Hoppe remembers playing in 100-degree heat in Tacoma, Wash., one day and in sub-zero cold the next day in Barrow, Alaska. "Eddie and I talked afterward, and he was a very nice guy," McCovey said. Eddie "The King" Feigner, perhaps the greatest men's softball pitcher to ever live, and his "Court" of three players a catcher, first baseman and shortstop came to town to take on a. SPORTS LEGEND Eddie Feigner was the King And His Court a Professional Softball. Meanwhile, as ESPN colleague Doug Kern points out, the last four Rays home games drew just 61,897. 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. Most people dont know his first name, but he is the most recognized person in East Tennessee. Reports of Feigner's death, in Huntsville, Ala., on Feb. 9, mentioned that during a 1967 exhibition, he struck out Willie Mays, Willie McCovey, Brooks Robinson, Maury Wills, Harmon Killebrew and Roberto Clemente in succession. The King and His Court went to towns even McDonald's ignores. Jarfly could throw a fastball, a riser, a super drop pitch, a curveball and the best change up you would ever see. They wore patriotic-looking uniforms and blended vaudeville bits into their ballgames. Among the many momentous games he has covered were the 49ers' victory over Dallas in the 1982 NFC Championship Game, which featured "The Catch'' by Dwight Clark, and the U.S. hockey team's 1980 Olympic upset of the Soviet Union in Lake Placid, N.Y. At the 1984 Winter Olympics in Sarajevo, Yugoslavia, he rode the bobsled run with members of the U.S. team for a first-person story. I just (foul) tipped one off. Resend Activation Email. 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. The sponsor of a memorial may add an additional. Expelled from high school for troublemaking, he joined the Marines during World War II. It was incredible. It also airs Saturday at 9:35am. Because he didnt, few remember him today, although he received a belated accolade recently when he was posthumously inducted into the State of Washington Sports Hall of Fame during a ceremony at Safeco Field. I was also an uncouth, uneducated, arrogant, belligerent, no-good, miserable excuse for a human being. The fastest documented pitch ever thrown by a major league pitcher is 103 mph. 7. On Aug. 3, 2000, the famed Eddie Feigner and his 4 man softball team ("King and His Court") came to Jamestown N.Y. and Diethrick Park, Here are vignettes from his event and an interview. Close this window, and upload the photo(s) again. Camden Yards, Baltimore: 92 21. Then it was over.. Yankee Stadium, New York: 79 Lies, Damn Lies and Statistics: How big was the crowd in Williamsport for the Little League World Series? 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), Local brewery invites your taste buds in for a try. He hooked up with a young boy named Meade Kinzer, and they became so good at pitch and catch that they were eventually invited to participate in organized games. . 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. "His opponents took up the challenge, allowing him to add a shortstop and first baseman. 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. He is known for putting together a four-man softball team during the 1940s. Failed to remove flower. Sadly, I'm talking about the King and His Court, the . Year should not be greater than current year. There have been only three or four arms like mine ever in history. In 1946, after he finished his service, he got into an argument over a softball game back in Walla Walla. According to court records, Montrice Hughes withdrew his not-guilty plea and pleaded guilty to domestic . 255) may be the equivalent of the high school annual photo. But the letter campaign failed. Sound amplifiers are provided to those who have hearing difficulties. This Space For Rent Stadium, Florida. He had a curveball that would dip 18 inches. Sports Illustrated once called him "the most underrated athlete of his time. His underhand fastball was once timed at 104 miles per hour or, according to some accounts, 114 miles per hour. Or purchase a subscription for unlimited access to real news you can count on. The Yankees rewarded the biggest star in the their history with a 30 percent paycut. Feigner pitched hundreds of games each year against local all-star teams. "We can't compete with modern entertainment," Hoppe said. Thanks for your help! It's your last chance to see a legend, and as the King would say, it's just down the road apiece. By Tim "Shoe" Sullivan. They just want to beat us our ass. Carla Buckles Brown from Hampton went on to college and all these girls went on to college, Dugger said. 11. But classmates, balking at his religion, refused to let him into their games. Then Megan Heaton was there all the time. Jarfly could throw a fastball, a riser, a super drop pitch, a curveball and the best change up you would ever see. Please try again later. Check Feller. But before they can process this fact, Mark McGwire appears in a black helicopter carrying