The greatest pitcher ever brings about a lot of names. Bob Gibson, Cy Young, Christy Mathewson, etc, etc, etc.
However, none of them compare to Eddie Feigner. Eddie who? Eddie Feigner.
Here's his story: One day, Eddie Feigner was playing softball and he put a beat down on his opponents (33-0). After the game, they started trash talking to Eddie. Eddie told him that he could beat their entire team with just himself and his catcher, but that they would just walk both of them. lol So the opponents told him to bring his first baseman and shortstop as well. Eddie accepted and the King and His Court was born.
In his first 4 man versus 9 man game, Eddie pitched a perfect game, striking out 19 of the 21 batters he faced. But that was the just the beginning. While having only a catcher and two position players behind him, Eddie would go on to accumulate astonishing numbers playing against other 9 man All-Star teams all around the world. Here's how Eddie compares to the best in MLB history:
Strikeouts:
Nolan Ryan: 5,714
Eddie Feigner: 141,517
No Hitters:
Nolan Ryan: 7
Eddie Feigner: 930
Perfect Games:
17 Different Pitchers: 1
Eddie Feigner: 238
Yeah, yeah, I know... he got to pitch closer because it was softball. Well, actually, Eddie found it not challenging enough so he often pitched from second base and from center field!!! Oh yeah, he would also pitch behind his back, between his legs, on his knees and even blindfolded!
His fastest pitch was recorded at 104 mph which is faster than any major leaguer has ever thrown. In fact, the Washington Post suggests that it might have actually been 114 mph!!!
His curveball had an 18 inch break on it!!!
He pitched one game that went into extra innings where he struck out 73 guys!!!
One batter who faced him said, "I was waiting for a pitch, heard a noise, watched the catcher throw the ball back. It was incredible. There was no way to get the bat off my shoulder before the ball got there. I don't know how anybody ever hit the guy." Oh yeah, Eddie was 59 years old that time. LOL
He appeared on The Tonight Show on numerous occasions. He took a cigar out of Johnny Carson's mouth while blindfolded! He had Johnny hold a bat over the plate, put a blindfold on and hit the bat on his only attempt.
Did I mention yet that he struck out 8,698 batters while blindfolded? LMAO!!!
I know, I know.... all fine and dandy, but these weren't major league caliber players and he couldn't pitch in the majors. Actually, MLB wanted him badly, but he didn't want any part of it. He was making over $100,000 per month in his prime and got to tour the world while pitching in 98 different countries.
But in case you needed more than that, in an exhibition in 1967 at the age of 42, Eddie Feigner faced the following lineup at Dodger Stadium: Willie Mays, Willie McCovey, Maury Wills, Harmon Killebrew, Roberto Clemente and Brooks Robinson. That would be 5 Hall of Famers and one NL MVP.
So what happened? Feigner struck them out back to back to back to back to back to back.
Cheers!
Batter that actually faced him: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Hd4ZhuMt8k&NR=1
4 minute news reel on him: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SWkUk4mYN9w
