the king and his court fastpitch softball

"Now every pitcher has to be a big, strong pitcher. Nobody could even touch the ball. 15. Enthralled by what he saw, Hoppe hooked up with Feigner's crew for Midwest tours the following two summers. He and a changing supporting cast that included only a catcher, first baseman and shortstop eventually logged more than 4 million miles, covering 50 states and more than 100 countries to play in front of 200 million people. Eddie Feigner was asked to participate. For Feigner, it would have been a career in pro baseball, with the New York Yankees, had it not been for Uncle Sam calling in World War II. Sem a necessidade de instalar ou se inscrever 209 Softball Academy Podcast | Hitting Philosophy. Gary leland is a new media producer of fastpitch softball. Progressive Field, Cleveland: 82 Hoppe has fought his own wars away from the diamond, on the battlefields of Vietnam and in the darkest trenches of his personal life. Though the Americans did much better this time around with 51 runs in nine games, when great players face off, softball is clearly a pitchers game. Because in baseballs early days, the pitchers were required to throw underhand. He quickly became a successful businessman and got back into softball, but his alcohol and drug addictions intensified. 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. Feigner swore the tale was true, except that it was a curveball that crossed second base on its way to the plate. I saw the King and his Court in Jasper, Alabama in the early 1960s. Your email address will not be published. 2023 Stars and Stripes. 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. He was part of more than 56 foreign tours. Many of them were major league players. Individuals inducted into the Shrine of the Eternals must have altered how the world views the game of baseball. considered signing a hotshot Canadian softball pitcher. 17. Rogers Centre, Toronto: 75 I hope they think of me as an honest, sincere performer who always put on a good show, he said. 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. One time he was even able to strike a person out from centerfield. 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. 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. Eddie Feigner passed away on February 9, 2007, from complications associated with dementia. 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. It all began in 1946. This week I show you about 10 minutes of the event. The fastest documented pitch ever thrown by a major league pitcher is 103 mph. Free 3 day shipping. The King and His Court" and his visit to. More Impressively, He Even Made a Trip to Toledo Seem Worthwhile: Props to Tigers veteran Brandon Inge, who accepted a demotion to the minors in mid-July and then returned with a home run in his first at-bat back with Detroit on Saturday. "How did you remember that?" (And don't rule out the Rays grabbing this year's wild card spot yet.) His life would then come crashing down in 1988, when his brother Robert died of AIDS. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. 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. She survives him, as do his son Eddie Jr.; his daughters Shirley, Carol and Debbie; nine grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. Busch Stadium, St. Louis: 78 After the game was over, many of the players gathered at a tavern. In the 1940s, when countless small towns had softball leagues, the King and His Court was one among many barnstormers. In 1967, he faced, in order, Willie Mays, Willie McCovey, Brooks Robinson, Maury Wills, Harmon Killebrew and Roberto Clemente. Unfortunately, I'm not talking about the New York Yankees. 15. 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. By Douglas Martin. Eventually, they began to travel around the globe to play softball. "I told ASA (Amateur Softball Association) it was a great game at 43 feet — you just killed a great game. And the guy blinks and says, `Right.' As the games rules were liberalized, the names for the pitches eventually changed. Many writers and others in the sports world have considered Eddie Feigner to be the best softball pitcher the sport has ever known. The King and His court is an extremely entertaining show to go watch! 7. Inductees have included Roberto Clemente, Jackie Robinson, Vin Scully, Satchel Paige, and others. Softball never had the following or respect of Major League Baseball. Inspire employees with compelling live and on-demand video experiences. "We need some runs against this team. He would be able to pitch against some of the biggest names in Major League Baseball. In 1981, there was a strike in Major League Baseball. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. In an interview, he said he liked having fun too much to be an MLB player. He struck out Willie Mays, Willie McCovey, Brooks Robinson, Harmon Killebrew and Roberto Clemente consecutively. My favorite was Land Shark Stadium, which it was called for one year after a deal with Jimmy Buffet. Top Rated Plus. "Haven't seen you in 15 years, Eddie. A former marine with a crew cut and a right arm noticeably more muscular than his left, Feigner threw hard. His team, clad in red, white and blue uniforms modeled after those of the Globetrotters, played in ever-smaller parks. 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). The manager challenged Feigner to prove it. 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. (R.J. Oriez/Stars and Stripes). It's beyond dangerous, it's numb.". He was 81 years old. The King and His Court got its start the way so many wonderful sagas begin -- in a bar. The news of a four-man team beating nine players spread all over the state. Feb. 13, 2007. You may also leave questions, or comments on our call in line 209-softbal. My dad took me to that game at what is now Modern Woodman Park on river front. HubPages is a registered trademark of The Arena Platform, Inc. Other product and company names shown may be trademarks of their respective owners. "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. Sports Illustrated once called Eddie Feigner one of the most underrated athletes of our time. I was lucky enough to be invited to come film the event. "The King changed my life, and he was the toughest guy I've ever been around. Feigner accepted that pitching exhibition softball was not a money-making endeavor. It played in Saudi Arabia, the jungles of Thailand and near the DMZ between North and South Korea. He was abandoned as an infant and was named Myrle King by his adoptive parents. They were called The King and His Court.. 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. A baseball batter has no concept how to hit a fastball that rises like mine, or sliders and curves that break 18 inches.. To do more than one tour, you're certifiable," Hoppe said. He was able to hit the ball as well as he could pitch it. 