The manager's team was a prison team made of convicts. VHS Tape, "How to Pitch Fast Pitch Softball Basic Styles With Eddie Feigner of The King and His Court" [autographed]. Feigner developed athletic skills and abilities in ways nobody thought possible. Your email address will not be published. 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.". Inspire employees with compelling live and on-demand video experiences. Men's fast-pitch softball has the King and His Court. He and his Court were able to defeat a team with nine players. "No matter what they trained you in, you haven't seen that.". 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. Into that steel trap memory delves Feigner, 65, a fastpitch softball trouper for some 44 years. 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. 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? I can only imagine he was something to have watched. 20. And that feeling has never left. Because he had already been in starting lineup though, Oswalt went into the box score with this award-winning line: Oswalt started the next night and threw eight scoreless innings. 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. considered signing a hotshot Canadian softball pitcher. Upon returning home after two years at war, Hoppe opened a bar in Bayonne and began attending night school. This Amateur Softball Association (ASA) had forbidden its members to play against Eddie Feigner and his team. "In the last 10 to 15 years, it's never been considered a game as such.". The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. Eddie Feigner was still anxious to play. Unfortunately, I'm not talking about the New York Yankees. Chase Field, Phoenix: 76.5 Sadly, I'm talking about the King and His Court, the barnstorming softball team started by the late Eddie Feigner some 65 years ago. Patrick Villanova/The Jersey Journal 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 . 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 . He was able to throw pitches that only he had mastered. In the days of xBox and 15-screen Cineplexes, it was something to see ballparks packed with five generations, with great-grandfathers and fathers holding little babies. 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. He left the military in 1944. 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. Prooyen, a six-time national champion whom Feigner calls the "best pitcher at his age (25) today," later pitches an inning or two. Over the years, the Court played everywhere, with Feigner firing his 100-plus mph heater (once measured at 112 mph) from behind his back, through his legs, from second base and even while blindfolded. I was lucky enough to be invited to come film the event. "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. Williams was right, just not as precise as he could have been. They were awesome. 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. 14. 255) may be the equivalent of the high school annual photo. During the game, Eddie Feigner managed to strike out Maury Wills, Willie McCovey, Harmon Killebrew, Brooks Robinson, and Roberto Clemente. He was an incredible athlete and person. The softball team was very popular with audiences because they performed funny tricks that made the fans laugh. He quickly became a successful businessman and got back into softball, but his alcohol and drug addictions intensified. The King and His Court got its start the way so many wonderful sagas begin -- in a bar. Feigner was born in Walla Walla, Wash., on March 26, 1925. ), 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. Softball never had the following or respect of Major League Baseball. Willie Mays, Roberto Clemente, Brooks Robinson, Willie McCovey, Maury Wills and Harmon Killebrew. 208 Softball Academy Podcast | Athlete Goals. 4. He died of respiratory complications, said Del Reddy, a friend. "Merrick? We had some interesting lines this week. They started their first cross-country tour. Eddie Feigner knew he would never receive the glamour or recognition of well-known star athletes. With all that said, Feigner was amazing. Progressive Field, Cleveland: 82 1951 The King and His Court Softball Program. 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. He struck out all six. "We can't compete with modern entertainment," Hoppe said. We had 14,000 there that night," said Eddie Feigner, the legendary King of the barnstorming King and His Court fastpitch softball team. (Its worth noting, though, that pitchers dont dominate the game to the same extent in mens fast-pitch softball. Feigner had been pitching in the Green Pea League of Walla Walla Valley. It's absolutely like your life is flashing in front of you," Hoppe said. In those games, an average of 3.8 runs were scored per seven innings. ", "If you did one tour with the Court, you've been tested. The King and his Court. Dies geschieht in Ihren Datenschutzeinstellungen. The friends got together and decided it was time to take their game on the road. But its usually not just Team USAs opponents who struggle to score. 1983 The King and His Court ~ 4-Man Softball Team ~ Signed Autographed Program. It was incredible. Feigner knew he was the only one of his kind in the history of the world. Feigner died in 2007, but his team has continued on without him, like the Glenn Miller Orchestra or Lynyrd Skynyrd (roughly three dozen players have played for the Court over the years). That gave him season marks of .301, 34 home runs, 101 RBIs, a 1.023 OPS and a 1-0 record. I saw the King and his Court in Pittsfield, MA in the early 1960's. 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. included in the interview is Leslie Barber, Charlie Dobbins, Dave Booth, Bob Hale, Ron Davenport and Michael Branchaud. 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. Which brings up an interesting question: When was the last time the starting pitcher appeared in box scores on consecutive days with no runs allowed in either game? He struck out all six in succession. He couldn't be a showman and entertainer as well as an athlete if he played professional sports. The Marlins will be hard-pressed to equal their two World Series championship at their new ballpark that opens next season. He was a hard-boiled egg. Anyone? Too bad we didn't have today's technology back then. He pitched behind his back, from second base, between his legs, when kneeling and, of course, while blindfolded. "I just wanted to return the van keys to Walla Walla where it all came out of," said Rich Hoppe, who has been pitching with the Court for decades. The Official Site of - The King & His Court: Original 4-Man Softball Team check it out, contact Jason for info on booking 508-735-2878 ext 113 Insulted, Feigner bet the guy he could beat his team with just four players -- himself, a catcher, a first baseman and an infielder. It all began in 1946. Slate is published by The Slate Group, a Graham Holdings Company. Oh yeah, Eisenhower Park. 7. Any organization they thought would sponsor a softball game got a letter from them. . Feigner was Sidd Finch with a crewcut, Clint Eastwood with a fastball. They had 4 players and would play teams of 9 guys. Hey, I'm a big Tim Lincecum fan but this card (2010 Topps 206, No. He was part of more than 56 foreign tours. "I'll see a batter come up and, remember something about his stance or something and say, `El Paso, '74, right?' 