Not long after Eddie Feigner experienced an emotional reunion with a mother who abandoned him at birth, he began pitching recreational softball in Walla Walla, WA. After practicing against inmates at the Washington State Penitentiary, Mr. Feigner and his four-man team had their rematch. In 2000, Mr. Feigner threw out the first pitch before the women's softball competition at the Olympic Games in Sydney. Softball king's passing stirs memories of '67 strike-out show, Eddie Feigner of The King and His Court hurles a pitch in the first inning of Tuesday's, Sept. 24, 1996, fund-raiser against the Lower Columbia College women's fastpitch softball team at LCC's David Story Field in Longview, Wash. And there were not enough bare-chested women, though there were a few of those, too. He WAS a true phenomenonhed tell you himself. He supported himself as a dock worker, crane operator, ditch digger, streetcar conductor, vegetable and prune picker, gas station attendant, stand-up comedian, and paid tenor at funerals. When a local team did win, it was big news. It is believed that Mike Disher, Randy Wievel . He pitched in almost all major and minor league parks, including Yankee Stadium. Thats when it really hit me, a career of 35 years was coming to an end. Adding teams to the postseason doesn't increase the tension of pennant races, it diminishes it. He has a degree in political science from the University of Massachusetts. GREAT NEWS! Feigner retired to Trenton, TN., for several years and then relocated to Huntsville, AL, where he died Feb. 9, 2007, from a respiratory ailment related to dementia. He couldn't remember if Feigner used another standard part of his routine, pitching while blindfolded, as he did when he knocked a cigar from Johnny Carson's mouth on TV. An excellent hitter as well, he once slugged 83 home runs in a 250-game exhibition season. Jarfly went on to play in Shelby, North Carolina, where he won 76 games in five years, pitching against the best teams in five states. People have swung three times trying to hit that slow change up pitch. 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WASHINGTON -- Eddie Feigner, a crowd-pleasing softball pitcher and showman who toured the world for 55 years as The King and His Court, died Friday from complications of dementia at Cogburn. Are you sure that you want to delete this photo? He spent his life bringing people together and creating transcendent, memorable moments for them. Since that first induction he has been the emcee for most of the Hall of Fame inductions. My favorite was Land Shark Stadium, which it was called for one year after a deal with Jimmy Buffet. cemeteries found in Huntsville, Madison County, Alabama, USA will be saved to your photo volunteer list. Are you sure that you want to delete this memorial? So do yourself a favor this weekend. Dressed in trademark red, white and blue uniforms, and taking the field as a 4-man team: Pitcher, catcher, first baseman and shortstop, "The King & His Court" was America's favorite family softball entertainment . This is our monthly cross-post from the Sports Stories newsletter. He proceeds to strike out Willie Mays, Harmon Killebrew, Willie McCovey, Roberto Clemente, Maury Wills, and Brooks Robinson. For decades, he has helped many a girl learn the art of fast pitch softball, whether they attend Unaka, Happy Valley, Elizabethton, Hampton or wherever. I spent a lot of time by myself. We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here. TOLEDO, Ohio (WTVG) -A man accused of domestic abuse withdrew his not-guilty plea Monday. A system error has occurred. Target Field, Minneapolis: 91 Thanks for your help! But Feigner, intrigued by the concept hed proposed, selected three players a catcher, first baseman and shortstop that hed known since fourth grade and scheduled a game against a nine-man contingent of convicts on a field inside the Walla Walla state pen. ?? Myrle Vernon King became Eddie Feigner (after a buddy named Eddie and his adopted moms maiden name), or simply The King. He also pitched a one-hitter against Dyersburg in the Tennessee State Tournament. He could comfortably fire unhittable strikes around his back or through his legs. For six decades, Eddie Feigner and his three softball teammates toured the nation, then the world, as The King and His Court. He played before more than 20 million fans in 4,405 cities across 105 countries. He also covers motor sports in the Bay Area and wrote about the America's Cup regatta in San Francisco in 2013, during which Oracle Team USA made one of the greatest comebacks in sports history to beat Emirates Team New Zealand. Bueller? Learn more about merges. By Tim "Shoe" Sullivan. Eddie was the \"King\" of softball back in the day and his court was made up of just three other players on the field.I saw this team playing when I was 16 and they are old school fast pitch softball. In 1946, after beating an Oregon team 33-0, he responded to a taunt by saying, "I would play you with only my catcher. He sat on the bench for two years before he learned to throw a strike. Nobody believes him, and he becomes increasingly paranoid before stealing a tank from a military base and using it to shoot down a satellite. 