Eddie came from my hometown of Walla Walla. Sadly, only the older folks remember him as one of the top two or three athletes to ever compete in any sport. He was a patriotic Marine who employed discipline in every aspect of his life. I only saw him pitch once, but the English language does not contain enough words to describe how overwhelmingly talented he was.

My (late, great) brother played against him. He got a base hit but got picked off first base with a behind the back throw from The King!

Hey John, I too, just happened across this youtube post this morning. I'm 74 and as a kid, my dad pitched semi-pro, and I, a little league pitcher. He took me to see the King on two occasions in Springfield Ma. One of my fondest youth memories was with dad during this time. Thanks for the post.

@@SuspenseESCAPEremastered see my recent post! The trick was set up by catcher, pitcher and 1st baseman. The runner would leave the base after the pitcher and would feel safe 6 or 8 feet off the bag because the first baseman stayed well back. The catcher would signal the pick off by LOBBing the ball back to Eddie. Eddie would reach with glove (as a bluff) but catch it with a bare right hand on top of the ball. This allowed a one-motion behind back shot to the bag. The first base man was cued by the LOB and timed his arrival at the bag. The runner was usually got standing and gaping! They had the same move to second base.

@@darrel3924 I just now got your comment! Thanks!!!!

Never

Me too, only in Cleveland in the mid '80's. Dude was impressive pitching from the cut of the grass

Dads used to be common before feminism. Now women that think they can do both jobs raise all kids alone

My Dad took me to see The King at a small local city park in Waukegan, IL in the late sixties. Never forget about it. There was a nice write up in Sports Illustrated on The King. It is still on line.

These guys came to Puerto Rico , circa 1972-3 (cant remember date).. they played a few exhibition games at the Roberto Clemente stadium. He could make a throw to first base from behind his back ! At "citibank" we used to play in local tournaments , so we came up with a team to play them , we had a great time , some fans even paid to see the game ,, and we beat them by one run....good times!!

Charles Sheely I saw Eddie in Elmira myself. I’m from Elmira to

@@nickfierro8687 I'm still in Elmira, never left.

I saw The King and His Court in the early '80s in Portland. The court were two outfielders or was it 1 infielder & 1 out vs. a full 9 man team. Anyway EF WAS AMAZING!

I was lucky enough to see them more than once. My father placed against him one of those two games. My dad was a very good hitter but he did not get a hit against the King. He made contact but it was a fly to the outfield. Dad said he was very good.

i live in romepa saw him several times in 80s

Please post proof pronto, pics preferred

Bob Stewart Your dad did better than me. The King was blindfolded and he threw three across the plate. The first two I took and I thought I had the timing down and had visions of a home run trot except he changed speeds and I swung before the ball crossed the plate. The ump said “Strike Three then strike four.” NOTS China Lake, Ca 1959

@@billpayer2 lol...I'm sure you are not alone.

He struck my dad out while pitching from second base!

I saw them play the Merchant's in the same era in Saskatoon. The King and his Court got beat bad that day but they still put on a good show.

@@dontbetonit813 I'm glad I'm not the only Canuck to have known about this! Great stuff!!!

cool.

Rumor was he could throw 98 mph, and, yes from softball mound distance crazy difficult to hit. Had to be in '58, saw him strike out a guy while he was actually kneeling on second base.

Great story !!!! lol !!!

that story is worth way more than $25!

great story I seen them once in a small town in Tennessee. It was well worth the free admission. However I did make a generous donation to help out a local farmer and their family. Just one of those memories I'll never forget

That would have been hilarious to see...lol...

Lol what a funny story. Lol

You can see that on KZfaq. The title is "1967 MLB vs Celebrities Softball game".

Pppo0ppp

I also saw them at Agway Field in Kuhnsville back in the 70’s. A few of my friends got the chance to try to hit off of Eddie, only one nicked the ball once, all the rest never touched the ball at all.

Please post proof pronto, pics preferred

I've heard that story. The story I heard was that he struck them out on nine pitches.

@@robertkennedy5414 I know that story is true 4 sure. Here's the proof: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/fZmSqZV13ODZgmg.html

