Saturday, February 10, 2007

The King is dead.


Eddie Feigner, of "The King and His Court", the best softball pitcher ever, died Friday, February 9, at age 81. I never got to see him play, but remember my dad telling me about him when i was just a wee lad.


(excerpts from espn)

With a fastball once clocked at 104 mph, Feigner, a former Marine, threw 930 no-hitters and 238 perfect games and struck out 141,517 batters while playing more than 10,000 games. Feigner not only pitched from the standard mound, 46 feet from home plate, but also from second base, behind his back, on his knees, between his legs, from center field and blindfolded. In a nationally televised exhibition against major-leaguers at Dodger Stadium in 1964, he struck out Willie Mays, Willie McCovey, Maury Wills, Harmon Killebrew, Roberto Clemente and Brooks Robinson in order. (un-freakin-believable!) Feigner began "The King and His Court" in 1946 on a dare in his hometown of Walla Walla, Wash. He had just thrown a shutout in his nine-man team's rout of a team from Pendleton, Ore., and the Oregon team challenged him to another game. Backed by just a catcher, first baseman and shortstop, Feigner pitched a perfect game, winning 7-0.


Anybody see him play? Please comment.


No comments: