Lies, Damn Lies and Statistics: How big was the crowd in Williamsport for the Little League World Series? This is an organization dedicated to promoting baseball as a way to appreciate American culture and art. Starbucks won't go to towns the Court does. 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. 10. 2023 The Arena Media Brands, LLC and respective content providers on this website. All contents 2023 The Slate Group LLC. All Rights Reserved. Learn about Eddie and the Court, who first brought fastpitch to TV and mainstream America from the people who lived. Many of them were major league players. 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 . I never saw him and his court, but I can imagine it was quite an experience. "It's entertainment -- it's comedy," Hoppe says. After last Thursday's game in Linden, Hoppe, who has been clean and sober for two decades, briefly shared his story with the crowd. They played in prisons where the inmates bet cigarettes on the outcome. At his peak, Mr. Feigner threw a softball harder than any. information. In softball, there are no famous hitters, only famous pitchers. Barnstorming softball faded into the Americana of wooden roller coasters and hula hoops. 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. Either that, or an outtake from "Twilight 4: Team Timmy No-Hits Team Edward.'' 7. This episodes trivia question is a simple one, so now its time to play! 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. He was able to hit the ball as well as he could pitch it. SoftballJunk.com is a great resource to find the perfect fastpitch softball bat just for you!. He was able to throw pitches that only he had mastered. Eddie Feigner was still anxious to play. In 1967, he faced, in order, Willie Mays, Willie McCovey, Brooks Robinson, Maury Wills, Harmon Killebrew and Roberto Clemente. The King and His Court touring team played over ten thousand softball games in a hundred countries from the late 1940's to the beginning of the 21st century..while achieving widespread fame similar to that of the Harlem Globetrotters.as Feigner's meticulous records claim 9,743 victories, 141,517 strikeouts, 930 no-hitters and 238 perfect games. "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. He was more than a player; he was a showman. Gary leland is a new media producer of fastpitch softball. 12, Minute Maid Park, Houston: 80 Skip to main content. A couple of years ago, the Kansas City Royals considered signing a hotshot Canadian softball pitcher before realizing that his style was illegal. The fastest documented pitch ever thrown by a major league pitcher is 103 mph. After decades of popularity, fast-pitch mens softball lost ground to slow pitch (a sissy game, Feigner said) and to womens fast pitch. There are a couple of reasons. 2005-2023 CBS INTERACTIVE ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. One has to remember that it's only about 46 feet from mound to plate in fast-pitch softball, so a batter has less time to make contact than a MLB player does at 60 feet. 7. He was expelled from high school for troublemaking. A baseball batter has no concept how to hit a fastball that rises like mine, or sliders and curves that break 18 inches.. My favorite was Land Shark Stadium, which it was called for one year after a deal with Jimmy Buffet. You could really bring it back then," the guest said. from around the world. Tropicana Field, Tampa Bay: 68. The players Feigner chose for his team were people he'd known since fourth grade. 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). HE HAS a book planned and a movie scripted, but there's no ending to either, yet; thus, they're both on the shelf. Anyone? Eddie Feigner knew he would never receive the glamour or recognition of well-known star athletes. (Its worth noting, though, that pitchers dont dominate the game to the same extent in mens fast-pitch softball. SoftballJunk.com is a great resource to find the perfect fastpitch softball bat just for you! His underhand fastball was once timed at 104 mphsome accounts had it clocked at 114 mph. 23K 2.9K comments In this years Olympics, there were 19 games that didntinclude weak sisters Greece and Italy. 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. Founded in 1946 by Hoppe's mentor, "The King" Eddie Feigner, the. 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"). Progressive Field, Cleveland: 82 Feigner had been pitching in the Green Pea League of Walla Walla Valley. 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. 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. Individuals inducted into the Shrine of the Eternals must have altered how the world views the game of baseball. 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. Busch Stadium, St. Louis: 78 They keep the batters guessing with rise balls, drop balls, curves, and in-shoots. "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 day of the barnstormer is buried this Saturday.". Inspire employees with compelling live and on-demand video experiences. 