During one game, Feigner had easily beaten a team from Oregon 33-0. Good afternoon, I wanted to thank you for such a nice article on the man I knew as grandpa Eddie. The King and His Court came to Davenport in the Summer of 1965. Feb. 11, 2007 12 AM PT From the Associated Press Eddie Feigner, the hard-throwing softball showman who barnstormed for more than 50 years with "The King and His Court" four-man team, has. 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 The Tonight Show, a blindfolded Feigner knocked a cigar from Johnny Carsons mouth. Mary, thanks. HE HAS a book planned and a movie scripted, but there's no ending to either, yet; thus, they're both on the shelf. Which is why the King always had four players. "You don't care. "It's surreal. Rogers Centre, Toronto: 75 Your email address will not be published. Sem a necessidade de instalar ou se inscrever 209 Softball Academy Podcast | Hitting Philosophy. Feigner agreed, and the only stipulation was that Feigner needed four players to bat in case the bases were loaded. 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. There are, of course, many hundreds of human beings who can hit a low-90s fastball. Poster promoting Eddie Feigner's "King and His Court.". ", 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. "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. 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. "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. Feigner played in over 5,000 games and struck out over 15,000 people when he was blindfolded. He hopes to inspire all of those who have battled addiction and felt trapped within their own lives. "I'll see a batter come up and, remember something about his stance or something and say, `El Paso, '74, right?' 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. My dad took me to that game at what is now Modern Woodman Park on river front. Fastpitch.TV - A few weeks ago the King And His Court came to the Dallas area. Five of the six were later elected to Cooperstown. To Hoppe, it is not merely a softball team, but a means to rediscover himself and spread a message of hope. All their efforts only got them a few replies. "We can't compete with modern entertainment," Hoppe said. He struck out all six in succession. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. 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. ", 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. In the 1940s, when countless small towns had softball leagues, the King and His Court was one among many barnstormers. Power your marketing strategy with perfectly branded videos to drive better ROI. With all that said, Feigner was amazing. His gimmick of fielding four players against nine began with his response to losers taunts. Williams was right, just not as precise as he could have been. This year, Team USA won again and was even more dominant. Eddie Feigner was able to get games when he showed local softball promoters his abilities. Feigner, catcher Gary West, first baseman Dave Booth and shortstop Gary Van Prooyen mug it up with true zest. During the following four years, the King and His Court played over 200 games but traveled no further than Idaho. 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. Progressive Field, Cleveland: 82 "This is big. Feigner accepted that pitching exhibition softball was not a money-making endeavor. According to legend, Feigner was bragging up his skills one night when an opposing player challenged. Free 3 day shipping. Ted Williams was fond of saying that the toughest thing in sports is hitting a round ball with a round bat. The team started by traveling around the United States, Canada, and Mexico to play local softball teams. Anyone? It was a mismatch, Feigner said in an interview with a publication of the Loma Linda University Adventist Health Science Center. A world traveler is he. So why dont baseball pitchers just throw fast-pitch-softball style if its so effective? "FASTPITCH IS a lost art — irretrievable in our generation. 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. "In the last 10 to 15 years, it's never been considered a game as such.". Later that night, Hoppe saw two children blown up right in front of him during a Viet Cong raid. He couldn't be a showman and entertainer as well as an athlete if he played professional sports. Individuals inducted into the Shrine of the Eternals must have altered how the world views the game of baseball. In 1950, the team members, as well as Feigner, were unemployed. Hoppe and his crew only use a pitcher, a catcher, a first baseman and a shortstop, while the opposition uses nine players. "Hollywood missed a hell of a story. from around the world. Eddie Feigner, Hard-Throwing, Barnstorming Showman of Softball, Dies at 81, https://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/13/sports/othersports/13feigner.html. He quickly became a successful businessman and got back into softball, but his alcohol and drug addictions intensified. Thanks for sharing such a great childhood memory. In 2002, ESPN.com listed Feigner as one of the 10 greatest pitchers in a list that included Walter Johnson and Sandy Koufax. We had 14,000 there that night," said Eddie Feigner, the legendary King of the barnstorming King and His Court fastpitch softball team. He often told people it was a good feeling to know he was unique. 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. "Rage and obsession can make you do amazing things," he explained. SoftballJunk.com is a great resource to find the perfect fastpitch softball bat just for you!. The last 100 games of the King and his Court. 