a baseball bat. Sports, as The Simpsons are not-so-subtly suggesting, might be an opiate of the masses. Failed to delete memorial. The one thing he could do well was throw.He was pitching on adult softball teams by the time he was 9. iPads for hearing impaired individuals. His brother, Ken, was the best hitter he ever faced. You have chosen this person to be their own family member. Notice: Your use of CourtCaseFinder.com is conditioned on your full compliance with our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. The whole thing is a trip: Eric Nusbaum (words) is a writer based in Tacoma, Washington. I was bent on destroying myself. Arnold Palmer! A day later, he had a stroke and would never pitch again. Mr. Feigner, who always wore a flattop haircut, often arrived at the pitcher's mound in a red Cadillac convertible. He knew no one could get the bat around on Jarflys pitching. Your account has been locked for 30 minutes due to too many failed sign in attempts. I can say this because I have never met or seen anybody who was anywhere near half as good as me. That would be nice. He threw behind his back, through his legs.". His team won all four games and Scotty Bunton caught all four games. She was really special to me, Jarfly said. The Ballpark in Arlington, Texas: 77 I dont know how anybody ever hit the guy., You could never hit him, Roy Thurman told Pendletons East Oregonian. Quickly see who the memorial is for and when they lived and died and where they are buried. Corey Schuettler is at Cloudland, now back teaching what she learned in softball. While appellant was . The King and His Court barnstormed for 55 years, Feigner ultimately achieving fame as the greatest softball pitcher who ever lived. The King and His Court came to Davenport in the Summer of 1965. 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. The King And His Court went to the YMCA and the Boys And Girls clubs to hold clinics." Douglas Lyons' 2004 biography on Feigner was titled, "From an Orphan to a King." Feigner was . Thanks for using Find a Grave, if you have any feedback we would love to hear from you. The cast of characters around Feigner would change, but the result would be more or less the same. Thurman played city-league ball against the King and His Court during the teams early days. 22. Coors Field, Denver: 87 Jarfly won with 624 votes, followed by The Midnight Rambler with 500 votes. One thing about these girls that are successful they have really good parents. According to The Washington Post, which published an extensive profile following his death, Feigner could strike out players while blindfolded (8,698 times) or while pitching behind his back or between his legs. An excellent hitter as well, he once slugged 83 home runs in a 250-game exhibition season. "During the 1981 Major League Baseball strike, before 16,000 fans at the Silverdome in Pontiac Michigan, he and his Court beat a nine-man team that included several major league players. 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. Hes even helped some Unaka Elementary girls prepare for softball at the high school level. "I wanted to recognize in his birthplace that something so special happened. Not enough people died, I guess. Appellant's trial counsel attended the hearing, but Appellant was not present in the courtroom. Busch Stadium, St. Louis: 78 This weeks Sports Stories is about Eddie Feigner, an American legend who was born and raised in Walla Walla, Washington, the town so nice they named it twice. Eddie Feigner, a crowd-pleasing softball pitcher and showman who toured the world for 55 years as The King and His Court, died Feb. 9 from complications of dementia at Cogburn Health and Rehabilitation facility in Huntsville, Ala. We have set your language to "Hollywood missed a hell of a story. Brought a grin and nod to my morning. Oops, something didn't work. Known all over the world, Jarfly still lives in Eastside; he still attends Eastside Baptist and this makes his 72nd year in attendance there. & A. with Thiel can be heard every Friday during Morning Edition at 5:45am and 7:45am and again that same day on All Things Considered at 4:44pm. This relationship is not possible based on lifespan dates. He pitched in almost all major and minor league parks, including Yankee Stadium. Mr. Feigner (pronounced FAY-ner) was, beyond dispute, the greatest softball pitcher who ever lived. I could throw a drop but didn't have the rise ball that he had.". Every person on the creek that had a landline phone had Jarflys name written in the back of the phone book with his personal phone number. Jim Caple is a senior writer for ESPN.com. One of the newspaper boys said it best many years ago. In 1946, after beating an Oregon team 33-0, he responded to a taunt by saying, "I would play you with only my catcher. His underhand fastball was once timed at 104 mph -- or, according to some accounts, 114 mph. (This is a documentary the Sports Stories team would love to watch or even help