Ed Farmer

The Chicago White Sox’ historic 2005 season can be told in many ways, but few shared it as personally as one of the teams radio voices, Ed Farmer. Born in Evergreen Park, Illinois, and raised on the South Side of Chicago, Farmer – affectionately known as “Farmio” – grew up watching and rooting for the White Sox.1

He eventually suited up for the team, but also spent nearly 30 years as a broadcaster, becoming a cherished voice of the franchise. He died on April 1, 2020, at the age of 70, leaving behind an indelible mark on baseball and the Chicago sports community.

Primarily a relief pitcher, Farmer played for the Cleveland Indians (1971-1973), Detroit Tigers (1973), Philadelphia Phillies (1974 and 1982-83), Baltimore Orioles (1977), Milwaukee Brewers (1978), Texas Rangers (1979), the White Sox (1979-1981), and the Oakland Athletics (1983).

Edward Joseph Farmer, the second of nine children, was born at Little Company of Mary Hospital in Evergreen Park, a village bordering Chicago, on October 18, 1949, to Marilyn (Truesdale) and Edward Farmer, one of nine or 10 children in the family.2 His father worked as an electrical contractor. Young Edward grew up at 79th Street and Francisco Avenue in the Wrightwood neighborhood on Chicago’s South Side. He developed his passion for baseball early, impressing scouts as a hard-throwing 6-foot-5 right-hander and football player at St. Rita High School, where he became a multitime member of the Chicago Tribune Prep Baseball All-Stars. In his senior year, Ed Farmer led the Chicago Catholic High School League with an impressive 158 strikeouts and pitched the Mustangs to the league championship.

Despite Farmer’s dominance on the mound, when he attended a White Sox summer camp, a scout told him to forget about pitching and try his luck as a catcher instead. Not everyone shared that opinion. Indians scout Benny Zientara saw something special in Farmer and recommended him as a pitcher to his bosses.

Dozens of colleges offered him scholarships, including Notre Dame, where his father hoped he’d play football. He wanted to study premed. However, at the urging of his ailing mother, Farmer pursued his dream of playing professional baseball, signing with the Cleveland Indians in 1967 for $10,000 after being selected in the fifth round.3 He made his professional debut with the rookie-league Gulf Coast Indians, posting a 3-0 record and a 1.97 ERA in seven games. His transition into the professional ranks wasn’t without its struggles – high ERAs marked his early seasons in the Indians system as a starting pitcher.4

By 1970, Farmer was pitching for the Triple-A Wichita Aeros, posting a 5-7 record and a 4.02 ERA. He was still only 20 years old but had already participated in three spring-training camps with the Indians. In June of 1971, after starting the season with the Aeros, Farmer was called up to the Indians.

Beginning a big-league career that saw him pitch primarily as a right-handed reliever for eight teams over 11 seasons, Farmer made his major-league debut on June 9 against the White Sox at Cleveland Stadium. He entered the game in the ninth inning with the Indians leading, 3-1, and runners at first and second. After throwing a wild pitch, Farmer earned the save by striking out Tom Egan. He made a total of 43 appearances in 1971, four of which were starts. He went 5-4 with four saves and a 4.35 ERA in 78⅔ innings pitched. On July 1 he earned his first win, against the Baltimore Orioles, after he threw a perfect ninth inning, and Vada Pinson slammed a two-out walk-off homer off Eddie Watt. He started the first game of a doubleheader against the Detroit Tigers on August 31 and singled to center field off Joe Coleman in the third inning for his first career base hit.

In 1972 the 22-year-old logged 61⅓ innings in 46 games, making one start. He earned seven saves with a 4.40 ERA.

Cleveland dealt Farmer to the Tigers on June 15, 1973, for Tom Timmerman and Kevin Collins. Farmer had pitched only 17⅓ innings so far in the season and requested a trade. He made 24 appearances with the Tigers in 1973, never quite finding his stride, and finished with a 5.00 ERA for Detroit.

Before the 1974 season, on March 19, 1974, Farmer was traded to the Yankees in a three-team deal involving his former club, the Indians. Cleveland sent Rick Sawyer and Walt Williams to the Yankees, Detroit sent Farmer to the Yankees and Jim Perry to Cleveland, and the Yankees sent Jerry Moses to the Tigers. Two days later New York sold Farmer to the Philadelphia Phillies. The Yankees wanted to send him to the minor leagues, but Farmer affirmed that he would return to his premed studies at the University of Chicago. Much like his time in Detroit, he struggled with the Phillies. He had an ERA of 8.42 in 14 games.

Farmer found himself out of the big leagues for three years. The Phillies traded him on December 3, 1974, to the Brewers for minor leaguer Stephen McCartney. He spent 1975 pitching for their Triple-A affiliate, the Sacramento Solons. Farmer battled a sore arm through 14 appearances, and his performance suffered. He was released on June 13. A brief stop in Mexico followed, but after two rough outings, Farmer’s career on the mound came to an abrupt halt. The Brewers released him in April of 1976. After surgery to remove a bone spur in his right shoulder, he did not pitch in professional baseball that season.

