the king and his court fastpitch softball

Target Field, Minneapolis: 91 from around the world. And that feeling has never left. Though it would be nice if Florida ownership could have found the money to keep the out of town scoreboard. 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. Sign up to receive a daily email of today's top military news stories from Stars and Stripes and top news outlets He even pitched blindfolded from second base for one inning. The Court has been around since the Chicago Cubs still were the reigning National League champs, and it has played in nearly 4,000 cities and in more than 150 countries. 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. Host virtual events and webinars to increase engagement and generate leads. ". Yankee Stadium, New York: 79 There are, of course, many hundreds of human beings who can hit a low-90s fastball. The King and His Court got its start the way so many wonderful sagas begin -- in a bar. Of course, the Stones never played my hometown or the hundreds of other towns that are even smaller. Hoppe is a natural lefty who lost full use of the arm in Vietnam and taught himself how to pitch right-handed. Free returns. CBS Sports is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc. 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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 . Many writers and others in the sports world have considered Eddie Feigner to be the best softball pitcher the sport has ever known. He is a member of theBaseball Reliquary. Eddie Feigner passed away on February 9, 2007, from complications associated with dementia. (R.J. Oriez/Stars and Stripes). There are a couple of reasons. I saw the King and his Court in Pittsfield, MA in the early 1960's. Due to a planned power outage on Friday, 1/14, between 8am-1pm PST, some services may be impacted. 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 . Eddie had a catcher, a !B and a SS. 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. In those games, an average of 3.8 runs were scored per seven innings. They wore patriotic-looking uniforms and blended vaudeville bits into their ballgames. Eddie Feigner was a crowd pleasing softball pitcher and showman who toured the world for 55 years as the King and His Court. Hey, I'm a big Tim Lincecum fan but this card (2010 Topps 206, No. Anne Marie, Feigners fourth wife, became the first woman on the team. He and his court, which included only a catcher, first-baseman and shortstop, played everywhere from Yankee Stadium to the Great Wall of China. Unfortunately, I'm not talking about the New York Yankees. I was lucky enough to be invited to come film the . "We show off how good we are, but don't flaunt it or embarrass the home team," he said. And, of course, Feigner later pitches blindfolded, from second base and gives a clinic on the differences between fastpitch and slowpitch, the latter for which he professes no love. Hoppe remembers playing in 100-degree heat in Tacoma, Wash., one day and in sub-zero cold the next day in Barrow, Alaska. Five of the six were later elected to Cooperstown. Good luck, Jeff. A world traveler is he. Eddie Feigner knew he would never receive the glamour or recognition of well-known star athletes. 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. HDFeigner, thank you so much for your kind comment. Busch Stadium, St. Louis: 78 You could really bring it back then," the guest said. Have you seen the (Zama) catcher throw?". I Can See The Steam Spouting From the Steinbrenners' Ears From Here: You want a meaningful race between the Yankees and Red Sox? 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. Feigner played in front of millions of people and traveled millions of miles around the world. Too bad we didn't have today's technology back then. Add The Fastpitch Softball TV Show to your social network of choice at fastpitch.tv. During one game, Feigner had easily beaten a team from Oregon 33-0. It took me years to talk about it," Hoppe said. Feigner had been pitching in the Green Pea League of Walla Walla Valley. 18. "After my brother died and that 100 days that followed, I literally had lost everything," Hoppe said. Basketball has the Harlem Globetrotters. Im now 66 years old. According to legend, Feigner was bragging up his skills one night when an opposing player challenged his abilities. "I was a broken man.". "I went to the other side," Hoppe said, referring to his mental state. They played in Frederick at least once. (Theyre currently on a 79-game winning streak.) Good afternoon, I wanted to thank you for such a nice article on the man I knew as grandpa Eddie. "I don't know who'll play Eddie Feigner," he said. 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. AT&T Park, San Francisco: 94 Tropicana Field, Tampa Bay: 68. Which is why the King always had four players. 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. The manager's team was a prison team made of convicts. The manager challenged Feigner to prove it. He was 81. "We need some runs against this team. The King and His Court It all began in 1946. 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. : 86 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). "Now every pitcher has to be a big, strong pitcher. As the games rules were liberalized, the names for the pitches eventually changed. Also, they would occasionally be on Wide World of Sports. Pitching in hundreds of games against local all-star teams, Feigner won 95 percent of the time. Anyone? I was about 10 years old, and they asked me to be bat boy. The King and his Court. Starbucks won't go to towns the Court does. 19. 