Ed Farmer – Baseball Player Biography, Career, Net Worth Information

Ed Farmer’s journey through Major League Baseball really tells the story of a pitcher who battled through early struggles and eventually made it as a closer. He grew up in Evergreen Park, Illinois, and played for eight different teams over his 13-year career from 1971 to 1983. Farmer started out rough but eventually turned into a reliable closer, racking up 75 saves and even earning an All-Star nod.

Farmer’s career took a sharp turn after a shoulder injury forced him to change how he pitched. That change led to his best years with the Chicago White Sox from 1979 to 1981. During those seasons, he managed 54 of his career saves and became one of the league’s go-to relief pitchers.

His 1980 season stands out. He saved 30 games and got to represent the White Sox in the All-Star Game at Dodger Stadium.

Farmer didn’t just fade away after his playing days. He spent almost three decades as a beloved radio broadcaster for the Chicago White Sox. From his tough beginnings in Cleveland to his last days with Philadelphia and Oakland, Farmer’s story covers the ups and downs of pro baseball, personal health struggles, and a legacy that kept him connected to Chicago fans for years.

Early Life and Amateur Baseball

Edward Joseph Farmer was born October 18, 1949, in Evergreen Park, Illinois. He grew up in a big working-class family on Chicago’s South Side.

His high school baseball run at St. Rita High School made him stand out, and he was picked for the Chicago Tribune Prep Baseball All-Stars several times.

Family Background and Childhood in Evergreen Park

Ed Farmer was the second of nine kids. His parents, Marilyn (Truesdale) and Edward Farmer, raised the family with his dad working as an electrical contractor.

They lived at 79th Street and Francisco Avenue in Chicago’s Wrightwood neighborhood, right in the heart of White Sox territory.

Farmer fell in love with baseball early on, surrounded by that working-class environment. His dad came from a similarly large family, which made the household feel even closer.

Money was tight, like it was for a lot of big families in 1950s Chicago. Even so, Farmer’s parents cheered him on in sports from the start.

St. Rita High School Baseball Career

At St. Rita High School, Farmer stood out as both a pitcher and a football player. He was 6-foot-5 and threw hard from the right side, which got scouts’ attention.

His high school baseball stats were something else. Farmer made the Chicago Tribune Prep Baseball All-Stars multiple times, which was a huge deal in that area.

During his senior year, he led the Catholic High School League with an incredible 158 strikeouts.

He helped the St. Rita Mustangs win the league championship in his final high school season. That put him on the radar for pro scouts and college recruiters everywhere.

Besides baseball, he played football at St. Rita too. Being good at more than one sport made colleges even more interested in him.

Influence of Chicago State University

Farmer got scholarship offers from dozens of colleges after high school. Notre Dame even recruited him, but mostly for football, not baseball.

His dad wanted him to go to Notre Dame for football and academics, and Farmer himself thought about studying pre-medicine. He clearly had plans beyond just sports.

Deciding between jumping into pro baseball or going to college wasn’t easy for him.

But in the end, pro baseball pulled him in. His mom, who was ill, encouraged him to chase his baseball dream instead of going to college.

The Cleveland Indians drafted Farmer in the fifth round of the 1967 draft. He signed for $10,000, leaving his amateur days behind and starting his pro career.

Major League Baseball Career Overview

Ed Farmer pitched in the big leagues for 11 seasons from 1971 to 1983. He played for eight teams and put up a 30-43 record with a 4.30 ERA.

He started out as a struggling starter but eventually became a solid reliever, collecting 75 saves. His best years came with the Chicago White Sox.

MLB Debut and Early Years

Farmer made his MLB debut on June 9, 1971, for the Cleveland Indians at just 21. The Indians picked him in the fifth round after he finished at St. Rita High School.

He spent his first three seasons (1971-1973) with Cleveland, pitching in 105 games. The team used him as both a starter and a reliever, but he never really found his groove.

In June 1973, Cleveland traded him to the Detroit Tigers for pitcher Tom Timmermann and infielder Kevin Collins. He pitched 24 times for Detroit that year.

His early career kept bouncing around with short stints in Philadelphia (1974) and Milwaukee (1975). By then, Farmer had appeared in 143 games, with a 12-12 record and a 5.05 ERA.

Teams Played For in MLB

Farmer really got around, playing for eight different teams. He even had two separate runs with both the Phillies and Brewers.

Teams and Years:

• Cleveland Indians (1971-1973)
• Detroit Tigers (1973)
• Philadelphia Phillies (1974, 1982-1983)
• Baltimore Orioles (1977)
• Milwaukee Brewers (1978)
• Texas Rangers (1979)
• Chicago White Sox (1979-1981)
• Oakland Athletics (1983)

But it was the Chicago White Sox where Farmer made his biggest mark. He pitched there from 1979 to 1981 and racked up 54 of his 75 career saves.

His time with the Sox included his only All-Star Game in 1980, when he had 30 saves and seven wins.

Transition to Reliever Role

Farmer started just 21 games in his career. He came out of the bullpen in his other 349 appearances. That switch to relief pitching really changed things for him.

After shoulder surgery in 1976 took out a bone spur, Farmer had to rebuild his career in the minors. He came back to the majors as a reliever.