Farmer’s path to becoming a White Sox legend wasn’t a straight line – it was a roller coaster filled with setbacks, resilience, and a few near-misses. He started working in a warehouse in Southern California, his offseason home with his baseball future uncertain. It might’ve been the end of his baseball journey if it weren’t for his resolve and the encouragement of his wife, Barbara, who urged him to keep pushing for another shot. While training for a tryout with the Orioles in 1977, Farmer was struck by a car while riding his bike – an accident that sent him through the windshield and knocked out his front teeth. But not even a brush with death kept him down for long.5

Even after the accident, Farmer impressed the Orioles scout and spent most of 1977 with their Triple-A affiliate in Rochester. A brief appearance in the majors didn’t go as planned – he faced two batters, giving up a single to Lance Parrish, which loaded the bases, and then walking Ben Oglivie before being replaced – finishing the season with an infinite ERA. But he kept grinding.

Farmer bounced around again, making another stop with the Brewers when he signed with them as a free agent on April 1, 1978. He spent most of the year in Triple A, making only three major-league appearances and surrendering just one run in 11 innings before landing with the Rangers in ’79. Farmer’s time in Texas is most remembered for a game in which he injured Frank White and Al Cowens by hitting them with pitches – White suffering a broken thumb and Cowens a fractured cheekbone. Farmer attributed his erratic pitching to nerves; it was his first major-league start in years. However, the Royals suspected the hits were intentional, and Cowens would later seek retribution.

Farmer’s career finally clicked when he found his way home to the South Side thanks to a recommendation from Jerry Krause, a scout for the White Sox before his career as the general manager of the NBA’s Chicago Bulls.

On June 15, 1979, Chicago acquired Farmer, Gary Holle, and cash from the Texas Rangers for third baseman Eric Soderholm. Despite spending most of his White Sox tenure as a reliever, Farmer debuted as a starter on June 20, 1979, taking the loss after surrendering four runs over 3⅓ innings in a 5-3 defeat.6

Farmer earned the first of his 54 saves with Chicago on July 10, 1979, after retiring six hitters in order, preserving a 6-3 win over the Rangers. Two days later, he made his eighth appearance with the South Siders, tossing a scoreless 3⅔ innings in the matinee of a doubleheader against the Tigers. The White Sox forfeited the nightcap of the twin bill after the infamous Disco Demolition Night festivities.

During an offday on August 2 of that year, White Sox owner Bill Veeck and general manager Roland Hemond fired player-manager Don Kessinger. Farmer recorded the final six outs of a 9-1 loss to the New York Yankees the day before, making him the last player as of 2025 to pitch for a player-manager in the American League. On August 3 Farmer earned the save in Tony La Russa’s managerial debut.7

Farmer earned his lone All-Star nod in 1980 while earning 30 saves, the White Sox record at the time. (The record has been surpassed 17 times since then, most notably by Bobby Thigpen, who set the current mark with 57 saves in 1990.) Farmer had a 3.34 ERA over 99⅔ innings. He got his 30th save on October 4, in a game in which 56-year-old Minnie Miñoso pinch-hit, marking the record fifth decade he played in.

The three years Farmer spent on the South Side were his best seasons, from 1979 to 1981, when he recorded 54 of his 75 career saves. He was instrumental in nearly half of the White Sox’ 70 wins in 1980, earning 30 saves and seven wins.

One of the most notable events of Farmer’s White Sox career, a bizarre on-field fight with Al Cowens, occurred on June 21, 1980. Cowens hit a groundball but charged Farmer instead of running to first base. Cowens sought revenge for the broken jaw he suffered from a Farmer pitch the prior season. A wild brawl with Cowens and the Tigers ensued with Farmer on the bottom of a pile of players. Because of pressure from the weight on top of him, cysts on Farmer’s kidney burst. White Sox owner Bill Veeck threatened to have Cowens arrested. The altercation resulted in an ejection, a seven-game suspension for Cowens, and even an arrest warrant. The two players later reconciled after Cowens apologized in a pregame lineup exchange, and Farmer dropped the charges.8

By the end of his White Sox career, Farmer had posted a 3.31 ERA in 148 appearances. He became a free agent after the 1981 season and re-signed with the Philadelphia Phillies.

His departure from the White Sox marked a historic moment in baseball. The White Sox were the first team to acquire a player from the newly established free-agent compensation pool, selecting Joel Skinner from the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Despite injuries throughout his career, including recurring elbow problems, Farmer’s persistence and work ethic were undeniable. He continued to pitch with the minor-league affiliates of the Athletics, Philadelphia Phillies, and Pittsburgh Pirates until 1986. By the time he retired in 1986 after playing for the Hawaii Islanders, he had donned 22 different uniforms over his 19-year career.

He finished his major-league career with 75 saves.

Farmer’s second brush with death came in August 1990, during a scouting trip to Boston. Working for the Orioles as a scout for a couple of seasons, he was there to evaluate Red Sox ace Roger Clemens in a game against the Angels. What began as a routine assignment turned into a pivotal moment that saved his life.

