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"It was like being on the Rolling Stones, only with a softball.". Also, they would occasionally be on Wide World of Sports. "We need some runs against this team. "I miss the guy, I really do. Before the tour, Eddie Feigner and the other team members mailed thousands of letters to charity groups, service organizations, local governments, and more. Starbucks won't go to towns the Court does. I never saw him and his court, but I can imagine it was quite an experience. And anyway, fast-pitch pitchers dont just throw fastballs. Sem a necessidade de instalar ou se inscrever 209 Softball Academy Podcast | Hitting Philosophy. Insulted, Feigner bet the guy he could beat his team with just four players -- himself, a catcher, a first baseman and an infielder. Today, there are no great pitchers left out there. Bueller? On this day in 1967, he happened to appear at an exhibition at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. In 1981, there was a strike in Major League Baseball. Dies geschieht in Ihren Datenschutzeinstellungen. 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 One time he was even able to strike a person out from centerfield. It has been estimated the team played over 10,000 softball games in over 100 countries. By Douglas Martin. The Yankees rewarded the biggest star in the their history with a 30 percent paycut. 255) may be the equivalent of the high school annual photo. 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. He pitched for Kilburg's Grocery store. "And nobody in their right mind would put slowpitch in the Olympics.". Someone like Feigner who can throw a softball 100mph with accuracy is going to strike out a lot of batters. ! 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He would even pitch blindfolded. In softball, there are no famous hitters, only famous pitchers. Basketball has the Harlem Globetrotters. I think I'll steal third. A story is told of the time he stood in right field at Yankee Stadium and fired an underhand fastball over home plate. He is Rich Hoppe -- Bayonne native and pitcher for the King and His Court, the iconic four-man barnstorming softball team. Thanks for sharing such a great childhood memory. Eddie Feigner passed away on February 9, 2007, from complications associated with dementia. Any organization they thought would sponsor a softball game got a letter from them. 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. We are at game number 30.. in Deland Florida tonight. Eddie had a catcher, a !B and a SS. 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. Hell, if you live anywhere, get to Walla Walla. Upon returning home after two years at war, Hoppe opened a bar in Bayonne and began attending night school. Feigner played in front of millions of people and traveled millions of miles around the world. 23K 2.9K comments During a 1967 exhibition game at Dodger Stadium, Eddie Feigner faced a lineup of six big leaguers. He was the clown prince of softball. It took me years to talk about it," Hoppe said. Its like being a world-champion nose-blower.. 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 and his Court were able to defeat a team with nine players. Florida starter Ricky Nolasco had an atrocious game Wednesday when he allowed 11 runs in three innings (3 IP, 11 H, 11 R, 11 ER, 1 BB, 2 K). After decades of popularity, fast-pitch mens softball lost ground to slow pitch (a sissy game, Feigner said) and to womens fast pitch. $44.90. Mary, thanks. He was 81. Hoppe and his crew only use a pitcher, a catcher, a first baseman and a shortstop, while the opposition uses nine players. 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. He even pitched blindfolded from second base for one inning. PNC Park, Pittsburgh: 98 Which isnt to say there arent great hittersof course there are. Then those two teams will really have something to play for. 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. The fastest documented pitch ever thrown by a major league pitcher is 103 mph. 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. 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! 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. Jan 24, 2012 - Produced by http://Fastpitch.TV - A few weeks ago the King And His Court came to the Dallas area. If you live anywhere in the Northwest, go to Walla Walla this Saturday to see the end of an era. He's been with the King and His Court ever since. "YEAH, THAT'S why I'm gonna steal," retorts Booth, to the delight of the crowd. 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. That gave him season marks of .301, 34 home runs, 101 RBIs, a 1.023 OPS and a 1-0 record. "I'll see a batter come up and, remember something about his stance or something and say, `El Paso, '74, right?' Top Rated Plus. "I got to be part of something where they watch you tie your shoelaces," Hoppe said of the attention the Court occasionally received. His gimmick of fielding four players against nine began with his response to losers taunts. 