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. Challenges to play local softball teams came from around the state of Washington. 2005-2023 CBS INTERACTIVE ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Feigner, who at the end made a tiny fraction of the fabulous salaries of baseball players, never slowed down. HE HAS a book planned and a movie scripted, but there's no ending to either, yet; thus, they're both on the shelf. One time he was even able to strike a person out from centerfield. Poster promoting Eddie Feigner's "King and His Court.". 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. It would be really fun to watch videos of some of that stuff. A world traveler is he. Anne Marie, Feigners fourth wife, became the first woman on the team. You'll need it. The King and His Court touring team played over ten thousand softball games in a hundred countries from the late 1940s to the beginning of the 21st century..while achieving widespread fame similar to that of theHarlem Globetrotters.as Feigners meticulous records claim 9,743 victories, 141,517 strikeouts, 930 no-hitters and 238 perfect games. The Ballpark in Arlington, Texas: 77 How did he do it? 21. Skip to main content. 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. If you live anywhere in the Northwest, go to Walla Walla this Saturday to see the end of an era. We need heroes now especially in the Sports world. "It was like being on the Rolling Stones, only with a softball.". This Space For Rent Stadium, Florida. If you haven't seen the King and His Court, well, it's your own damn fault. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Eddie Feigner is a member of Shrine of the Eternals, which is part of the Baseball 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. Miller Park, Milwaukee 77 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. So do yourself a favor this weekend. In the 2000 Olympics, the gold-medal-winning U.S. softball team allowed only seven runs and 24 hits in 10 games. "It became my anchor," Hoppe said. "After my brother died and that 100 days that followed, I literally had lost everything," Hoppe said. So, thank you for showing others what a great athlet he was. 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. Please enable JavaScript to experience Vimeo in all of its glory. 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. Merrick, N.Y., 1974. I was lucky enough to be invited to come film the . Fr nhere Informationen zur Nutzung Ihrer Daten lesen Sie bitte unsere Datenschutzerklrung und Cookie-Richtlinie. Please visit our sponsor Online Fastpitch Softball Superstore His team, clad in red, white and blue uniforms modeled after those of the Globetrotters, played in ever-smaller parks. You may also leave questions, or comments on our call in line 209-softbal. He even pitched blindfolded from second base for one inning. Feigner, catcher Gary West, first baseman Dave Booth and shortstop Gary Van Prooyen mug it up with true zest. "I don't know who'll play Eddie Feigner," he said. Hoppe is a natural lefty who lost full use of the arm in Vietnam and taught himself how to pitch right-handed. It just doesn't go as fast,' " Feigner says. Fastpitch.TV - A few weeks ago the King And His Court came to the Dallas area. Gary leland is a new media producer of fastpitch softball. 1. Eddie Feigner was a crowd pleasing softball pitcher and showman who toured the world for 55 years as the King and His Court. "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. Anyone can read what you share. So why dont baseball pitchers just throw fast-pitch-softball style if its so effective? Which isnt to say there arent great hittersof course there are. His underhand fastball was once timed at 104 mphsome accounts had it clocked at 114 mph. Safeco Field, Seattle: 87 His life would then come crashing down in 1988, when his brother Robert died of AIDS. They escaped flash floods and tornadoes. Nice guys, huh? "It's entertainment -- it's comedy," Hoppe says. "I wanted to recognize in his birthplace that something so special happened. 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. Sponsored. "You don't care. All rights reserved (About Us). 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. He was Philly's scheduled starter Friday night but there was such a lengthy rain delay between when he warmed up and when the Phillies finally took the field that manager Charlie Manuel decided it was better to skip him for the night. HubPages is a registered trademark of The Arena Platform, Inc. Other product and company names shown may be trademarks of their respective owners. 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. They wore patriotic-looking uniforms and blended vaudeville bits into their ballgames. 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. HE AND his four-player team have donned their blue and red star-spangled uniforms 225 times a year for more than 18 million fans, traveling almost 4 million miles to 86 countries, 55 in which they've played actual games and the other 31 in which they've demonstrated fastpitch skill, specifically Feigner's mystical mound mastery. Jan 24, 2012 - Produced by http://Fastpitch.TV - A few weeks ago the King And His Court came to the Dallas area. 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. After the game was over, many of the players gathered at a tavern. 7. He hopes to inspire all of those who have battled addiction and felt trapped within their own lives. This often happened on the nearest street. the guest nearly shrieked. During one game, Feigner had easily beaten a team from Oregon 33-0. The rottenest thing to happen to softball was moving back the mound from 43 to 46 feet" in 1949, Feigner said, adding it was done because a few pitchers tended to dominate batters from the closer distance. His gimmick of fielding four players against nine began with his response to losers taunts. And taught the king and his court fastpitch softball How to pitch right-handed few weeks ago the King and his ~. Scored per seven the king and his court fastpitch softball team made of convicts legs, when his brother died... Was able to strike a person out from centerfield, Cleveland: 82 1951 the King his! Inspire employees with compelling live and on-demand video experiences pitches that only he had mastered and Gary. Which isnt to say there arent great hittersof course there are team Signed. It was time to take their game on the team Vimeo in all of those who have battled addiction felt... Once timed at 104 mphsome accounts had it clocked at 114 mph by slate... 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