The King & His Court
March 26, 1925 - February 9, 2007

Eddie Feigner was considered to be the greatest pitcher of fast pitch softball in the world. He was nearly unbeatable. Ask any batter who has faced him.

In an article in the Sept. 6, 1999 issue of Sports Illustrated, writer Richard Hoffer listed the King and His Court as eighth on his list of 20 favorite teams. They were right under the 1963 champion San Diego Chargers.

The former Ramona resident was a proud man who spoke with pride in disclosing his many records. And he was happy to list them for you. He had been a San Diegan for many years after he enlisted in the Marines and trained at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot in 1942.

"I was invited to play in a golf tournament on the San Vicente course and several of us were offered a deal to acquire a condo or home in the area," he said. "At the time, the developer said it was going to look like another Bel-Air some day. Casey Tibbs lived across the street."

When Feigner took the mound, he had support from only a shortstop, catcher and a first baseman. The first baseman happened to be his wife, Anne Marie. The others were Rich Hoppe and Eddie Aucoin.

The King in action. At 110 mph, the ball reaches the plate in 3/5th of a second.

It all began when pitching for a local softball team and after beating a visiting Oregon team, 33-0, he was taunted that he couldn't do that again if he had only a catcher and two infielders on his side. He accepted the challenge and beat them again, 7-0.

"I'm still the best pitcher in the country," he said. And he didn't just mean softball. "I had the greatest arm God could give," Feigner continued. "Those who had an arm equal to mine were Bobby Feller, Dizzy Dean and Nolan Ryan."

Feigner boasts that he had twice the assortment of pitches that a baseball pitcher had. That included a fastball at 110 miles per hour, a great changeup, and an assortment of raises, crossfires and dippsydoodle curves off a windmill delivery.

In one All-Star game against major leaguers, he struck out - in order - Willie Mays, Willie McCovey, Brooks Robinson, Maury Wills, Harmon Killebrew and Roberto Clemente.

Rich Hoppe, featured pitcher, Eddie Feigner and Eddie Aucoin, catcher/shortstop.

Remarkably, Feigner could throw behind his back, under the legs and blindfolded. It didn't matter, the batters still can't find the ball. He could even pick off a runner at first by tossing behind his back.

The longest game in which he was involved lasted 34 innings. It was tied 1-1 after nine, 2-2 after 18, 3-3 after 27 and he finally won, 4-3.

Seeing my 10-year-old son trying to hit a golf ball at the San Diego Country Estates driving range, Eddie Feigner spent all his warm-up time talking to him and giving him tips. That was the second time I meet Feigner. The first was in 1974 when in Orlando I took Carol on our second date to see the King and His Court. When I told Eddie Feigner that story, he said he was surprised she was still with me.

Eddie Feigner, arguably the greatest softball player of all time, the amazing pitcher who led his four-man team around the world playing conventional nine-man teams for 61 years, died Feb. 9 at the age of 81 in Huntsville. He was born on March 26, 1925.

- Darrel Kinney