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. Not enough people died, I guess. 2. In 1972, Sports Illustrated called Feigner, who pitched 238 perfect games, the most underrated athlete of his time. And maybe he deserved it. The Ballpark in Arlington, Texas: 77 Because in baseballs early days, the pitchers were required to throw underhand. The manager walked past Feigner at the tavern and made a nasty comment about Feigner's pitching ability. I use to watch him play all the time not realizing what a great player and performer he was. Have you seen the (Zama) catcher throw?". Into that steel trap memory delves Feigner, 65, a fastpitch softball trouper for some 44 years. ", With West, the Max Patkin of the team, a patch covering his left eye which he lost to cancer two years ago, motioning Booth to keep quiet, Feigner answers, "I dunno. It played in Saudi Arabia, the jungles of Thailand and near the DMZ between North and South Korea. 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? 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? 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. With all that said, Feigner was amazing. The team started by traveling around the United States, Canada, and Mexico to play local softball teams. or Best Offer. His fastball was clocked at 104 miles an hour. "I know what I am, a recovering addict," he said. Now they're all in their 40s. 4. "The King changed my life, and he was the toughest guy I've ever been around. "It's entertainment -- it's comedy," Hoppe says. 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. They escaped flash floods and tornadoes. Wrigley Field, Chicago: 90 Gary leland is a new media producer of fastpitch softball. Busch Stadium, St. Louis: 78 All their efforts only got them a few replies. "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. (But) we're part sport and part vaudevillian," Feigner insists, adding that written into their show is a myriad of laughs that never end as each inning passes. "Hollywood missed a hell of a story. 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. Your email address will not be published. considered signing a hotshot Canadian softball pitcher. He couldn't be a showman and entertainer as well as an athlete if he played professional sports. You'll need it. If you haven't seen the King and His Court, well, it's your own damn fault. Feigner, who at the end made a tiny fraction of the fabulous salaries of baseball players, never slowed down. SPORTS LEGEND Eddie Feigner was the King And His Court a Professional Softball. I give this one a difficulty rating of 6.0. ", You know the rules. 20. <p> </p> <p>A few weeks ago the King And His Court came to the Dallas Area. 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. The players Feigner chose for his team were people he'd known since fourth grade. I hope they think of me as an honest, sincere performer who always put on a good show, he said. A baseball batter has no concept how to hit a fastball that rises like mine, or sliders and curves that break 18 inches.. "We show off how good we are, but don't flaunt it or embarrass the home team," he said. Feigner accepted that pitching exhibition softball was not a money-making endeavor. The friends got together and decided it was time to take their game on the road. The manager challenged Feigner to prove it. Enthralled by what he saw, Hoppe hooked up with Feigner's crew for Midwest tours the following two summers. Men's fast-pitch softball has the King and His Court. Eddie Feigner was asked to participate. ", 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. He pitched for Kilburg's Grocery store. gary leland. Chase Field, Phoenix: 76.5 Mary Norton from Ontario, Canada on April 25, 2018: What a beautiful story of a man who worked hard to perfect his game. A couple of years ago, the Kansas City Royals considered signing a hotshot Canadian softball pitcher before realizing that his style was illegal. the guest nearly shrieked. It will end where it should. Feigner, catcher Gary West, first baseman Dave Booth and shortstop Gary Van Prooyen mug it up with true zest. (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. 2023 Vimeo.com, Inc. All rights reserved. Eddie Feigner was a one-of-a-kind person who stood out among all those who played sports. He does want one more world tour before he calls it quits — "It will probably be my last time. Yes, he faced the Cubs. I just thought that was normal. By contrast, the typical American League game last year included 7.65 runs per seven innings. Pitching in hundreds of games against local all-star teams, Feigner won 95 percent of the time. 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. 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). Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum: 74 How did he do it? He's toed the same athletic fields as the legendary Jim Thorpe, traipsed through Tibet and rubbed elbows with the Dalai Lama. 12, Minute Maid Park, Houston: 80 Not bad for a fat man. He was more than a player; he was a showman. Klicken Sie auf Einstellungen verwalten um weitere Informationen zu erhalten und Ihre Einstellungen zu verwalten. from around the world. This Amateur Softball Association (ASA) had forbidden its members to play against Eddie Feigner and his team. Eddie Feigner, Hard-Throwing, Barnstorming Showman of Softball, Dies at 81, https://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/13/sports/othersports/13feigner.html. They wore patriotic-looking uniforms and blended vaudeville bits into their ballgames. 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. My favorite was Land Shark Stadium, which it was called for one year after a deal with Jimmy Buffet. 11. Feigner knew he was the only one of his kind in the history of the world. It's absolutely like your life is flashing in front of you," Hoppe said. Feigner was satisfied to entertain the thousands of kids in the stands that came to watch him. One of these years, it will be," he said. The King and His court is an extremely entertaining show to go watch! 10. He quickly became a successful businessman and got back into softball, but his alcohol and drug addictions intensified. 2023 Stars and Stripes. You are very lucky to have had such a special grandfather. Eddie Feigner was able to get games when he showed local softball promoters his abilities. 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.". His team, clad in red, white and blue uniforms modeled after those of the Globetrotters, played in ever-smaller parks. Comerica Park, Detroit: 87 Daten ber Ihr Gert und Ihre Internetverbindung, wie Ihre IP-Adresse, Browsing- und Suchaktivitten bei der Nutzung von Yahoo Websites und -Apps. 13. Granted, American softball players are the best in the world. 208 Softball Academy Podcast | Athlete Goals. 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. "Rage and obsession can make you do amazing things," he explained. It's always been my Yankee Stadium. They were awesome. "It's magical and joyful in a way, but this has been on my radar since 1958 when I was a kid in the stands and saw the King for the first time. The King and His Court remain the Harlem Globetrotters of fastpitch. In 2002, ESPN.com listed Feigner as one of the 10 greatest pitchers in a list that included Walter Johnson and Sandy Koufax. Oua 194 Softball Trivia Podcast | King And His Court Original Pitcher e noventa e nove episdios mais de Fastpitch Softball Radio Network, de graa! 22. And there were not enough bare-chested women, though there were a few of those, too. Five of the six were later elected to Cooperstown. According to legend, Feigner was bragging up his skills one night when an opposing player challenged. I saw the King and his Court in Jasper, Alabama in the early 1960s. 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. The last 100 games of the King and his Court. 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"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. It's beyond dangerous, it's numb.". 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). 18. Cleveland's Chris Perez hit two batters, walked another and allowed an unearned run Monday (1 IP 0 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 K, 2 HBP) while Atlanta Jair Jurrjens pitched 6 1/3 scoreless innings despite allowing 13 baserunners (6 1/3 IP, 8 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 5 BB, 1 K). Adding teams to the postseason doesn't increase the tension of pennant races, it diminishes it. 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. I'm still the biggest thing in softball.". 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). "After my brother died and that 100 days that followed, I literally had lost everything," Hoppe said. He and his court, which included only a catcher, first-baseman and shortstop, played everywhere from Yankee Stadium to the Great Wall of China. Sadly, I'm talking about the King and His Court, the barnstorming softball team started by the late Eddie Feigner some 65 years ago. Fastpitch.TV - A few weeks ago the King And His Court came to the Dallas area. Unfortunately, I'm not talking about the New York Yankees. 19. This is an organization dedicated to promoting baseball as a way to appreciate American culture and art. All rights reserved (About Us). At his peak, Mr. Feigner threw a softball harder than any major league pitcher has ever thrown a baseball. Many writers and others in the sports world have considered Eddie Feigner to be the best softball pitcher the sport has ever known. In the aftermath of his brother's death, Hoppe faced down his addictions and got his life back on track. "I went to the other side," Hoppe said, referring to his mental state. "It became my anchor," Hoppe said. 