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. It took me years to talk about it," Hoppe said. CBS Sports is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc. 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For advertising information send him an email to [email protected], or visit his personal website site at garyleland.com for more information on Gary. 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. He and his Court were able to defeat a team with nine players. L Es Stories The Lovesick Blues Boy Was Really The Hillbilly Shakespeare Tribute To The Life and Talents of Hank Williams, L Es Stories Just Say Bogie, That Says It All..I Gave Up Drinking Once.It Was The Worst Afternoon of My Life Tribute To Humphrey Bogart, L Es Stories Well Excuuuuse Me! 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. He said: Im a pipsqueak because Im caught in a nothing game. 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. Eddie Feigner is a member of Shrine of the Eternals, which is part of the Baseball Reliquary. The decline of fastpitch, Feigner says, began shortly after he left the service. 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 six? Fr nhere Informationen zur Nutzung Ihrer Daten lesen Sie bitte unsere Datenschutzerklrung und Cookie-Richtlinie. I was about 10 years old, and they asked me to be bat boy. "After my brother died and that 100 days that followed, I literally had lost everything," Hoppe said. The Marlins will be hard-pressed to equal their two World Series championship at their new ballpark that opens next season. Eddie Feigner, Hard-Throwing, Barnstorming Showman of Softball, Dies at 81, https://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/13/sports/othersports/13feigner.html. Eddie had a catcher, a !B and a SS. from HE HAS a book planned and a movie scripted, but there's no ending to either, yet; thus, they're both on the shelf. In international competition, the pitchers plate (or rubber, as baseball fans know it) is only 43 feet from home plate. It must be fun facing a blindfolded pitcher from 45 feet who can fire the ball faster than 100 mph. He would even pitch blindfolded. Feigner was born in Walla Walla, Wash., on March 26, 1925. 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"). "It's surreal. Sie knnen Ihre Einstellungen jederzeit ndern. One of these years, it will be," he said. And the second is that pitchers can throw harder overhand, and real men like to throw the ball hard. 19. "We show off how good we are, but don't flaunt it or embarrass the home team," he said. You are very lucky to have had such a special grandfather. A celebrity charity softball game was held in February of 1967. "YEAH, THAT'S why I'm gonna steal," retorts Booth, to the delight of the crowd. The Quad Cities had gathered an All-Star team of fast pitch softball players and beat The King and "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. 23K 2.9K comments Men's fast-pitch softball has the King and His Court. By contrast, the typical American League game last year included 7.65 runs per seven innings. "We can't compete with modern entertainment," Hoppe said. . Thats roughly what Finch, Fernandez, and Osterman did these two weeks except they didnt allow as many hits. Thus, is Feigner, with a year or two left in his own career, the last of the great fastpitch showmen? 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. 2005-2023 CBS INTERACTIVE ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. PNC Park, Pittsburgh: 98 "I found a way out.". Bueller? Feigner claimed nearly 10,000 victories, 141,000 strikeouts and almost 1,000 no-hitters. 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 . 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. Then those two teams will really have something to play for. They started their first cross-country tour. He just made me better," Hoppe said. 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 agreed, and the only stipulation was that Feigner needed four players to bat in case the bases were loaded. 3. "The day of the barnstormer is buried this Saturday.". "I went to the other side," Hoppe said, referring to his mental state. His fastball was clocked at 104 miles an hour. His fastball pitch was clocked at over 104 miles an hour. I remember seeing them in commericals as a kid, pretty sure it was Bud or Lite Beer commericals. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. 12, Minute Maid Park, Houston: 80 Too bad we didn't have today's technology back then. I would have loved to have bee able to have a conversation with him. In softball, there are no famous hitters, only famous pitchers. As one batter put it, I was waiting for a pitch, heard a noise, watched the catcher throw the ball back. In the aftermath of his brother's death, Hoppe faced down his addictions and got his life back on track. Oh yeah, Eisenhower Park. The first game for the King and His Court took place behind the barbed wire and high walls of a prison. Mary, thanks. Nationals Park, Washington: 76 I saw the King and his Court in Pittsfield, MA in the early 1960's. Skip to main content. The King and His Court It all began in 1946. So do yourself a favor this weekend. Too dumb to quit, he growled. It would be really fun to watch videos of some of that stuff. gary leland. 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. 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. Upon returning home after two years at war, Hoppe opened a bar in Bayonne and began attending night school. He kept meticulous records of his achievements: 9,743 victories, 141, 517 strikeouts, 930 no-hitters and 238 perfect games. Nice guys, huh? Either that, or an outtake from "Twilight 4: Team Timmy No-Hits Team Edward.'' Prooyen, a six-time national champion whom Feigner calls the "best pitcher at his age (25) today," later pitches an inning or two. Feigner knew he was the only one of his kind in the history of the world. It was a great event, and here is . Which is why the King always had four players. Build a site and generate income from purchases, subscriptions, and courses. The softball team was very popular with audiences because they performed funny tricks that made the fans laugh. He was a hard-boiled egg. It was a mismatch, Feigner said in an interview with a publication of the Loma Linda University Adventist Health Science Center. Have you seen the (Zama) catcher throw?". 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. Into that steel trap memory delves Feigner, 65, a fastpitch softball trouper for some 44 years. Into that steel trap memory delves Feigner, 65, a fastpitch softball trouper for some 44 years. Feigner had been pitching in the Green Pea League of Walla Walla Valley. Eddie Feigner was able to get games when he showed local softball promoters his abilities.

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