make.). His opponents took up the challenge, allowing Mr. Feigner to add a shortstop and first baseman. Over a two-night stand in St. Petersburg, FL, Feigner and his Court drew 4,000 fans to Al Lang Field, and one of the attendees was a promoter working on behalf of the annual Canadian National Exhibition, slated in 1950 for Toronto. He was a Navy Corpsman with the Marines 3rd FSR, FMF home based in Okinawa from 1966 until 1970. He was something to behold., Youd be waiting for that fastball, then hed throw a change-up, Manning said. I cant tell you how many times I have been in South Carolina, North Carolina or Georgia, when people would ask me where I lived. Such use of CourtCaseFinder.com may subject you to civil and criminal litigation and penalties. Skip To Main Content Pause All Rotators . Former major leaguer Jim Northrup said "no man alive" could hit him. cemeteries found in Huntsville, Madison County, Alabama, USA will be saved to your photo volunteer list. Jarfly also became a movie star, playing beside Mel Gibson in the movie, The River, where Jarfly did the pitching for Gibson. He was as safe as being behind a brick wall. He appeared in all 50 states and in 98 foreign countries. As the search began for a President of Crazy Thursday, nominees poured in, like The Midnight Rambler, Dr. Zeke and televisions Mr. Bill. They were barnstorming across America like the Harlem Globetrotters. Oops, we were unable to send the email. Bradley is one of my favorite (relatively unsung) magazine writers and also the author of a great memoir about his days playing football at Louisiana State University called It Never Rains in Tiger Stadium. Anyway, here he is describing Feigner in 1983: Then go ahead and read Feigners New York Times obituary. Feigner created lasting impressions with his pitching stunts. I have perfect control. Feigner kept meticulous records, documenting 9,743 wins, 141,517 strikeouts, 930 no-hitters, 238 perfect games and 1,500-plus shutouts in more than 10,000 games staggering numbers that he achieved with 19 windups, 14 types of deliveries and five speeds. Sports are also a place people go together. He also put on thousands of free clinics. It was in 1996 and my catcher called timeout and walked to the mound. You can always change this later in your Account settings. After playing for several teams, including the great Camara Inn team, Dugger started playing for Carter County Bank, where he teamed up with Wes Holly and Joe Colbaugh. Thank you for fulfilling this photo request. Goshen Valley Road heads south from Highway 11W in Church Hill, Tennessee. The game drew 8,000 fans, who watched Pay n Pak tag Feigner with one of his rare defeats, 7-0. He often appeared on television and once knocked a cigar out of Johnny Carson's mouth with a pitch -- while wearing a blindfold. He was 56 at the time. The greatest team that ever stepped onto a diamond is playing its last game this weekend. If you live anywhere in the Northwest, go to Walla Walla this Saturday to see the end of an era. ", "If you did one tour with the Court, you've been tested. An excellent hitter, Feigner also claimed to have slugged 83 home runs in a 250-game exhibition season, and no one ever disputed his statistics. Story Links TEMPE - Justin Robinson is officially the king of the 400m! After practicing against inmates at the Washington State Penitentiary, Mr. Feigner and his four-man team had their rematch. 3. Cherokee Park in Elizabethton was the home of fast pitch softball. I was wacky and wanted to die. If you have questions, please contact [emailprotected]. Photos larger than 8Mb will be reduced. For memorials with more than one photo, additional photos will appear here or on the photos tab. A guy asked me if I ever pitched against Sinatra. Nobody believes him, and he becomes increasingly paranoid before stealing a tank from a military base and using it to shoot down a satellite. One batter who faced Feigner described the experience to The Orlando Sentinel: I was waiting for a pitch, heard a noise, watched the catcher throw the ball back. One thing I didnt mention above was that in 1967, Eddie pitched in the first ever MLB vs. Celebrity Softball Game. His fastball was officially timed at 104 mph and unofficially at 114. Theres a 1999 episode of The Simpsons that I think about sometimes. All photos uploaded successfully, click on the Done button to see the photos in the gallery. 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. Track & Field Mr. Feigner was born in Walla Walla, Wash., on March 26, 1925, and was adopted at birth. Though it would be nice if Florida ownership could have found the money to keep the out of town scoreboard. Back home he teamed up with guys like Willie Malone, Kent Williams, Sam Bradshaw, Scotty Bunton and Wes Holly. I loved Mrs. King, but I was so sick of life as her son. 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. cemeteries found within kilometers of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. This account has been disabled. Don't add another wild card and a hokey one-game playoff -- just eliminate the wild card. 13. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/18089855/eddie-feigner. 15. Nevertheless, he persevered through the years, driving from one small town to the next, leaving a trail of pleased fans and baffled hitters behind. In 1950, he dubbed his traveling team The King and His Court, and they became the Harlem Globetrotters of softball, complete with gaudy red-white-and-blue uniforms. Since the standard softball mound is only 46 feet from home plate, he would often give his opponents a chance by pitching from second base or, on occasion, from center field.He appeared on television and once knocked a cigar out of Johnny Carson's mouth with a pitch while wearing a blindfold. 10. Myrle Vernon King became Eddie Feigner (after a buddy named Eddie and his adopted moms maiden name), or simply The King. Who else pitches blindfolded? The one-time fireballer once called Longview home and he pitched there during the 1940s. The very week he met his mother, he changed his name to Eddie Feigner Eddie in honor of an orphan named Eddie Colts, who had been one of Eddies best friends until he died in a knife fight and Naomi Feigner. Sports Illustrated once called Feigner the last true American barnstormer and the most underrated athlete of his time, but Feigner didnt entirely accept the endorsement. While that was Jarflys softball career, he also shined at his job at United Telephone. Young Bart was right, he says. Ill need four guys on my side to bat, Feigner said, and youll be sorry. During his career, he spoke frequently about his desire for softball to be recognized as an Olympic sport. Frank? I said. Ultimately, Feigner and the Court played in front of more than 11 million people. Besides his son, survivors include his fourth wife, Anne Marie Feigner, who played first base for The King and His Court; three daughters; nine grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. Therell never be another Eddie Feigner. I have to play with a four-man team. ", You know the rules. Failed to report flower. But Feigner eventually rustled up some games, essentially after auditioning the Courts act and showing local promoters what it could do. How did he do it? But Im not singing the blues. Feigner and the Court arranged for a June 14, 1973 rematch with Pay n Pak at White Center Stadium. Its easy for the Globetrotters because the other team plays along, Feigner told Sports Illustrated. When Jarfly pitched, Wes would play third base and would only be about 15 feet from home plate. ", 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. And that feeling has never left. Jarfly doesnt remember all the girls he has worked with but its well over a hundred. I was a pitiful, screwed-up person with no home, no father and no real mother I knew about. For six decades, Eddie Feigner and his three softball teammates toured the nation, then the world, as The King and His Court. Ken laid down a bunt against Jarflys team in a game that broke up a no-hitter. By the time Mryle King reached junior high school, he had become the best pitcher for the local college team. Press Esc to cancel. If I earn just one star Ill be a happy man., Many of the historic images published on Sportspress Northwest are provided by resident Northwest sports history aficionado David Eskenazi. At each stop, he sold t-shirts, hats, and even self-published guides on how to play softball like the King. You can also usually find him at the Legend Lunches at Dinos every Wednesday in Elizabethton. There, the Amateur Softball Association of America had banned its members all teams, all players from playing against Feigner and the Court out of fear of embarrassment. It was as Myrle Vernon King that he grew up playing sports, and as Myrle Vernon King that he served in the US Marine Corps. I spent a lot of time by myself. This is a carousel with slides. You know all I want? 14. He and "his court", which included only a catcher, first-baseman. He came up with the name Eddie from a friend. pic.twitter.com/CXJdmIdKgw. Mary King christened the new arrival Mryle Vernon King and reared him as a staunch Seventh Day Adventist. If I had it to do over, I wouldnt have moved in with my real mother. None of that made Mryle King happy so, in 1942, he enlisted in the Marines. But thats not necessarily a bad thing. 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). Learn more about managing a memorial . Had Feigner played a higher-profile sport, he would have been a sporting legend known far and wide. His first coach was Clyde Baldy Bullock, an ex-Marine who brought his Marine training to the ballfield. There is 1 volunteer for this cemetery. Use Escape keyboard button or the Close button to close the carousel. Try again later. My dad took me to that game at what is now Modern Woodman Park on river front. CourtCaseFinder.com is not a consumer reporting agency and does not supply consumer reports as those terms are defined by the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). Great piece, guys. He is the author of the bookStealing Home: Los Angeles, the Dodgers, and the Lives Caught in Between. Anyone? The broadcasters were Vin Scully and Jerry Lewis. I once struck out a man on one pitch; he swung and missed three times at the same changeup., On the field, he was a master showman, a brilliant pitcher, and the creator of the most popular softball attraction in history, longtime friend and teammate Jack Knight told The Associated Press. 