Fastpitch Softball - Striper Talk Striped Bass Fishing, Surfcasting, Boating

Clammer · 03-14-2005, 07:13 PM

Mike ain,t it a bitch that they forget quickly that we were once young ///

REmember Local 57 ???????///

rexhamer · 03-14-2005, 08:33 PM

I started playing fast pitch in Cambridge in the men's rec leagues in 1976 at the age of 20. Played in Cambridge and Belmont until my third knee operation in 2001 gave me the hint that it was time to retire. Which is ironic, because I always marveled at how many older guys still played over the years. My famous quote was, "You never have to retire from fast pitch, just keep dropping down a league!"

Some of my fondest memories are of those leagues. For many years I played at a very competitive AA level. Very exciting games and loved hangin' out with the guys for a few pops afterwards. Also played in tournaments all over, particlarly at Hanscom Air Force Base. I am still friendly with many of the guys I played with and against.

Men's fast pitch is dying, though. When I started in '76, Cambridge alone had over 100 teams in about a dozen leagues. There were leagues in Belmont, Watertown, Milton, Newton, Chelsea. Nowadays, Cambridge probably has about twenty teams and Belmont has only slow pitch.

Taught my step-daughter to pitch and she threw a little for her varsity, but lost interest after that. It's a great game and I hope you all can keep your daughters interested. College scholarships are a possibility, and look how exciting the women were in the Olympics the last few times out.

tynan19 · 03-15-2005, 09:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clammer

Mike ain,t it a bitch that they forget quickly that we were once young ///

REmember Local 57 ???????///

We forget because it was so long ago.

Clammer · 03-15-2005, 03:03 PM

payback a bitch

Saltheart · 03-15-2005, 03:06 PM

I remember going to see them when I was a kid. I couldn't beleive how far people could hit that softball!! Funny what you remember.

Clammer · 03-15-2005, 03:41 PM

that field was a old dump --=== made just for them /// that was right at the bottom of my street // as kids it was awesome to go the games under the lights // your right //some of those guys could put the ball out of a major league field / // & then there was the traveling team of four == name ??? king of the courts ???//

Saltheart · 03-15-2005, 03:44 PM

"King and his court"/ King was the pitcher nobody could hit

rexhamer · 03-15-2005, 06:50 PM

The "King" is Eddie Feigner. Although it appears that the King himself doesn't play any more, the "Court" is still touring.

http://www.kingandhiscourt.com/

I never got to see them in person, but have a tape of an ESPN special from about five years ago. Feigner had a great line that means more to me as I get older. In the special he was asked if he still threw as hard as he used to. I'm guessing he was in his late sixties at the time, he answered, "I throw as hard as I always have, the ball just doesn't go as fast!"

Bedford Blues · 03-16-2005, 01:26 PM

Hi Rex i played in the Cambidge league for Kappy,s Fresh Pond.
Our biggest rival was The Fire Dept team which had 2 excellent pitchers
back in the mid 80's.
Pitched and played infield. Learned a variety of pitchers from our coach
(former pitcher) including a "spinner" or Curveball .
Played till i was 40 + and also had the knee surgery to end things.

NIB · 03-17-2005, 07:07 AM

When my dad was in the Navy he played on a team that played the King An his Court.He would always recant the story.something like a five man team.the King was wild throwin behind his back so fast they could not detect it.