Canzano: Monday Mailbag deals with Banana Ball, 'The King,' Pac-12, Jonathan Smith, UNLV, Oregon State football, WSU transfers, and more
Your questions. My answers.
I sat with Eddie Feigner on his deathbed.
Do you know Eddie’s story?
Feigner grew up as an orphan in Walla Walla, Wash. He became the greatest softball pitcher of all time and was the showman and architect of the traveling show known as “The King and His Court.”
I thought about him as the Savannah Bananas came to Autzen Stadium on Saturday and Sunday, drawing a total of 120,000 fans for two games.
“The King,” as Feigner was known, assembled a four-man touring show that played all around the country. He pitched and had a catcher, first baseman, and shortstop behind him. They were “The Court.” The act played more than 10,000 games in more than 100 countries.
Feigner and I got close late in his life. His wife, Annie, summoned me to the deep south in 2007 as he lay in bed, at age 81, telling stories.
“You’d better get here quick,” she said.
I hopped on a plane. Eddie had multiple strokes and only days to live, but could still tell a yarn. I took notes. I recorded our conversation. I wrote a column about Eddie’s death, and I’ll revisit it sometime with a more in-depth piece.
Eddie played in front of multiple presidents. He pitched for JFK on an airport tarmac and hung out with Elvis, and once survived a deadly tornado by climbing into the bathtub of a hotel and pulling a rug over his body as the storm ripped the roof off the building.
He was an unhittable self-taught pitcher. Feigner could throw strikes with pitches tossed behind his back and between his legs. He’d even pitch blindfolded. And when he really wanted to show off, Eddie would walk to second base and pitch from there.
In an MLB exhibition in 1967, Feigner pitched against a lineup of future Hall of Fame baseball players. He faced Willie Mays, Willie McCovey, Brooks Robinson, Roberto Clemente, Maury Wills, and Harmon Killebrew in their prime.
Six up.
Six down.
Eddie struck all six batters out.
He smiled as he told me on his deathbed: “Struck out Mays through the legs… and got McCovey behind my back.”
Banana Ball is epic, for sure, but here’s a nod to “The King.”
I received fun questions this week about the Savannah Bananas, the Pac-12, my all-new “BFT” show, Oregon State football trajectory, Jonathan Smith’s future as a head coach, Washington State transfers, UNLV, favorite Fourth of July foods, the Trail Blazers, and more.
Thanks to all who submitted questions.
Onto the mailbag…