Farmer had been battling renal failure for nearly a year, and his declining health was becoming increasingly apparent. Angels manager Doug Rader noticed Farmer’s unwell appearance. At the urging of the team’s trainer, Farmer was taken to the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. Doctors quickly determined that he was in critical condition and in desperate need of a kidney transplant, estimating that he had only three days to live without intervention.

Farmer, who had anticipated such a crisis after losing his father at 41 and his mother at 38, had already started preparing for the worst by transferring assets to his wife, Barbara, and their 10-year-old daughter, Shanda.

Farmer’s brother Tom offered one of his kidneys for a transplant and it was determined to be a perfect match. Dr. Thoedore Steinman, a former wide receiver for the Green Bay Packers, performed the kidney transplant at Beth Israel on January 18, 1991.9

During his career as a scout, Farmer had also worked as a special assistant to Ron Schueler, his former White Sox pitching coach, who had become the team’s general manager. Farmer quickly transitioned from his front-office position into broadcasting. In 1991 he joined the White Sox radio team, becoming a radio voice of the White Sox for 29 years until he died in 2020. The longevity of his broadcasting career with the White Sox is second only to that of Hall of Famer Bob Elson.

Farmer’s distinctive broadcasting style, characterized by sharp, dry wit and insightful pitching analysis, resonated with White Sox fans. Partnering with broadcasters like John Rooney, Chris Singleton, Steve Stone, and Darrin Jackson, the latter of whom called Farmer “a competitor who was everyone’s best friend.” Farmer became a constant companion to White Sox fans, whether in the car, at home, or in the ballpark. He was approachable and kind, always making time for colleagues and fans. His long tenure in the booth was a testament to his deep connection to the team and the city of Chicago.

Farmer’s life off the field was defined by his advocacy for kidney disease awareness, shaped by his battle with polycystic kidney disease, a hereditary condition characterized by clusters of cysts forming around the kidneys. The disease took his 38-year-old mother’s life when he was 17, the first year of his minor-league career.

Farmer spoke candidly about his health challenges, using his platform to promote organ donation and inspire others. For nearly 30 years, Farmer lived with his brother’s kidney, managing medications and treatments, yet he remained steadfast in his career. He worked tirelessly to raise awareness about kidney disease and supported organizations like the Polycystic Kidney Disease Foundation, never allowing his health struggles to hinder his advocacy efforts.

He supported various kidney health organizations, helping raise funds and awareness for the cause.

Farmer died on April 1, 2020, at 70, from idiopathic cardiomyopathy, a heart disorder. He broadcast one spring-training game for the White Sox in 2020 before returning home because of his failing health.

Farmer retired second all-time in saves among Illinois-born players, with John Wyatt holding the top spot at the time – a record later surpassed by Jason Isringhausen.

His excellence was honored when he was inducted into the Chicagoland Sports Hall of Fame and the Chicago Catholic League Hall of Fame, cementing his place as one of Chicago’s sports icons.

Farmer was survived by his wife, Barbara, and daughter, Shanda.

Sources

In addition to the sources cited in the Notes, the author consulted Baseball-Reference.com and several other sites.

Notes

1 “Ed Farmer Reflects on His Life In Baseball,” YouTube.com, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SRWStLcvF9E.

2 Ed was reportedly the second of nine children, but another account said there were 10 children in the family.

3 Scott Merkin, “White Sox Announcer Ed Farmer, 70, Dies,” MLB.com, April 2, 2020. https://www.mlb.com/news/ed-farmer-dies-at-70.

4 Sam Gazdziak, “Obituary: Ed Farmer (1949-2020).” https://ripbaseball.com/2020/04/03/obituary-ed-farmer-1949-2020/.

5 Daniel J. Lane, “Remembering the Greatness of Ed Farmer, On and Off the Field,” Northeastern Illinois University Independent, April 5, 2020. https://neiuindependent.org/16144/sports/remembering-ed-farmers-greatness-on-and-off-the-field/.

6 Bruce Markusen, “Cooperstown Confidential: Thinking of Al Cowens,” Hardball Times, March 23, 2012. https://tht.fangraphs.com/cooperstown-confidential-thinking-of-al-cowens/.

7 Andrew Seligman, “Ed Farmer, White Sox Reliever-Turned-Broadcaster, Dies at 70,” Washington Post, April 4, 2020. https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/obituaries/ed-farmer-white-sox-reliever-turned-broadcaster-dies-at-70/2020/04/04/2c8530b6-7673-11ea-87da-77a8136c1a6d_story.html.

8 Scot Gregor, “Ed Farmer Tributes Come Pouring In,” Arlington Heights (Illinois) Daily Herald, April 3, 2020. https://www.dailyherald.com/20200403/pro-sports/ed-farmer-tributes-come-pouring-in/.

9 Alan Solomon, “Ed Farmer enjoys life that was transplanted,” Chicago Tribune, May 14, 1991.