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. "The day of the barnstormer is buried this Saturday.". He does want one more world tour before he calls it quits — "It will probably be my last time. If you haven't seen the King and His Court, well, it's your own damn fault. Hey, I'm a big Tim Lincecum fan but this card (2010 Topps 206, No. The news of a four-man team beating nine players spread all over the state. I remember seeing them in commericals as a kid, pretty sure it was Bud or Lite Beer commericals. He was a hard-boiled egg. You get to touch people and leave them with a message.". Nice guys, huh? You are very lucky to have had such a special grandfather. HDFeigner, thank you so much for your kind comment. Target Field, Minneapolis: 91 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 . gary leland. The first game for the King and His Court took place behind the barbed wire and high walls of a prison. He said: Im a pipsqueak because Im caught in a nothing game. 6. And anyway, fast-pitch pitchers dont just throw fastballs. I wonder if he wanted to be a MLB player if he would have done so well. According to legend, Feigner was bragging up his skills one night when an opposing player challenged his abilities. At his peak, Mr. Feigner threw a softball harder than any major league pitcher has ever thrown a baseball. Too bad we didn't have today's technology back then. 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. SoftballJunk.com is a great resource to find the perfect fastpitch softball bat just for you! This episodes trivia question is a simple one, so now its time to play! Then those two teams will really have something to play for. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. Starbucks won't go to towns the Court does. The manager walked past Feigner at the tavern and made a nasty comment about Feigner's pitching ability. A couple of years ago, the Kansas City Royals considered signing a hotshot Canadian softball pitcher before realizing that his style was illegal. In an interview, he said he liked having fun too much to be an MLB player. The softball team was very popular with audiences because they performed funny tricks that made the fans laugh. The King and His court is an extremely entertaining show to go watch! His fastest pitch was clocked at 104 miles an hour. Hoppe is a natural lefty who lost full use of the arm in Vietnam and taught himself how to pitch right-handed. I would have loved to have bee able to have a conversation with him. 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. The manager's team was a prison team made of convicts. Inductees have included Roberto Clemente, Jackie Robinson, Vin Scully, Satchel Paige, and others. 10. He threw an in-raise as well as an in-drop pitches others couldn't figure out how to throw. It's always been my Yankee Stadium. And the second is that pitchers can throw harder overhand, and real men like to throw the ball hard. He was an incredible athlete and person. The manager challenged Feigner to prove it. 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. The Ballpark in Arlington, Texas: 77 During a 1967 exhibition game at Dodger Stadium, Eddie Feigner faced a lineup of six big leaguers. He took her last name and the name Eddie from a friend. It would be really fun to watch videos of some of that stuff. (Theyre currently on a 79-game winning streak.) They were all from the state of Florida. The fastest documented pitch ever thrown by a major league pitcher is 103 mph. 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. I hope they think of me as an honest, sincere performer who always put on a good show, he said. In 2000, in their six games against China, Japan, and Australiaarguably the Americans toughest competitionthe U.S. team scored only six runs. 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. 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. It was incredible. I Can See The Steam Spouting From the Steinbrenners' Ears From Here: You want a meaningful race between the Yankees and Red Sox? 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. 20. This Amateur Softball Association (ASA) had forbidden its members to play against Eddie Feigner and his team. 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. Thats roughly what Finch, Fernandez, and Osterman did these two weeks except they didnt allow as many hits. Comerica Park, Detroit: 87 Wrigley Field, Chicago: 90 Who was the original pitcher for the legendary men's softball team, The King and His. 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. My favorite was Land Shark Stadium, which it was called for one year after a deal with Jimmy Buffet. He was more than a player; he was a showman. Learn about Eddie and the Court, who first brought fastpitch to TV and mainstream America from the people who lived. I was lucky enough to be invited to come film the event. Become an Annual VIP member today and get access to VIP content, ad-free forums & more. The King and His Court went to towns even McDonald's ignores. His fastball pitch was clocked at over 104 miles an hour. He was part of more than 56 foreign tours. Basketball has the Harlem Globetrotters. He would even pitch blindfolded. I was lucky enough to be invited to watch and film. 2023 Stars and Stripes. The Quad Cities had gathered an All-Star team of fast pitch softball players and beat The King and "I don't know who'll play Eddie Feigner," he said. He still signed free autograph after free autograph, as his players hustled programs. "I found a way out.". Build a site and generate income from purchases, subscriptions, and courses. Also, they would occasionally be on Wide World of Sports. "I went to the other side," Hoppe said, referring to his mental state. He is Rich Hoppe -- Bayonne native and pitcher for the King and His Court, the iconic four-man barnstorming softball team. In the aftermath of his brother's death, Hoppe faced down his addictions and got his life back on track. Unfortunately, I'm not talking about the New York Yankees. 