I grew up in Greenpoint Brooklyn, New York. I loved playing baseball as a pitcher & a centerfielder. So after being sick for approximately 10 days, my family doctor advised me to slowdown & go join my area little League. I weighed about 150 pounds & at 6ft 2 inches tall. So I became a coach in the Summer of 1967. The manager was a great manager but, my style of teaching & understanding of the game made me ask the incoming board of the directors for a chance at manager in the 1968 Season. Meantime, I arranged my 1st field trip to Shea Stadium in 1967. The current board approved it. I posted on the field message board, that any player coming must be in complete team uniform with hat. I was aware that players might make their team forfeit if they came. Not one player came from another team. Those players went to another game. Besides, The Pirates were playing The Mets in a twinbill. I told all the players that I was invited onto the field & that I could pick one of my players. I did & another manager who was my friend, asked if he could go with us. I said yes. But I didn't think at the time, if he should bring one of his players. So it was the 3 of us. We met Ron Swoboda, Ralph Kiner (Mets Announcer) & Roberto Clemente. I'm in photos with Swoboda & Kiner & my player & just when it was my chance to ask Clemente, the umpire says "Play Ball". He was curtious enough to shake my hand & said, sorry I have to go back. When I got home, my friends, neighbors & other kids, came up to me & said, they saw us on tv. I felt like a celebrity. That year (1967) we made no Divisional World Series. An I umpired games in any division but my own. An I raised monies for the league too. Then I waited the fall & winter of 1967, for word of a manager vacancy in upcoming 1968. In early spring 1968 nothing. Then in late spring I was given a managership & told to go get 2 coaches. I did & I got the kids together for 2 practice games. Then 2 exhibition game and we won both. The league has 2 halfs consisting of 9 games each. Gives teams that didn't win the 1st half, a chance at winning the 2nd half. Then it's a one game playoff. My team went 8 wins - 1 loss in each half. That's 16 wins - 2 losses; not including 2 exhibition wins. Then I learn that OUR LEAGUE was doing another fundraiser & that All managers from the T-shirt, Minor & Major divisions had to represent their team & play. When I heard it's Eddie Feiner King & His Court we were up against, I didn't want to play. In 1967, I heard of what he did to major leaguers. He struck them out. I didn't want my players to see me do bad, so I wanted out. My 2 coaches were 15 at the time. They couldn't play. I was 22 and a great hitter, pitcher & centerfielder at baseball. Not fast style softball. I heard the field announcer tell Feiner, throw him a slow pitch. He threw a ever so slow pitch & I hit it to the shortstop. Next time up I hit him fastball down into the ground & behind home plate. The I swung at his raising high fastball for Strike 3. I thought; at our next game that my players were going to let me have it. But in my 2nd inning in centerfield. Ed Feiner used his favorite homerun 22 Inch bat; going to thrill fans with his homer. Until this slim 6ft 2in slim centerfielder with his back to the wall & 210 dead-center, jumped to try & catch the ball. I heard it hit the top of my glove & figured it went over. When I came down, to my surprise I snow-coned it. That was the 3rd out. I knew then that I taught them to throw, run, hit, pitch & catch & I let them choose their positions. I had a swelled head caus of my catch & I knew that they wouldn't tease me next game. But a surprise happened to me as I ran in from centerfield. Mr. Feiner met me as I was about to place that ball near the mound. He motioned for me to enter their dugout & all 4 men signed that softball & official souvenir book. When I emerged from their dugout; those men led a standing ovation for me and the fans & players joined in. I NEVER FORGOT that moment. I managed for 15 more seasons & umpiring too. Then I decided to devote my time umpiring. I spent 27 years in BROOKLYN, N.Y. Then I moved to QUEENS,N. I picked-up where I left off. Occasionally I would work work 2 men games in MANHATTAN'S FAMED CENTRAL PARK. I've been doing this another 27 years for a total of 54 seasons. This was supposed to be my re-union year. Finding as far back as my 1st season. Thanks to Facebook & Messenger I have found many of them in their early to mid 60's. Many informed me of deaths of others. I know of some myself from drugs or alcohol. Many died from cancer.i devote my time on a way to promote baseball in Queen's County. Soccer & basketball pushed baseball & softball back to 3rd place. I hate that. One day I will donate my umpire uniforms,old fashioned chest protector & equipment bag & oh yes, that autographed ball & souvenir book; to the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y. It will be in a new wing on contributions in enhancing the game of baseball. Contact me at my e- mail: glusmj119@gmail.com. PS: sorry I wrote to much. Thanks for the GREAT MEMORIES. .

Actually it is impossible for a ball to rise, it just stays on the same plane. It is a optical illusion, that came from the best softball pitcher that I have ever seen

@@larrysunde8878 As a catcher I can say I witnessed balls move in every direction. Until my first game catching this pitcher I would agree with you but not after what I saw.

@@larrysunde8878 horsefeathers you never saw Bonnie Jones from Detroit.

+Russell Calder: Hey Russ......the Tucson Toros! OMG.....TEN CENT BEER NIGHT!! Obviously...I'm an old Tucson boy myself. A bunch of us guys from CDO high school in the early 1970's that played on the football team...sometimes like a dozen of us....would drive all the way south into town (Tucson much smaller then....and we were in the far north desert at CDO...lol) and hit those $.10 cent beer night Toros games. Sometimes we'd even run into our football and baseball coaches down there....and even though we were in high school still....sit with them and drink the s--t out of dime beers. (RIP Dean Metz...you were the greatest!). Then we'd hit the drive-thru window at the Jack inn the Box at Speedway / Park (by Univ. of Ariz.) and order 18cent cheeseburgers. Later on....we'd wake up with nice stout hangovers....smoke some ditchweed.....feel better....and soon tell anybody who asked "Man.....we had such a GREAT TIME!". We'd be ready to do the same dumb thing the next night. Obviously, much different time...a different era. Lots of those guys and their wives are STILL dear, dear friends. Yes...we've been Blessed. The cool thing is.....we all know it and give our thanks accordingly. God Bless jbeinarizona

@@joelewing4498 yeah what a place back then. My father was stationed at Davis Monthan Airforce base. Lived in Tucson for about 11 years. We used to go watch the Toros quite a bit. When I was at the games I hung out at the end of the left field bleachers and shag foul balls. Got quite a few. I supplied the neighborhood with baseballs for our pick up games. I loved growing up there. Always something to do. I miss it a lot. The last time I was there, it was in the middle 80s. I was in the Marines then, and the place just wasn't the same. Great memories though. God bless you too.

Oh man, I know the place!