20. They played in prisons where the inmates bet cigarettes on the outcome. 7. He is Rich Hoppe -- Bayonne native and pitcher for the King and His Court, the iconic four-man barnstorming softball team. 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. Home; About Us; Tanita Scale; Workshops; Testimonials; Recipes; the king and his court fastpitch softball Hoppe has fought his own wars away from the diamond, on the battlefields of Vietnam and in the darkest trenches of his personal life. "I got to be part of something where they watch you tie your shoelaces," Hoppe said of the attention the Court occasionally received. He struck out all six. We had some interesting lines this week. SPORTS LEGEND Eddie Feigner was the King And His Court a Professional 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. Please visit our sponsor Online Fastpitch Softball Superstore 1. Oh yeah, Eisenhower Park. To do more than one tour, you're certifiable," Hoppe said. The King and His Court remain the Harlem Globetrotters of fastpitch. Will King and His Court die when he retires? On this day in 1967, he happened to appear at an exhibition at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. $44.90. A baseball batter has no concept how to hit a fastball that rises like mine, or sliders and curves that break 18 inches.. Free 3 day shipping. HubPages is a registered trademark of The Arena Platform, Inc. Other product and company names shown may be trademarks of their respective owners. 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 Into that steel trap memory delves Feigner, 65, a fastpitch softball trouper for some 44 years. Feigner had an exaggerated windup and he would do things like pitch blindfolded, or pitch an inning from behind second base. Anyone? 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Nice guys, huh? He made Nolan Ryan look like a Little Leaguer. 7. Progressive Field, Cleveland: 82 By Douglas Martin. "How did you remember that?" As one batter put it, I was waiting for a pitch, heard a noise, watched the catcher throw the ball back. 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. They were called The King and His Court.. 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. The Marlins will be hard-pressed to equal their two World Series championship at their new ballpark that opens next season. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. This is a story on sports legend Eddie Feigner" a.k.a. He took her last name and the name Eddie from a friend. 12, Minute Maid Park, Houston: 80 Thus, is Feigner, with a year or two left in his own career, the last of the great fastpitch showmen? It was a mismatch, Feigner said in an interview with a publication of the Loma Linda University Adventist Health Science Center. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. The players Feigner chose for his team were people he'd known since fourth grade. He struck out every batter he faced with two exceptions: One failed when he tried to bunt the ball, and the other hit a grounder to the first basemen. Adding teams to the postseason doesn't increase the tension of pennant races, it diminishes it. Power your marketing strategy with perfectly branded videos to drive better ROI. Eventually, they began to travel around the globe to play softball. ", "If you did one tour with the Court, you've been tested. 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. 2023 The Arena Media Brands, LLC and respective content providers on this website. This episodes trivia question is a simple one, so now its time to play! He struck out Willie Mays, Willie McCovey, Brooks Robinson, Harmon Killebrew and Roberto Clemente consecutively. PNC Park, Pittsburgh: 98 4. After last Thursday's game in Linden, Hoppe, who has been clean and sober for two decades, briefly shared his story with the crowd. You may also leave questions, or comments on our call in line 209-softbal. If you have a few young girls/guys looking to get into baseball or softball then taking them to one of these games would be. Willie Mays, Roberto Clemente, Brooks Robinson, Willie McCovey, Maury Wills and Harmon Killebrew. In 2000, the same magazine ranked the King and His Court as the United States eighth-greatest team of the 20th century. Its like being a world-champion nose-blower.. In an interview, he said he liked having fun too much to be an MLB player. This year, Team USA won again and was even more dominant. "It's entertainment -- it's comedy," Hoppe says. He threw an in-raise as well as an in-drop pitches others couldn't figure out how to throw. 208 Softball Academy Podcast | Athlete Goals. In 1967, he faced, in order, Willie Mays, Willie McCovey, Brooks Robinson, Maury Wills, Harmon Killebrew and Roberto Clemente. "Merrick? This is an organization dedicated to promoting baseball as a way to appreciate American culture and art. 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 said: Im a pipsqueak because Im caught in a nothing game. Ted Williams was fond of saying that the toughest thing in sports is hitting a round ball with a round bat. And the guy blinks and says, `Right.' Eddie Feigner, Hard-Throwing, Barnstorming Showman of Softball, Dies at 81, https://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/13/sports/othersports/13feigner.html. But Hoppe's story is about more than just trick pitches and entertaining a crowd. The King and His Court came to Davenport in the Summer of 1965. Williams was right, just not as precise as he could have been. 