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. 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. Feigner accepted that pitching exhibition softball was not a money-making endeavor. 7. considered signing a hotshot Canadian softball pitcher. (Theyre currently on a 79-game winning streak.) He's been with the King and His Court ever since. 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. "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. Dies geschieht in Ihren Datenschutzeinstellungen. The players Feigner chose for his team were people he'd known since fourth grade. He took her last name and the name Eddie from a friend. 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"). 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. Not bad for a fat man. You'll need it. Durch Klicken auf Alle akzeptieren erklren Sie sich damit einverstanden, dass Yahoo und unsere Partner Ihre personenbezogenen Daten verarbeiten und Technologien wie Cookies nutzen, um personalisierte Anzeigen und Inhalte zu zeigen, zur Messung von Anzeigen und Inhalten, um mehr ber die Zielgruppe zu erfahren sowie fr die Entwicklung von Produkten. It would be really fun to watch videos of some of that stuff. My favorite was Land Shark Stadium, which it was called for one year after a deal with Jimmy Buffet. He struck out all six in succession. Then those two teams will really have something to play for. Its like being a world-champion nose-blower.. The King and His court is an extremely entertaining show to go watch! The King and His Court remain the Harlem Globetrotters of fastpitch. Hoppe and his crew only use a pitcher, a catcher, a first baseman and a shortstop, while the opposition uses nine players. Anyone? Free 3 day shipping. Feigner struck out all six in order Willie Mays, Roberto Clemente, Brooks Robinson, Willie McCovey, Maury Wills and Harmon Killebrew. Have you seen the (Zama) catcher throw?". I can only imagine he was something to have watched. The King and His court is an extremely entertaining show to go watch! Any organization they thought would sponsor a softball game got a letter from them. Please visit our sponsor Online Fastpitch Softball Superstore And oh yeah, the Court of 4 won the game! You get to touch people and leave them with a message.". 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. I was lucky enough to be invited to watch and film. His fastest pitch was clocked at 104 miles an hour. If you swing at the ball, youll strike out every time.. You could really bring it back then," the guest said. Hearing a woman or child say they loved watching him pitch meant more to Feigner than any big-league contract. ", "If you did one tour with the Court, you've been tested. Hoppe has fought his own wars away from the diamond, on the battlefields of Vietnam and in the darkest trenches of his personal life. The King and his Court. ", 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. (And don't rule out the Rays grabbing this year's wild card spot yet.) Jim Caple is a senior writer for ESPN.com. 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. "This is big. This week I show you about 10 minutes of the event. 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. 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. He pitched for Kilburg's Grocery store. Feigner was satisfied to entertain the thousands of kids in the stands that came to watch him. "It's surreal. I never forgot that day, and how Eddie pitched. A celebrity charity softball game was held in February of 1967. Feigner had been pitching in the Green Pea League of Walla Walla Valley. Fastpitch.TV - A few weeks ago the King And His Court came to the Dallas area. Eddie Feigner, "What Little I Know About Pitching and Hitting", 7. Eddie Feigner was born on March 25, 1925, in Walla Walla, Washington. Its just that the conditions of the game simply dont allow even the greatest hitters to be successful often enough for anybody to notice. Feigner, who at the end made a tiny fraction of the fabulous salaries of baseball players, never slowed down. "It was like being on the Rolling Stones, only with a softball.". 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. You are very lucky to have had such a special grandfather. I give this one a difficulty rating of 6.0. 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. ". You can follow him on Twitter at jimcaple. Into that steel trap memory delves Feigner, 65, a fastpitch softball trouper for some 44 years. 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). Nationals Park, Washington: 76 If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. 10. Too bad we didn't have today's technology back then. Eventually, they began to travel around the globe to play softball. During the game, Eddie Feigner managed to strike out Maury Wills, Willie McCovey, Harmon Killebrew, Brooks Robinson, and Roberto Clemente. ! 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He was more than a player; he was a showman. Your email address will not be published. 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. 18. They had 4 players and would play teams of 9 guys. If you live anywhere in the Northwest, go to Walla Walla this Saturday to see the end of an era. How did he do it? To Hoppe, it is not merely a softball team, but a means to rediscover himself and spread a message of hope. All Rights Reserved. Barnstorming softball faded into the Americana of wooden roller coasters and hula hoops. But Hoppe's story is about more than just trick pitches and entertaining a crowd. He was amazing. "I'll see a batter come up and, remember something about his stance or something and say, `El Paso, '74, right?' Camden Yards, Baltimore: 92 I Can See The Steam Spouting From the Steinbrenners' Ears From Here: You want a meaningful race between the Yankees and Red Sox? "It's entertainment -- it's comedy," Hoppe says. 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. 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. "How did you remember that?" 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. Anywhere in the stands that came to the Dallas area show to go watch Americana of wooden roller coasters hula. 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