17. Feigner comes in out of the bullpen at select moments as a ringer for the celebrity team. 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. For 15 years he wrote a popular sports humor column called "Top of the Sixth" (later re-titled "Open Season"). February 4, 2018. Think of the King and his Court as sort of like the Harlem Globetrotters but for softball. If you believe in the Bible, you earn a crown of stars when you get to heaven. Not long after the reunion, Eddie Feigner started The King and His Court. At first, the team played two-inning exhibitions prior to regular baseball and softball games, but the warm-up act proved so popular that more fans began attending than games that counted. A psychiatrist told me Id never straighten up until I found my mother. Don't add another wild card and a hokey one-game playoff -- just eliminate the wild card. I was wacky and wanted to die. Goshen Valley Road heads south from Highway 11W in Church Hill, Tennessee. 18. At his peak in the 1960s, he made $100,000 a month. He was as safe as being behind a brick wall. Im the fastest. You understand and agree that full search reports will only be available after you register for an account or purchase a report. Which is why the King always had four players. Frank? I said. An excellent hitter as well, he once slugged 83 home runs in a 250-game exhibition season. The trial court granted the unopposed motion in limine. 6. I think I broke her heart.. Check out DavidsWayback Machine Archive. David can be reached at (206) 441-1900, or at seattlesportshistory@gmail.com. "Eddie and I talked afterward, and he was a very nice guy," McCovey said. As he became famous for doing, Feigner threw a perfect game and struck out every batter except two one who got his bat on the ball with a sneak bunt, the other who slapped a grounder to first. If your phone was torn up, you called Jarfly. After Feigners four-man team routed the convicts 7-0, regional newspapers picked up the story and spread it throughout the Pacific Northwest. God willing, if I die, I bet I dont get a 10-second blurb on the national media. At his peak in the 1960s, he made $100,000 a month.In 2000, Mr. Feigner threw out the first pitch before the women's softball competition at the Olympic Games in Sydney. Please ensure you have given Find a Grave permission to access your location in your browser settings. We made this place together, we own it together, we run it together. 22. The game drew 8,000 fans, who watched Pay n Pak tag Feigner with one of his rare defeats, 7-0. The greatest team that ever stepped onto a diamond is playing its last game this weekend. Progressive Field, Cleveland: 82 He passed away in 2007 at the age of 81. Season Record. 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"). Because why wouldnt they? Sports, as The Simpsons are not-so-subtly suggesting, might be an opiate of the masses. February 18, 2023 In front of 2,000, Feigner and the Court won 5-3 with Feigner fanning 12, including four while pitching between his legs and two more blindfolded from second base. Feigner and the Court arranged for a June 14, 1973 rematch with Pay n Pak at White Center Stadium. He was my toughest coach, Dugger said, adding he inspired Dugger to pursue pitching. By 1964, they started receiving TV gigs, including an appearance on CBSSports Spectacular, and by the mid-1970s they all made comfortable livings even though they only worked half the year. I was not a real hard thrower like him. His records go something like this In softball: batting average, .854. Parking garage is located across the street. This Space For Rent, Florida 73 Born in the Eastside community, Dugger attended Elizabethton High School before joining the Navy. Corey Schuettler is at Cloudland, now back teaching what she learned in softball. It's absolutely like your life is flashing in front of you," Hoppe said. ", "I'm a pipsqueak because I'm caught in a nothing game," Mr. Feigner said in 1972. 21. He kept meticulous records of his achievements: 9,743 victories, 141, 517 strikeouts, 930 no-hitters and 238 perfect games. In 1946, after beating an Oregon team 33-0, he responded to a taunt by saying, "I would play you with only my catcher.". 10. He previously worked for publications in Washington, New York, North Carolina and Florida. I could throw a drop but didn't have the rise ball that he had.". Richard Jarfly Dugger was inducted into the USA Softball Tennessee Hall of Fame in 2006 and is a member of the Carter County Sports Hall of Fames inaugural class of 2012. That gave him season marks of .301, 34 home runs, 101 RBIs, a 1.023 OPS and a 1-0 record. Meters are available, but there is no validation for these locations: Directions: The Court is located in downtown Tempe, two blocks east of Mill Avenue on Fifth Street between Tempe Mission Palms Hotel and the Tempe Transportation Center. Close this window, and upload the photo(s) again. Slowly but surely, the tour gained traction. Cross-Post from the University of Massachusetts been the emcee for most of the.! Our monthly cross-post from the Sports Stories newsletter of 35 years was coming to an end age of 81 his. 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