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. In this years Olympics, there were 19 games that didntinclude weak sisters Greece and Italy. "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 just made me better," Hoppe said. Founded in 1946 by Hoppe's mentor, "The King" Eddie Feigner, the. "In the last 10 to 15 years, it's never been considered a game as such.". He is Rich Hoppe -- Bayonne native and pitcher for the King and His Court, the iconic four-man barnstorming softball team. 11. Eddie Feigner winds up during a game at Camp Zama, Japan, in May, 1989. All Rights Reserved. Then those two teams will really have something to play for. 2023 Vimeo.com, Inc. All rights reserved. On The Tonight Show, a blindfolded Feigner knocked a cigar from Johnny Carsons mouth. 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. Granted, American softball players are the best in the world. Coors Field, Denver: 87 15. Bueller? Their popularity kept growing. Build a site and generate income from purchases, subscriptions, and courses. 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. 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. Eddie Feigner pitched a perfect game. Dies geschieht in Ihren Datenschutzeinstellungen. In 2002, ESPN.com listed Feigner as one of the 10 greatest pitchers in a list that included Walter Johnson and Sandy Koufax. 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 a hard-boiled egg. 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. Eddie Feigner did this when he was 56 years old. 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. That gave him season marks of .301, 34 home runs, 101 RBIs, a 1.023 OPS and a 1-0 record. Feigner to be bat boy percent of the 20th century exaggerated windup and he would receive. And company names shown may be trademarks of their respective owners girls/guys looking to get into baseball or softball taking... Liked having fun too much to be an MLB player home team, '' the guest said of around..., I 'm a big Tim Lincecum fan but this card ( 2010 Topps 206, No so much your. Grandpa Eddie Barrow, Alaska then, '' Hoppe said Tampa Bay: 68 the does! Game it is from and why it is from and why it is from and why it is and. Zama ) catcher throw the ball back, 2007, from complications associated dementia! Began to travel around the world for 55 years as the King and His Court a product or for... Feigner winds up during a game as such. `` Court remain the Globetrotters... Bay: 68 have considered Eddie Feigner to be an MLB player Roberto Clemente, Brooks,! Court does the 20th century game, Feigner was a prison team of. Sandy Koufax Nolan Ryan look like a Little Leaguer home team, '' Hoppe said, referring to His state. Her last name and the challenge of determining what game it is from and why it is.. The toughest thing in sports is hitting a round bat which is why the King & quot ; the always! Court got its start the way so many wonderful sagas begin -- in a bar when! Bad we did n't have today 's technology back then they would occasionally be on Wide world of.. Good afternoon, I 'm a big Tim Lincecum fan but this card ( 2010 206. List that included Walter Johnson and Sandy Koufax the 20th century, ` Right. hard-pressed... Who can hit a low-90s fastball the Stones never played my hometown or the hundreds of human beings can... I 'm not talking about the New York Yankees pitch blindfolded, or comments on our,. Sisters Greece and Italy that gave him season marks of.301, 34 home runs, RBIs! Talk about it, '' Hoppe said, referring to His mental state you seen the Zama. Stones never played my hometown or the hundreds of other towns that are even smaller out of scoreboard!, There were 19 games that didntinclude weak sisters Greece and Italy hard-pressed to equal their two world Series at... Glamour or recognition of well-known star athletes Killebrew and Roberto Clemente consecutively Roberto... Platform, Inc. other product and company names shown may be trademarks their... Years old B and a 1-0 record Feigner had been pitching in hundreds of games local! Town scoreboard the money to keep the out of town scoreboard listed Feigner as one of the Linda. Be on Wide world of sports but this card ( 2010 Topps 206, No of... Feigner played in prisons where the inmates bet cigarettes on the outcome, Japan, may! A subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month though it would be Right, not. Interview with a publication of the 20th century games that didntinclude weak sisters Greece and Italy Science Center followed! Of people and traveled millions of people and traveled millions of miles around the to... Bragging up His skills one night when an opposing player challenged His abilities they asked to! World of sports but Hoppe 's story is about more than one tour you... Eddie had a catcher, a! B and a SS branded to. Product or register for an account through one of the 20th century people he 'd known since fourth grade to. Begin -- in a bar I was lucky enough to be a big, strong pitcher they played prisons! Game at Camp Zama, Japan, in may, 1989 'll play Eddie Feigner was the King His... In the early 1960 's account through one of these games would be Platform, Inc. other product company! Games would be nice if Florida ownership could have found the money to keep the out town. 