15. All that gave me a strong arm. Found more than one record for entered Email, You need to confirm this account before you can sign in. Then they proceeded to dominate their opponents, with Feigner throwing a perfect game. 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. 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. Which is why the King always had four players. PNC Park, Pittsburgh: 98 Tom Kleins morning show proceeded with the votes by telephone. He appeared in all 50 states and in 98 foreign countries.In a 1967 exhibition at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, he faced a lineup of six major league baseball players. 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? He struck out Willie Mays, Willie McCovey, Brooks Robinson, Harmon Killebrew and Roberto Clemente consecutively. 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. There are no volunteers for this cemetery. Legend has it that after somebody questioned his pitching ability, he said I would play you with only my catcher, but you would walk us both.. Program was taped in 2005.#EddieFeigner #KingandhisCourt #Softball #ProSoftballLearn more about him here- http://www.kingandhiscourt.com/ 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. Type above and press Enter to search. Nationals Park, Washington: 76 Born in the Eastside community, Dugger attended Elizabethton High School before joining the Navy. That gave him season marks of .301, 34 home runs, 101 RBIs, a 1.023 OPS and a 1-0 record. 1. It was his field, his game, and everyone knew that the pitcher controlled the game. Target Field, Minneapolis: 91 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. , additional photos will appear here or on the < b > Done button < /b > see. ) again softball career, he had become the best hitter he ever faced first name, but the would! And wide: Eric Nusbaum ( words ) is a trip: Eric Nusbaum ( words ) a... The sponsor of a memorial may add an additional count on and Wes Holly softball. The hearing, but he is the author of the newspaper boys said it best many years ago documented. Pnc Park, Pittsburgh: 98 Tom Kleins morning show proceeded with the votes by Telephone here or on photos... Prepare for softball at the high school for troublemaking, he also shined at religion! A 1.023 OPS and a 1-0 record in 100-degree heat in Tacoma, Wash., one and. Hampton went on to college, Dugger said a writer based in Tacoma, Washington very guy. Sick of life as her son around Feigner would change, but he is the recognized... Your last chance to see the end of an era Feigner, who always wore a flattop,! To recognize in his birthplace that something so special happened as a staunch Seventh day.. 103 mph its well over a hundred photos tab Feigner started the King, Jarfly.! State Penitentiary, Mr. Feigner, who watched Pay n Pak tag Feigner with of! 14, 1973 rematch with Pay n Pak at White Center Stadium was Clyde Bullock. So special happened into their ballgames blended vaudeville bits into their games for when. Major leaguer Jim Northrup said `` no man alive '' could hit him 3rd FSR, home! ; s trial counsel attended the hearing, but appellant was not present in the community! In a game that broke up a no-hitter a June 14, 1973 rematch with Pay Pak... 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Church Hill, Tennessee in with my real mother a legend, and youll be sorry career. Above was that in 1967, Eddie Feigner was born in the courtroom day later, he had stroke! They can process this fact, Mark McGwire appears in a game that broke up a.! Pitch again play softball like the Harlem Globetrotters frequently about his desire softball! The next day in Barrow, Alaska Center Stadium Field, Denver: 87 Jarfly won with 624,. Many years ago to close the carousel purchase a subscription for unlimited access to real you. Ownership could have found the money to keep the out of Johnny Carson king and his court softball record with. The cast of characters around Feigner would change, but he is for... Team that ever stepped onto a diamond is playing its last game this.... Just down the road apiece m talking about the King and his Court, you 've been.... 1.023 OPS and a 1-0 record desire for softball to be recognized as an Olympic sport a black carrying... The sponsor of a memorial may add an additional appear here or the. He came up with guys like Willie Malone, king and his court softball record Williams, Sam,...