Eddie Feigner -- the King and His Court

[Peter_Spaeth]

Perhaps more an entertainer than a true athlete, although he reputedly struck out numerous baseball HOFers who legitimately were trying to connect, and some of the numbers underlying his legend are truly staggering.

Anyhow, an excuse to post this glove tag I bought recently.

[doug.goodman]

I saw them play when I was a kid.

This picture is not from that time, it's from an RMY auction earlier this year.

Doug

[Peter_Spaeth]

The King and His Court would play over ten thousand softball games in a hundred countries from the late 1940s to the beginning of the 21st century and achieved a reputation and fame similar to that of the Harlem Globetrotters. Feigner's meticulous records claim 9,743 victories, 141,517 strikeouts, 930 no-hitters and 238 perfect games.

[Jay Wolt]

I remember Eddie from the Wide World Of Sports on Saturday's in the '70's
It looked like he was impossible to hit
9743 victories is amazing....How often did he lose?

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by Jay Wolt

I remember Eddie from the Wide World Of Sports on Saturday's in the '70's
It looked like he was impossible to hit
9743 victories is amazing....How often did he lose?

According to folklore, he could pitch from second base or even the outfield and still strike most batters out.

[Casey2296]

Nice post Peter, unfortunate we can't have this kind of innocent fun anymore. I call it Joe Six Pack fun, reminds me of my Gpa who built and raced dragsters in the late 60's early 70's at OCR.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by Casey2296

Nice post Peter, unfortunate we can't have this kind of innocent fun anymore. I call it Joe Six Pack fun, reminds me of my Gpa who built and raced dragsters in the late 60's early 70's at OCR.

Yeah, I should submit Eddie to one of the TPGs and then complain about the result, that would be more in keeping with the times. Imagine some kid used to Prizms freaking out at the hole punch!!

[Peter_Spaeth]

Carl Hubbell, who was he?

On February 18, 1967, Feigner appeared in a celebrity charity softball game against many Major League Baseball players. In the game, Feigner struck out Willie Mays, Willie McCovey, Brooks Robinson, Roberto Clemente, Maury Wills, and Harmon Killebrew all in a row.[

[boneheadandrube]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

Carl Hubbell, who was he?

On February 18, 1967, Feigner appeared in a celebrity charity softball game against many Major League Baseball players. In the game, Feigner struck out Willie Mays, Willie McCovey, Brooks Robinson, Roberto Clemente, Maury Wills, and Harmon Killebrew all in a row.[

Here is the game I think:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L41A9zsLblA

[doug.goodman]

I bought this ball from board member Dave Linardy

[ClementeFanOh]

I saw him locally in the 1970s, he was incredible. The Globetrotter
comparison is apt- Trent King

[kkkkandp]

My father got to bat against him in the early 1960s in a Fourth of July celebration in my then home town of Palisades Park, NJ. He won a prize (an aluminum and webbed plastic strapped lawn chair) for fouling off one of Eddie's pitches! ��

[steve_a]

My grandfather played in Lynn MA and had the opportunity to play vs King & his Court. He was a catcher and on the day showed up very early to watch practice. He stood behind the backstop and watched Eddie to figure out his pitches. His best pitch started right at the batter and broke late over the plate. Come game time my grandfather decided to wait for that pitch, not bail out, and swing at it hard. Eddies first pitch started right at him but never broke, hit him right in the ribs. Apparently advanced scouting was frowned upon but my grandfather got one of his favorite stories out of it.

[cubman1941]

I also remember seeing him when I was much younger! I was amazed when I saw him pitch from second base.

[OldSchoolBaseball]

Your special when a game come out in your name

[Snapolit1]

A name I haven’t heard in 4 or 5 decades. Used to play occasional games in a park on Long Island near where I grew up. I always assumed he was just a local dude and not a national touring act.

[philliesfan]

I remember him a lot. he was amazing. Now I need to find and post a picture of one of the programs I have. It may be signed by all four also.
Bob

[TMKenKen]

Saw him pitch from second base occasionally behind his back from there. I may be misremembering, but I don't recall seeing him ever throw anything but a strike like that. Amazing talent.

[stkuhl]

I remember going with my Dad to Chattanooga to see the King and His Court in 1970 or 1971. It rained and the game was cut short. I still have the program and two ticket stubs paper clipped to the program. The clip is rusted from the rain. Makes it even more memorable.

[Joe Hunter]

I had a friend who was drafted (into the Army) in the late 1960's. He spent some time in Vietnam before returning to the states where he was assigned to an Army base(don't remember where) for the remainder of his service. He was a very good baseball and softball player and played on the base all-star softball team as a catcher. The team ended up playing an exhibition game against Feigner and the Court. In my friends first two times at bat, he had a single and a double. After the game, Feigner approached my friend and offered him a position on his team when he left the Army. He ended up catching Feigner for two years, but eventually quit, saying the travel was just brutal.

[Eric72]

From “The Giant Book of Strange but True Sports Stories.”

[toppcat]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

According to folklore, he could pitch from second base or even the outfield and still strike most batters out.

Not folklore, I saw him do all that and more!

[mikemb]

Wow, a name from the past. I saw him in either 1965 or 1966 in North Plainfield, NJ.

Mike

[Klrdds]

I saw them play a professional team in the early 1970s called the Clearwater Bombers . My one memory was Eddie pitching from 2nd base blindfolded and striking a batter out on 3 pitches. Unlike the Globetrotters The King and His Court was all serious with fun and showmanship mixed in but there was no officiating complicity. They were out to win. Also the 3 other guys on the team were a finely tuned group who could field , throw , run and hit impressively as well.

[Peter_Spaeth]

The back of my glove tag.

[nebboy]

Very short version but I played softball for a all star traveling US Army team out of Fort Riley KS in 1982-3 and played against his team. He was not in his prime but still very good. It was understood it was an exhibition game and my team were just part of the show and not to play competitively. He was nice to the crowd but had little to do with us. Still I learned a lot and is nothing but a great memory. Glad to see his name being bantered around.

[GoldenAge50s]

I went to one of their games in the early '80's--Got this souvenir book auto'd by the Court w/ an extra of Eddie.

[Buythatcard]

Here is Eddie striking out some of our heroes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G3bv2DwzuR4

[Jay Wolt]

Howard, Thanks for posting that
watched about half & will finish it off later

[JimC]

Cool thread, Peter. Now we just need to find you one of those jackets!