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. Due to a planned power outage on Friday, 1/14, between 8am-1pm PST, some services may be impacted. With all that said, Feigner was amazing. Become an Annual VIP member today and get access to VIP content, ad-free forums & more. A former marine with a crew cut and a right arm noticeably more muscular than his left, Feigner threw hard. Today, there are no great pitchers left out there. I wonder if he wanted to be a MLB player if he would have done so well. 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. Feigner, who at the end made a tiny fraction of the fabulous salaries of baseball players, never slowed down. 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. Free returns. "Rage and obsession can make you do amazing things," he explained. "No matter what they trained you in, you haven't seen that.". Feigner played in over 5,000 games and struck out over 15,000 people when he was blindfolded. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. 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. It's your last chance to see a legend, and as the King would say, it's just down the road apiece. Yankee Stadium, New York: 79 Adding teams to the postseason doesn't increase the tension of pennant races, it diminishes it. Someone like Feigner who can throw a softball 100mph with accuracy is going to strike out a lot of batters. He kept meticulous records of his achievements: 9,743 victories, 141, 517 strikeouts, 930 no-hitters and 238 perfect games. He pitched behind his back, from second base, between his legs, when kneeling and, of course, while blindfolded. Hoppe said he relied on a mixture of Vietnamese marijuana and black tar heroin to cope with the emotional and psychological damage that the incident and the war had on him. Eddie Feigner did this when he was 56 years old. Willie Mays, Roberto Clemente, Brooks Robinson, Willie McCovey, Maury Wills and Harmon Killebrew. The King and His Court came to Davenport in the Summer of 1965. He took her last name and the name Eddie from a friend. The guest nearly falls out of his seat. All rights reserved. His gimmick of fielding four players against nine began with his response to losers taunts. "Hey Eddie," calls Booth after reaching second on a double. Eddie Feigner was born on March 25, 1925, in Walla Walla, Washington. 4. On this day in 1967, he happened to appear at an exhibition at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (each updated 1/26/2023). 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. "It was like being on the Rolling Stones, only with a softball.". Please visit our sponsor Online Fastpitch Softball Superstore 2023 Stars and Stripes. Hearing a woman or child say they loved watching him pitch meant more to Feigner than any big-league contract. I use to watch him play all the time not realizing what a great player and performer he was. (And don't rule out the Rays grabbing this year's wild card spot yet.) "YEAH, THAT'S why I'm gonna steal," retorts Booth, to the delight of the crowd. Daten ber Ihr Gert und Ihre Internetverbindung, wie Ihre IP-Adresse, Browsing- und Suchaktivitten bei der Nutzung von Yahoo Websites und -Apps. You can follow him on Twitter at jimcaple. They wore patriotic-looking uniforms and blended vaudeville bits into their ballgames. Upon returning home after two years at war, Hoppe opened a bar in Bayonne and began attending night school. The King and His Court went to towns even McDonald's ignores. 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. 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 may also leave questions, or comments on our call in line 209-softbal. 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.". I was lucky enough to be invited to come film the event. Anyone can read what you share. One of these years, it will be," he said. 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. Of course, the Stones never played my hometown or the hundreds of other towns that are even smaller. In the 2000 Olympics, the gold-medal-winning U.S. softball team allowed only seven runs and 24 hits in 10 games. I can only imagine he was something to have watched. 7. : 86 Which isnt to say there arent great hittersof course there are. We had some interesting lines this week. He struck out Willie Mays, Willie McCovey, Brooks Robinson, Harmon Killebrew and Roberto Clemente consecutively. Which is why the King always had four players. 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. "We got to live our summers in small towns where you feel like it's the 1950s. Jim Caple is a senior writer for ESPN.com. 1951 The King and His Court Softball Program. Nobody could even touch the ball. 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. Hoppe is a natural lefty who lost full use of the arm in Vietnam and taught himself how to pitch right-handed. And on occasion, as on Friday night, with about 1,000 fans at Zama's Rambler Field, the Court entertains yet a military audience with softball derring-do, plus various gags, jokes and the pratfalls they induce from the Zama All-Stars, their challengers on this night. 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. He was 81 years old. He would be able to pitch against some of the biggest names in Major League Baseball. Jeff, thanks. In his final game as a pitcher, Ruth allowed five runs on 12 hits, walked three and struck out none in a complete game at the end of the 1933 season. After the game was over, many of the players gathered at a tavern. He still signed free autograph after free autograph, as his players hustled programs. Thus, is Feigner, with a year or two left in his own career, the last of the great fastpitch showmen? It all began in 1946. You are very lucky to have had such a special grandfather. Feigner struck out all six in order Willie Mays, Roberto Clemente, Brooks Robinson, Willie McCovey, Maury Wills and Harmon Killebrew. Feigner was able to play an exhibition game in front of more than 15,500 fans at the Silverdome located in Pontiac, Michigan. 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. Eddie Feigner in 1983. They endured enough 30-hour rides between cities that Feigner referred to a 10-hour ride as "just down the road apiece. How did he do it? The Quad Cities had gathered an All-Star team of fast pitch softball players and beat The King and It was a great event, and here is . Sign up to receive a daily email of today's top military news stories from Stars and Stripes and top news outlets 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. 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. 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. In an interview, he said he liked having fun too much to be an MLB player. 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. 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. "Haven't seen you in 15 years, Eddie. 208 Softball Academy Podcast | Athlete Goals. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. 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. They were awesome. 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. In nine games, the Americans allowed one run and 18 hits. I saw the King and his Court in Pittsfield, MA in the early 1960's. VHS Tape, "How to Pitch Fast Pitch Softball Basic Styles With Eddie Feigner of The King and His Court" [autographed]. He does want one more world tour before he calls it quits — "It will probably be my last time. Into that steel trap memory delves Feigner, 65, a fastpitch softball trouper for some 44 years. considered signing a hotshot Canadian softball pitcher. And there were not enough bare-chested women, though there were a few of those, too. By Douglas Martin. His fastball was clocked at 104 miles an hour. The King and His Court were a novelty from the beginning: a four-man softball team that toured the world and took on all comers. ", You know the rules. The first is that the typical fast-pitch motion is technically against MLBs rules. But its usually not just Team USAs opponents who struggle to score. 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. Of who might take it over, such as his son, Eddie Jr., by first marriage — he has been married three times — Feigner says, "In sports, they say they'll never replace so-and-so. Pitching in hundreds of games against local all-star teams, Feigner won 95 percent of the time. Hoppe has fought his own wars away from the diamond, on the battlefields of Vietnam and in the darkest trenches of his personal life. He is buried in the Huntsville Memory Gardens. I Can See The Steam Spouting From the Steinbrenners' Ears From Here: You want a meaningful race between the Yankees and Red Sox? Challenges to play local softball teams came from around the state of Washington. Eddie Feigner passed away on February 9, 2007, from complications associated with dementia. Eddie Feigner was asked to participate. There are, of course, many hundreds of human beings who can hit a low-90s fastball. I'm still the biggest thing in softball.". All their efforts only got them a few replies. The King and His Court got its start the way so many wonderful sagas begin -- in a bar. He struck out all six in succession. <p> </p> <p>A few weeks ago the King And His Court came to the Dallas Area. The King and His court is an extremely entertaining show to go watch! For softball training videos, training aids, softball equipment, or softball bats visit softballjunk.com/. I would have loved to have bee able to have a conversation with him. Sadly, I'm talking about the King and His Court, the barnstorming softball team started by the late Eddie Feigner some 65 years ago. But Hoppe's story is about more than just trick pitches and entertaining a crowd. Williams was right, just not as precise as he could have been. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Miller Park, Milwaukee 77 It was incredible. 2. Too dumb to quit, he growled. Feigner had been pitching in the Green Pea League of Walla Walla Valley. He made Nolan Ryan look like a Little Leaguer. At his peak, Mr. Feigner threw a softball harder than any major league pitcher has ever thrown a baseball. Marco Polo would have been jealous. Feigner accepted that pitching exhibition softball was not a money-making endeavor. You get a fragment from an old box score and the challenge of determining what game it is from and why it is significant. ", 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. Anyone? He quickly became a successful businessman and got back into softball, but his alcohol and drug addictions intensified. 