Eddie Feigner: The King and His Court

[Honus Wagner Rules]

A neat old film clip from 1959. According to Eddie Feigner he turned downed down "several big league baseball offers" (time 4:10). Is this really true? Did Eddie Feigner play baseball when he was younger? I can't find any info on his earlier life. In a 1967 exhibition at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, Mr. Feigner faced Willie Mays, Roberto Clemente, Brooks Robinson, Willie McCovey, Maury Wills and Harmon Killebrew and struck out all six in succession.

[Ben Grimm]

If you've (anybody) never played windmill softball, I highly recommend it. My stepfather was a decent pitcher, but his brother was off the charts good. He was sniped many times to help win a title for some of the local teams here.

I like windmill, and played it while playing baseball. The toughest thing was adjusting to the total different release points.

[Honus Wagner Rules]

A couple years ago I posted a video clip of Jennie Finch pitching to several major leaguer and striking out quite a few. Most took it in stride. when A-Rod saw how fast she pitches he told her her would step in the box against her but wouldn't swing. What a wuss. Unfortunately, the video was subsequently removed by youtube.

[SHOELESSJOE3]

A neat old film clip from 1959. According to Eddie Feigner he turned downed down "several big league baseball offers" (time 4:10). Is this really true? Did Eddie Feigner play baseball when he was younger? I can't find any info on his earlier life. In a 1967 exhibition at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, Mr. Feigner faced Willie Mays, Roberto Clemente, Brooks Robinson, Willie McCovey, Maury Wills and Harmon Killebrew and struck out all six in succession.

HW, my dad took me to see Eddie in the late 1950's, Niagara Falls. Many, many years later I saw him in Buffalo NY, with my son, Eddie was in his 60's and still a thrill to see. He did sign a program for my son.

I find it hard to believe that there was never a tape or later a DVD showing this guys career. About 10 years ago I phoned one of his family members, asked if they had any family videos of Eddie, anything, any type video that might be available to the public. I was told something was in the works, I doubt it, 10 years later still nothing.

A shame, what an act he was, not much to remember him by. There are a number of short videos on Youtube, I've looked them all over. Greatest act on a baseball diamond that I ever saw.
Once asked why, with the way he pitches he even needs a four man team, his answer, we need a batter if we load the bases.

[SHOELESSJOE3]

One of the Youtube video's, funny story by Eddie.
Pitching to a batter, with two outs and two strikes, one more strike or any kind of out, ball game over.

Eddie said he heard on of the opposing players from the bench yell to the batter..."watch out, he throws the last pitch behind his back."
So, Eddie made the behind the back motion but threw the ball in to his own glove. The ump was in on the act and called, "strike three, your out"..........game over.

The batter was all over the ump, giving him a piece of his mind, yelling at the ump.
Eddie's catcher was doubled over in laughter. He walked out to the mound and told Eddie, guess what the batter was complaining about.............he thought the pitch was high, true story.

[9RoyHobbsRF]

it was NOT from 60' 6" as I recall but from the shorter softball dimensions

[TonyK]

The King and His Court were on ABC's Wide World of Sports from time to time.

[Honus Wagner Rules]

it was NOT from 60' 6" as I recall but from the shorter softball dimensions

That's what I figured. It was the same with Jennie Finch. I want to know which major league teams wanted to sign Feigner?

[willshad]

This type of thing would not cut it in the major leagues. Feigner or Finch may be able to strike out guys, but once the pro hitters got used to the pitching style, they would be all over it.

[Second Base Coach]

My dad saw them in person in Illinois... probably in the 1950s. He said they were unbelievable.

[TonyK]

Feighner was an orphan who had a troubled teenage life so maybe he didn't play baseball at all? After leaving the Marines, he met his real mother and she helped him get his start in fast pitch softball. One report gave his fastest speed as 112 MPH, but most sources list it at "only" 104 MPH. Imagine the arm strength it took to throw a football 85 yards or to throw a football behind your back 50 yards as Eddie did. His softball was said to curve 18 inches, and in the videos you can watch it hook away from right-handed batters. It also looked to me like his ball rose on some pitches.

Is fast pitch softball more popular on the West Coast or in the military?

I probably watched his games on Wide World of Sports four or five times while growing up. The story of his life would make a wonderful movie or made for TV special.

[Dude Paskert]

There was also a Queen and Her Court, think she was still active in the late '80s and I would guess she was about 40 then. Think I remember reading she struck out Bench and a few other ML players.

[SHOELESSJOE3]

There was also a Queen and Her Court, think she was still active in the late '80s and I would guess she was about 40 then. Think I remember reading she struck out Bench and a few other ML players.

I would think the fact that the ball is not only being delivered overhand and also add to that from a raised mound in MLB, facing the underhand delivery could make contact more difficult. I think with a few more at bats, they would really drive some balls out, way out.

[Dude Paskert]

I would think the fact that the ball is not only being delivered overhand and also add to that from a raised mound in MLB, facing the underhand delivery could make contact more difficult. I think with a few more at bats, they would really drive some balls out, way out.

I agree with you, it's just that an adjustment is needed to the radically different conditions. I mean, I have a lot of respect for Crystl Bustos, but I don't think she's better than ML hitters. One very odd thing to get used to is that a ball can truly be thrown up through the strike zone with the low release point and no mound...a rise ball in softball really can be a rising ball!

[leewileyfan]

I played a very WEE bit of fast pitch softball before entering the Army. A baseball team I played for contributed to a pick up squad of locals who had challenged a fast pitch softtball league team to a game. As I remember, I was a proud 1 for 4 in a losing effort in which "we" were shut out, something like 11-0.

After service, just one year of ASA Fastpitch League play was more than enough for me. In a schedule of 18 or so games, I rode the bench and appeared in maybe 3 games, with one AB. I whiffed. End of ASA career. [The team did make it into the regional playoffs. We had one guy who blasted a dozen HRs in 18 games ... eye popping. No 'roids].

We didn't have to face Feigner [thank goodness]. However, what we did face was plenty impressive all by itself. And yes, a RISE ball does just that ... better'n yeast.