Derek, Galveston, TXSubj: Softball vs. Baseball
Do you think a good softball pitcher could strike out a good Major League hitter?
I have no doubt about it, Derek. The feat was accomplished on many occasions by Eddie Feigner, a flame-throwing softball pitcher who once struck out Willie Mays, Roberto Clemente, Brooks Robinson, Willie McCovey, Maury Wills, and Harmon Killebrew in succession during a exhibition game in 1967. Although Feigner never played in the Major Leagues, he did make a tidy living as the star hurler of The King and His Court, a four-man softball team that played over 10,000 games in 100 countries. Along the way, he struck out more than 141,000 batters thanks to a blazing underhanded fastball that routinely clocked in at 104 mph. He also recorded 930 no-hitters and 238 perfect games while employing crowd pleasing tactics such as pitching from center field, throwing behind his back and utilizing a blindfold. Sadly, Feigner passed away on February 9, 2007 at the age of 81. The world is a much less colorful place without him.