208 Softball Academy Podcast | Athlete Goals. Hoppe remembers playing in 100-degree heat in Tacoma, Wash., one day and in sub-zero cold the next day in Barrow, Alaska. They were called The King and His Court.. Will King and His Court die when he retires? Challenges to play local softball teams came from around the state of Washington. One of these years, it will be," he said. Men's fast-pitch softball has the King and His Court. But softball can still teach us something about baseball history. In softball, there are no famous hitters, only famous pitchers. He is buried in the Huntsville Memory Gardens. 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. 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. This week I show you about 10 minutes of the event. Nationals Park, Washington: 76 Sign up to receive a daily email of today's top military news stories from Stars and Stripes and top news outlets Why? This didn't stop them. This week I show you about 10 minutes of the event. He pitched behind his back, from second base, between his legs, when kneeling and, of course, while blindfolded. After the game was over, many of the players gathered at a tavern. Into that steel trap memory delves Feigner, 65, a fastpitch softball trouper for some 44 years. 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. He pitched for Kilburg's Grocery store. People still want to see Williams bat, Palmer golf; there's the charisma there. Visit the Fastpitch TV Show's website at Fastpitch.TV, You can find our softball iPhone App at FastpitchApps.com, Don't forget to visit our other softball websites, Free fastpitch video drills FastpitchDrills.com, A search engine for softball - FastpitchSearch.com, This content is provided with a Creative Commons Share-Alike License. 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. 194 Softball Trivia Podcast | King and His Court Original Pitcher I can only imagine he was something to have watched. "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. . 23K 2.9K comments YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. 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? He was able to throw pitches that only he had mastered. He struck out Willie Mays, Willie McCovey, Brooks Robinson, Harmon Killebrew and Roberto Clemente consecutively. They endured enough 30-hour rides between cities that Feigner referred to a 10-hour ride as "just down the road apiece. 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. You'll need it. Don't add another wild card and a hokey one-game playoff -- just eliminate the wild card. 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 2023 The Arena Media Brands, LLC and respective content providers on this website. A baseball batter has no concept how to hit a fastball that rises like mine, or sliders and curves that break 18 inches.. Jim Caple is a senior writer for ESPN.com. Founded in 1946 by Hoppe's mentor, "The King" Eddie Feigner, the. His life would then come crashing down in 1988, when his brother Robert died of AIDS. Oh yeah, Eisenhower Park. And maybe he deserved it. Jeff, thanks. Insulted, Feigner bet the guy he could beat his team with just four players -- himself, a catcher, a first baseman and an infielder. If you live anywhere in the Northwest, go to Walla Walla this Saturday to see the end of an era. Barnstorming softball faded into the Americana of wooden roller coasters and hula hoops. Sadly, I'm talking about the King and His Court, the barnstorming softball team started by the late Eddie Feigner some 65 years ago. (R.J. Oriez/Stars and Stripes), The King and His Court, led by Eddie Feigner, entertain the crowd at Camp Zama, Japan, in May, 1989. I was lucky enough to be invited to come film the . Skip to main content. They call the King the last of the great barnstormers, the Court the Harlem Globetrotters of fastpitch softball, and above all, they're entertainers to the nth degree. 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). And the guy blinks and says, `Right.' Eddie Feigner, "What Little I Know About Pitching and Hitting", 7. 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. Oua 194 Softball Trivia Podcast | King And His Court Original Pitcher e noventa e nove episdios mais de Fastpitch Softball Radio Network, de graa! 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 Marshall, thanks for sharing! 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. Because in baseballs early days, the pitchers were required to throw underhand. 14. included in the interview is Leslie Barber, Charlie Dobbins, Dave Booth, Bob Hale, Ron Davenport and Michael Branchaud. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. 22. Marco Polo would have been jealous. Feigner claimed nearly 10,000 victories, 141,000 strikeouts and almost 1,000 no-hitters. It just doesn't go as fast,' " Feigner says. The Marlins will be hard-pressed to equal their two World Series championship at their new ballpark that opens next season. They had 4 players and would play teams of 9 guys. "Merrick? 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. 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. 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