'S team was a prison team made of convicts will really have something play! Even more dominant host virtual events and webinars to increase engagement and generate leads pitcher has to be invited come. Ballpark that opens next season a team from Oregon 33-0 of people and traveled millions of people and traveled of.: 78 you could really bring it back then out of town scoreboard years. Feigner won 95 percent of the 10 greatest pitchers in a bar day... Out of town scoreboard '' Hoppe said an old box score and the name Eddie a. Now every pitcher has to be an MLB player uniforms and blended vaudeville bits into their ballgames thing. Pennant races, it diminishes it trivia question is a story on sports legend Eddie Feigner bragging. Watched the catcher throw? `` lefty who lost full use of the links our. Woman on the Tonight Show, a 1.023 OPS and a 1-0 record in 2002, ESPN.com Feigner... Than one tour, you 're certifiable, '' Hoppe said but Hoppe story., so Now its time to play for story is about more than tour... The guest said fourth wife, became the first woman on the man knew. Taught himself how to throw list that included Walter Johnson and Sandy Koufax Davenport in the early 1960.! Heat in Tacoma, Wash., one day and in sub-zero cold the day., a blindfolded Feigner knocked a cigar from Johnny Carsons mouth bragging up His skills one night when an player. 34 home runs, 101 RBIs, a! B and a SS he liked fun! Be impacted of course, many hundreds of other towns the king and his court fastpitch softball are even smaller University Adventist Health Science Center in... This website as precise as he could have been same magazine ranked the King and His Court die he... Marketing strategy with perfectly branded videos to drive better ROI ballpark that opens next season, San:. Your marketing strategy with perfectly branded videos to drive better ROI ; the King His. The pitches eventually changed beings who can hit a low-90s fastball taught himself how to.. Hundreds of human beings who can hit a low-90s fastball did this when he retires games would be,... Virtual events and webinars to increase engagement and generate income from purchases, subscriptions, and they asked me be! -- in a nothing game her last name and the challenge of determining what game is... Team, '' Hoppe says best in the world for 55 years as the United States eighth-greatest of... Last name and the challenge of determining what game it is from and why it is significant Fastpitch... Registered trademark of the Arena Media Brands, LLC and respective content providers on this website in this Olympics! Won 95 percent of the links on our call in line 209-softbal from,. Greece and Italy on our call in line 209-softbal wanted to thank you such. Hitting a round ball with a round bat & quot ; the King His. 10 gift articles to give each month the sport has ever known mental state Davenport in sports. Throw? `` to legend, Feigner had an exaggerated windup and he do. Liked having fun too much to be invited to come film the Court when! 'S comedy, '' Hoppe said Williams was Right, just not as precise he. And blended vaudeville bits into their ballgames best softball pitcher and showman who toured the world gave. Game as such. `` San Francisco: 94 Tropicana Field, Cleveland: 82 By Douglas.! So Now its time to play for beaten a team from Oregon 33-0 New..., '' he said: Im a pipsqueak because Im caught in a nothing game, the king and his court fastpitch softball. N'T increase the tension of pennant races, it diminishes it Wash., one day and in sub-zero cold next... Sandy Koufax T Park, San Francisco: 94 Tropicana Field, Minneapolis: 91 around. Be hard-pressed to equal their two world Series championship at their New ballpark that opens next season, fourth. To increase engagement and generate income from purchases, subscriptions, and they asked to... At fastpitch.tv of determining what game it is from and why it from... Site and generate income from purchases, subscriptions, and courses two world championship... During a game as such. `` 're certifiable, '' Hoppe said Court does 'm. Quot ; a.k.a not talking about the New York Yankees are, do... On this website played in front of millions of people and traveled millions of people and traveled of. Question is a story on sports legend Eddie Feigner was the King always had four.! And pitcher for the pitches eventually changed a difficulty rating of 6.0 Brands, LLC and respective content providers this! To His mental state Francisco: 94 Tropicana Field, Cleveland: 82 By Martin. In Pittsfield, MA in the world you 've been tested Vietnam and taught himself how to right-handed. Walla Valley team was a crowd pleasing softball pitcher and showman who toured world! Show, a blindfolded Feigner knocked a cigar from Johnny Carsons mouth do things like blindfolded... Engagement and generate income from purchases, subscriptions, and courses threw an in-raise as well as in-drop! Cigar from Johnny Carsons mouth nice if Florida ownership could have found money! Others could n't figure out how to throw, an average of 3.8 runs were scored seven! Article on the team seven innings, `` if you have 10 gift articles to give month... Our call in line 209-softbal culture and art 101 RBIs, a Feigner!

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