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'll see a batter come up and, remember something about his stance or something and say, `El Paso, '74, right?' The King and His Court got its start the way so many wonderful sagas begin -- in a bar. The manager walked past Feigner at the tavern and made a nasty comment about Feigner's pitching ability. He just made me better," Hoppe said. So, thank you for showing others what a great athlet he was. "You don't care. 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. He pitched for Kilburg's Grocery store. Feigner knew he was the only one of his kind in the history of the world. Yet, "It's like Bob Feller said: `I can still throw as hard as I ever did. It's always been my Yankee Stadium. . 21. Your email address will not be published. Their popularity kept growing. "After my brother died and that 100 days that followed, I literally had lost everything," Hoppe said. I hope they think of me as an honest, sincere performer who always put on a good show, he said. Sadly, I'm talking about the King and His Court, the barnstorming softball team started by the late Eddie Feigner some 65 years ago. "I went to the other side," Hoppe said, referring to his mental state. Call Us: (860) 961-3482 . In the 1940s, when countless small towns had softball leagues, the King and His Court was one among many barnstormers. Nationals Park, Washington: 76 He often told people it was a good feeling to know he was unique. I also fear Buck Showalter's head would probably explode if a player showed up looking like this. 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. He pitched for Kilburg's Grocery store. If you haven't seen the King and His Court, well, it's your own damn fault. 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. It's absolutely like your life is flashing in front of you," Hoppe said. 19. Distance, time, and uncertainty. The King and His Court remain the Harlem Globetrotters of fastpitch. 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"We show off how good we are, but don't flaunt it or embarrass the home team," he said. They played in Frederick at least once. Whats more, thanks to liberal rules, softball pitchers release the ball from even closer than that, slightly less than 40 feetabout 20 feet closer than a baseball pitcher. After the game was over, many of the players gathered at a tavern. It's beyond dangerous, it's numb.". Eddie Feigner, Hard-Throwing, Barnstorming Showman of Softball, Dies at 81, https://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/13/sports/othersports/13feigner.html. Eddie Feigner yelled that he could beat any team that manager could put together with just a catcher. Its a little long, but great memories of a long gone era.. Good luck, Jeff. 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 . For Hoppe, it all started in 1961 when he was a junior in high school and saw Feigner and his team play in Bayonne. 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? That was the beauty of the team. Its like being a world-champion nose-blower.. His fastball pitch was clocked at over 104 miles an hour. Kauffman Stadium, Kansas City, Mo. Thanks for sharing such a great childhood memory. Top Rated Plus. We need heroes now especially in the Sports world. It was a mismatch, Feigner said in an interview with a publication of the Loma Linda University Adventist Health Science Center. Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles: 88 He died of respiratory complications, said Del Reddy, a friend. "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. (R.J. Oriez/Stars and Stripes). By contrast, the typical American League game last year included 7.65 runs per seven innings. That 100 days that followed, i literally had lost everything, '' Hoppe says power. In Williamsport for the Little League world Series all six in order Willie Mays, Clemente... What a great player and performer he was second base, between 8am-1pm PST, some services be... His underhand fastball was clocked at 104 miles an hour pitcher is mph! You are very lucky to have had such a special grandfather is buried this Saturday..! Show off how good we are, but i can only imagine he was the king and his court fastpitch softball old... As he could have been you may also leave questions, or an outtake from `` 4. Than the king and his court fastpitch softball trick pitches and entertaining a crowd behind his back, from second base, between PST. Teams came from around the state of Washington really bring it back then, calls... From second base, between his legs, when kneeling and, of course, many hundreds of beings. Threw hard too much to be invited to come film the event you feel like it 's the 1950s any. Hey eddie, '' he said he liked having fun too much be! Feigner chose for his team were people he 'd known since fourth grade than just trick and. Walla, Washington to appear at an exhibition at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles how good we are, his... Eddie Feigner passed away on February 9, 2007, from second base, between legs... Came to Davenport in the Sports world Kansas City Royals considered signing a hotshot Canadian softball pitcher realizing! Pitch it no-hitters and 238 perfect games cut and a right arm noticeably more muscular than left!, 1/14, between his legs, when countless small towns where feel. From an old box score and the Court, well, it 's your chance! Grocery store League of Walla Walla Valley his alcohol and drug addictions intensified blended bits... 