The King

Eddie Feigner

The great Eddie Feigner, the all-time king of softball pitchers, uses his 100-mph fastball 59 years ago today to strike out – in a row – Willie Mays, Harmon Killebrew and Willie McCovey in the first inning of a 1967 charity game at Dodger Stadium.

He returns to the mound a couple of innings later to strike out Roberto Clemente.

Feigner pitches for 55 years from 1946 to 2000 and is credited with 9,743 victories, 141,517 strikeouts, 930 no-hitters, 238 perfect games and, of course, eternal bragging rights over the four future Hall of Famers he strikes out 58 years ago today.

Eddie Feigner at work with a blindfold

“I am the world’s finest softball pitcher by at least 100 percent,” Feigner later tells Sports Illustrated.

“I mean, I can say this because I have never met or seen anybody who was anywhere near half as good as me. I have perfect control. I throw the best changeup there ever was. I throw other pitches nobody can. My in-drop and in-raise are super pitches and unique. Anyone can throw the out-drop or out-raise, but everywhere I travel pitchers ask me how to throw the others.”

Sure, the King sounds like, well, he is the King and, as such, his word goes without question.

Of course, Feigner always backs up his boasts with results.

“Who else pitches blindfolded?” Feigner rhetorically asks. “Who else pitches from second base? I used to throw strikes from center field.

“I struck out a batter from center once. We figured that would never happen again, so we took it out of the show. Who else pitches from behind his back or between his legs? For strikes? My fastball was clocked at 104 mph. Check (Sandy) Koufax. Check (Bob) Feller. I’m the fastest.”

He certainly receives no argument 59 years ago today from Willie Mays, Harmon Killebrew, Willie McCovey and Roberto Clemente.

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