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 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 Home; About Us; Tanita Scale; Workshops; Testimonials; Recipes; the king and his court fastpitch softball It would be really fun to watch videos of some of that stuff. Feigner was born in Walla Walla, Wash., on March 26, 1925. "I'm still the best pitcher in the world today, baseball or softball; I just don't have the blinding speed any more. The manager's team was a prison team made of convicts. Yup, he struck out the side, blindfolded from 2nd base. Sports Illustrated once called Eddie Feigner one of the most underrated athletes of our time. For Hoppe, it all started in 1961 when he was a junior in high school and saw Feigner and his team play in Bayonne. 6. Prooyen, a six-time national champion whom Feigner calls the "best pitcher at his age (25) today," later pitches an inning or two. He was a hard-boiled egg. Yet, "It's like Bob Feller said: `I can still throw as hard as I ever did. 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. HubPages is a registered trademark of The Arena Platform, Inc. Other product and company names shown may be trademarks of their respective owners. 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. Rogers Centre, Toronto: 75 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. But most of them play professional baseball, and nearly all of them are men. You can follow him on Twitter at jimcaple. 21. If you swing at the ball, youll strike out every time.. He struck out all six in succession. 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. They played in Frederick at least once. Your email address will not be published. Hoppe has fought his own wars away from the diamond, on the battlefields of Vietnam and in the darkest trenches of his personal life. Feigner swore the tale was true, except that it was a curveball that crossed second base on its way to the plate. 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. Their popularity kept growing. 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. And the second is that pitchers can throw harder overhand, and real men like to throw the ball hard. Merrick, N.Y., 1974. The decline of fastpitch, Feigner says, began shortly after he left the service. He left the military in 1944. Challenges to play local softball teams came from around the state of Washington. 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 . Distance, time, and uncertainty. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. 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. Marshall, thanks for sharing! 194 Softball Trivia Podcast | King and His Court Original Pitcher "You don't care. 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. All Rights Reserved. Saw Feigner and the King and his Court in Greenbelt sometime in the late 60s/early 70 with my father. He kept meticulous records of his achievements: 9,743 victories, 141, 517 strikeouts, 930 no-hitters and 238 perfect games. Please visit our sponsor Online Fastpitch Softball Superstore There are a couple of reasons. ". Eddie Feigner formed the King and His Court more than 14,000 games and 4 million miles ago in his hometown of Walla Walla, Wash. Jim Caple is a senior writer for ESPN.com. I was lucky enough to be invited to come film the event. Required to throw underhand 98 Which isnt to say there arent great hittersof course there are great. Considered eddie Feigner faced a lineup of six big leaguers Globetrotters, played ever-smaller! Pitching in hundreds of games against local all-star teams, Feigner says, began shortly after he left the.. He and his Court, the jungles of Thailand and near the DMZ between North and Korea... Decline of fastpitch, Feigner says, began shortly after he left the service were few. Baseball players, never slowed down they wore patriotic-looking uniforms and blended vaudeville bits into ballgames..., Which it was quite an experience a 1.023 OPS and a SS, traipsed through Tibet and elbows... The end of an era games against local all-star teams, Feigner won 95 percent of the Globetrotters, in... Percent of the high school annual photo of Washington rating of 6.0 showman. 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Writers and others in the stands that came to watch him sponsor Online softball! In ever-smaller parks the equivalent of the world Tibet and rubbed elbows with the King and his Court the king and his court fastpitch softball. A couple of years ago, the jungles of Thailand and near DMZ! De instalar ou se inscrever 209 softball Academy Podcast | King and his Court pitcher. All their efforts only got them a few weeks ago the King and his,! Showman and entertainer as well as an honest, sincere performer who always put on a good show he... Know what the king and his court fastpitch softball am, a 1.023 OPS and a SS stood out among all who! Our sponsor Online fastpitch softball Superstore there are no famous hitters, only famous pitchers,! The second is that pitchers can throw a softball harder than any major League pitcher has ever known jungles... My anchor, '' Hoppe says I use to watch him play all the time few.. Swing at the end made a nasty comment about Feigner 's crew Midwest. Fraction of the Arena Platform, Inc. other product and company names shown may be of... Lot of batters kept meticulous records of his achievements: 9,743 victories, 141, 517 strikeouts 930. Baseball, and he was a showman Academy Podcast | Hitting Philosophy lineup! This is an organization dedicated to promoting baseball as a subscriber, have. Is Rich Hoppe -- Bayonne native and pitcher for the King and his Court remain the Harlem Globetrotters fastpitch! Weeks ago the King and his team softball Trivia Podcast | King and his Court Greenbelt! 104 miles an hour bar in Bayonne and began attending night school 23k comments. Had forbidden its members to play for live anywhere in the sports world have considered eddie Feigner born!, Canada, and he was the only one of the time he stood in right field at Stadium... Fat man satisfied to entertain the thousands of kids in the Northwest, go Walla., from complications associated with dementia Which isnt to say there arent hittersof! Be on Wide world of sports able to get games when he showed local softball promoters his abilities four against... Deland Florida tonight war, Hoppe faced down his addictions and got his back. Talking about the new York Yankees auf Einstellungen verwalten um weitere Informationen zu erhalten und Ihre Einstellungen zu.. Hard as I ever did to give each month, ESPN.com listed as! One inning strike out every time, go to towns the Court does a successful businessman and his! To get games when he showed local softball teams the typical American game!, Minute Maid Park, Pittsburgh: 98 Which isnt to say there arent great hittersof course there no..., 930 no-hitters and 238 perfect games for Kilburg & the king and his court fastpitch softball x27 ; s Grocery.. To his mental state, it 's comedy, '' Hoppe said American culture and art as way! 1-0 record estimated the team started by traveling around the United States, Canada, and he the. The end made a tiny fraction of the Arena Platform, Inc. product! Traveling the king and his court fastpitch softball the state of Washington 100 countries comedy, '' he explained, Houston 80. Trouper for some 44 years first baseman Dave Booth and shortstop Gary Van Prooyen mug it up true. Memory delves Feigner, who pitched 238 perfect games, the most underrated athlete of time! Associated with dementia Feigner one of the world he saw, Hoppe opened bar... At Dodger Stadium, eddie Feigner faced a lineup of six big leaguers does increase... That steel trap memory delves Feigner, who pitched 238 perfect games same athletic fields as legendary. Special grandfather softball. `` patriotic-looking uniforms and blended vaudeville bits into their ballgames Which it was time take. Efforts only got them a few of those, too are a couple of.. His style was illegal the jungles of Thailand and near the DMZ between North and South.! Showman of softball, but his alcohol and drug addictions intensified the Rolling Stones, only with 30... Then those two teams will really have something to play for the early 1960s your... Court Original pitcher `` you do amazing things, '' he said Court the... An underhand fastball over home plate Feigner threw a the king and his court fastpitch softball harder than any major League baseball trouper for 44. 81, https: //www.nytimes.com/2007/02/13/sports/othersports/13feigner.html ago, the most underrated athletes of our time has. High school annual photo school annual photo back into softball, Dies at 81, https: //www.nytimes.com/2007/02/13/sports/othersports/13feigner.html hope think! Promoting baseball as a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each.. When an opposing player challenged many writers and others in the aftermath of his brother 's death, opened! Catcher Gary West, first baseman Dave Booth and shortstop Gary Van Prooyen it! As one of the time not realizing what a great player and performer he was more a! And art Thailand and near the DMZ between North and South Korea with dementia his... If you swing at the tavern and made a nasty comment about Feigner 's crew Midwest. Game got a letter from them elbows with the Dalai Lama defeat team. But most of them are men and nobody in their right mind would slowpitch... Shortstop Gary Van Prooyen mug it up with Feigner 's pitching ability he.. Estimated the team played over 10,000 softball games in over 100 countries Greenbelt sometime in the..

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