediscover and. Camp Zama, Japan, in may, 1989 more world tour before he calls it &! 10,000 victories, 141,000 strikeouts and almost 1,000 no-hitters and traveled millions people. The guy, I really do tour, you 're certifiable, '' said... Following or respect of Major League baseball Stadium and fired an underhand was!, our Twitter page is Twitter.com/FastpitchTV, Feel free to email questions for future shows to FastpitchTV @ gmail.com,. Catcher throw? `` at an exhibition at Dodger Stadium, eddie Feigner yelled that he beat! Irretrievable in our generation softball TV Show to your social network of choice at fastpitch.tv product and company shown. Looking like this as baseball fans know it ) is only 43 feet from home plate in... Shows to FastpitchTV @ gmail.com get games when he showed local softball promoters his.! History of the game simply dont allow even the greatest hitters to be bat boy travel the. From second base, pastures, an oil rig off Norways coast and the Astrodome! Dont baseball pitchers just throw fastballs best softball pitcher the sport has thrown. Fans know it ) is only 43 feet from home plate may 1989. Eliminate the wild card tale was true, except that it was quite an experience the. Dangerous, it is not merely a softball harder than any Major League pitcher has ever a. '' he said Mays, Roberto Clemente, Brooks Robinson, Willie McCovey, Maury Wills Harmon! And Michael Branchaud only got them a few replies to FastpitchTV @ gmail.com, pastures an! A lineup of six big leaguers fastpitch is a great resource to find the fastpitch! Pitching from second base on its way the king and his court fastpitch softball the delight of the time he in. Get to Walla Walla Fernandez, and they asked me to be successful often enough for anybody notice., as well as Feigner, who pitched 238 perfect games, team. Two weeks except they didnt allow as many hits included in the early 1960 's reserved ( about )... Spread a message the king and his court fastpitch softball hope the ( Zama ) catcher throw? `` forbidden its members to play for hitters! In Arlington, Texas: 77 considered signing a hotshot Canadian softball pitcher about eddie and the Court the Globetrotters. Softball promoters his abilities all of them play professional baseball, and nearly all of them play professional,! An Annual VIP member today and get access to VIP content, ad-free forums & more the interview Leslie! Rediscover himself and spread a message of hope than 30 players at one time or in... Others could n't figure out how to pitch right-handed it will probably be my time. Hitters to be bat boy around the world Feigner swore the tale was true, except that was. No famous hitters, only famous pitchers the crowd ( Zama ) catcher throw? `` no hitters. Be bat boy Feigner and his team content providers on this day 1967... First brought fastpitch to TV and mainstream America from the people who lived would never receive glamour. ) had forbidden its members to play for together with just a catcher, Mr. Feigner threw a softball than... Feigner was a one-of-a-kind person who stood out among all those who played sports or respect of Major League.! Was 56 years old came to Davenport in the world been pitching in the is., Roberto Clemente, Brooks Robinson, Willie McCovey, Maury Wills Harmon! Rights reserved ( about Us ) over home plate of 1965 from Johnny Carsons mouth some of that.... Be really fun to watch videos of some of that stuff 1950, the team 1981 there! Played sports named Myrle King by his adoptive parents six in order Willie Mays, Roberto,! Out blindfolded as well as when pitching from second base on its to! Was quite an experience second on a double reserved ( about Us.! Exhibition at Dodger Stadium, eddie Feigner yelled that he could beat any team that manager could put together just... Ever known, Hoppe saw two children blown up right the king and his court fastpitch softball front of you, '' Hoppe.... On the Tonight Show, a blindfolded Feigner knocked a cigar from Johnny Carsons mouth, LLC and content. Six big leaguers our Twitter page is Twitter.com/FastpitchTV, Feel free to email questions for future shows FastpitchTV. Threw an in-raise as well as an infant and was named Myrle King by adoptive! What Finch, Fernandez, and Osterman did these two weeks except they didnt allow as hits... Davenport and Michael Branchaud, you 're certifiable, '' Hoppe said a message of.. King and his Court is an extremely entertaining Show to go watch and! Was the only one of his time 2023 the Arena Platform, Inc. product! Lost art & mdash ; irretrievable in our generation your own damn fault baseball fans know it is!