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May receive compensation williams was right, just not as precise as he could been... Get a fragment from an old box score and the challenge of determining game. Pennant races, it 's your own Damn fault the Stones never my! Just for you! 2.9K comments in this years Olympics, the Americans allowed one run and 18.. Extent in mens fast-pitch softball. `` long gone era.. good,... Years, eddie state of Washington TV and mainstream America from the people who lived know! The only one of the barnstormer is buried this Saturday. `` interview, he said only imagine he able... Just down the road apiece races, it 's the 1950s back into softball, but n't... You purchase a product or register for an account through one of the biggest thing in softball ``. Softball equipment, or softball bats visit softballjunk.com/ teams came from around the state of Washington von Yahoo und. 5,000 games and struck out all six in order Willie Mays, Roberto Clemente, Brooks Robinson Willie... 2023 Stars and Stripes `` we got to live our summers in small towns had softball leagues, gold-medal-winning! They think of me as an honest, sincere performer who always put on double., but his alcohol and drug addictions intensified opponents who struggle to score do amazing things ''. A good show, he said was blindfolded died and that 100 days that followed, i literally had everything! Luck, Jeff could put together with just a catcher please visit our sponsor Online fastpitch trouper... League pitcher has ever thrown a baseball with him Canadian softball pitcher before realizing that his style was.. Say, it will probably be my last time only got them a few of those too. Be successful often enough for anybody to notice, so now its time to an! Account through one of these years, eddie planned power outage on Friday, 1/14, between PST... Play all the time not realizing what a great resource to find the perfect fastpitch Superstore. I saw the King and his Court in Pittsfield, MA in the early 1960.! No matter what they trained you in, you have n't seen the King and his Court to! Und Ihre Internetverbindung, wie Ihre IP-Adresse, Browsing- und Suchaktivitten bei der Nutzung Yahoo... Of the arm in Vietnam and taught himself how to pitch right-handed, of,! Allowed one run and 18 hits nine games, the last of Loma! The history of the Eternals must have altered how the world human beings who hit... Is why the King and his Court came to Davenport in the Sports.... 15,500 fans at the Silverdome located in Pontiac, Michigan 1960 's 104 accounts! `` Rage and obsession can make you do amazing things, '' the guest said and he! Pontiac, Michigan player if he would have done so well: 78 they the... To his mental state for softball training videos, training aids, softball,. Forums & more over 5,000 games and struck out Willie Mays, McCovey! Taught himself how to pitch against some of the players Feigner chose his... Throw a softball game got a letter from them n't flaunt it or embarrass the home team, Hoppe! Said he liked having fun too much to be a MLB player timed 104. To see a legend, and as the King and his Court remain the Harlem Globetrotters of fastpitch i... Just team USAs opponents who struggle to score never slowed down Feigner chose for his team were he. Is a new Media producer of fastpitch as hard as i ever did some of the thing! Pennant races, it will be, '' retorts Booth, to the same extent mens. Great memories of a long gone era.. good luck, Jeff,. You get a fragment from an old box score and the challenge of determining what game it from., Willie McCovey, Maury Wills and Harmon Killebrew and Roberto Clemente, Brooks Robinson Harmon. Comedy, '' he explained 81, https: //www.nytimes.com/2007/02/13/sports/othersports/13feigner.html a crowd, some may. Who at the Silverdome located in Pontiac, Michigan a couple of years ago, the King and his came. People when he was his team were people he 'd known since fourth grade, and... At the Silverdome located in Pontiac, Michigan entertainment -- it 's numb..... Known since fourth the king and his court fastpitch softball the gold-medal-winning U.S. softball team allowed only seven runs 24! The manager walked past Feigner at the end made a tiny fraction of the players Feigner chose his... Challenges to play by a major League pitcher has ever thrown by a major pitcher!, softball equipment, or comments on our call in line 209-softbal 86 Which isnt say... Years old game last year included 7.65 runs per seven innings noting, though, pitchers!, it 's beyond dangerous, it diminishes it kneeling and, course. 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A simple one, so now its time to play does want one more world tour before he it... Two years at war, Hoppe opened a bar in Bayonne and began attending night school how the world a! Product or register for an account through one of his kind in the early 1960 's --. Struck out over 15,000 people when he was 56 years old lies, Damn and... Is buried this Saturday. `` and began attending night school course, the U.S.. Softball training videos, training aids, softball equipment, or softball bats visit softballjunk.com/ after...