His best years came after joining the White Sox in 1979. That year, he got 14 saves, with 13 coming after the All-Star break.

The 1980 season was his peak. He made the All-Star team and finished with 30 saves, becoming one of the league’s more dependable closers.

He stayed effective as a reliever through 1981, but his performance dropped off in his last two years with Philadelphia and Oakland.

Notable Accomplishments and All-Star Recognition

Ed Farmer found his stride with the White Sox between 1979 and 1981, earning All-Star honors in 1980 and setting team records. He delivered clutch saves and became one of the team’s most reliable relievers.

All-Star Selection in 1980

Farmer hit his career high point in 1980 with his only All-Star selection. He pitched two-thirds of an inning for the American League at Dodger Stadium.

He earned that spot after a strong first half, posting a 3.34 ERA over 99⅔ innings and appearing in 64 games. Farmer had become the Sox’s main closer.

That All-Star nod felt like validation after years of fighting back from arm problems and even being out of the majors for three years. It capped off his comeback.

Chicago White Sox Franchise Records

Farmer set the White Sox record with 30 saves in 1980. That record lasted until Bobby Thigpen broke it with 57 saves in 1990.

Over three seasons with Chicago, Farmer picked up 54 of his 75 career saves. In 1980, he had a hand in nearly half of the team’s 70 wins, earning a save or victory in 37 games.

His 30 saves that year were crucial for the team. He got that milestone save on October 4, 1980, in a game where 56-year-old Minnie Miñoso pinch-hit, marking Miñoso’s fifth decade in the majors.

Memorable MLB Performances

Farmer’s first big league save came on June 9, 1971, in his debut against the White Sox. He came in with runners on, struck out Tom Egan, and sealed a 3-1 win for Cleveland.

One of his best games with the White Sox happened on July 10, 1979. He retired six straight batters to save a 6-3 win over Texas.

Just two days later, he tossed 3⅔ scoreless innings in a doubleheader against Detroit. That second game got forfeited because of the wild Disco Demolition Night at Comiskey Park.

He finished his time with the White Sox with a 3.31 ERA in 148 games. Most of his 75 career saves came during those peak years from 1979 to 1981.

Key Seasons: 1980 to Retirement in 1983

Ed Farmer’s last years in the majors showed both his peak and his gradual decline as a reliever. His 1980 All-Star season with the White Sox was the highlight, while his later years with the Phillies and A’s showed his value as a veteran before he retired in 1983.

Phenomenal 1980 Season

Farmer’s 1980 run with the White Sox stands out. He made the All-Star team and got to pitch at Dodger Stadium, where he faced three batters and ended the sixth inning by getting Pete Rose to ground into a double play.

That season, he set career highs all over the place. Farmer saved 30 games, setting a White Sox record at the time and ranking third in baseball. He also won seven games, another personal best.

He was especially sharp in the first half, picking up 18 saves before the All-Star break. By then, he was one of the league’s most trusted closers.

The great season led to a big salary arbitration in 1981. Farmer asked for $495,000, the Sox offered $300,000, and the arbitrator sided with Farmer.

Career Highlights with Philadelphia Phillies and Oakland Athletics

After leaving Chicago as a free agent in November 1981, Farmer signed with the Phillies in January 1982 for his second go-round with them. This time, he shifted from being a top closer to more of a veteran relief pitcher.

In 1982, Farmer pitched in 47 games for the Phillies. His job changed—he became more of a setup man and situational reliever, so he didn’t get as many save chances.

By 1983, Farmer only pitched 12 times for the Phillies before they released him in August. That was the end of his second stint there.

The Oakland A’s picked him up right after. He made five appearances for them late in 1983, which turned out to be his last MLB games.

Contributions as a Veteran Pitcher

Farmer’s worth in those final years wasn’t just about stats. He became a mentor and a steady presence in the bullpen.

With experience on eight teams, he knew a lot about hitters and game situations. His time with different pitching coaches and teams made him a resource for younger pitchers.

Even when his fastball slowed down, Farmer’s command and pitch selection still worked for him. He threw strikes and didn’t walk many, which kept him effective even as his best years faded.

His work ethic and professionalism rubbed off on teammates. Farmer’s understanding of the mental side of pitching and his ability to adjust made him valuable right up to the end.

Final MLB Appearances and Retirement

Farmer wrapped up his MLB career with five final games for the Oakland Athletics in 1983. On October 2, 1983, he made his last appearance, notching his 370th and final major league game.

Oakland let Farmer go in March 1984, and that move closed the door on his big league days. He still tried to keep playing, spending some time in the minors with Oakland’s system during 1984.

In 1985, Farmer suited up for the Class A Miami Marlins of the Florida State League, even though they weren’t affiliated with a big league club. He played his last professional season in 1986 with the Pittsburgh Pirates’ Triple-A team.

Farmer’s career numbers tell a story of both endurance and skill: 30 wins, 43 losses, 75 saves, and a 4.30 ERA over 370 games. Most of his 349 relief outings happened during his best stretch with the White Sox from 1979 to 1981.

Post-Playing Career and Broadcasting Legacy

When he finally hung up his cleats, Ed Farmer dove into baseball broadcasting. He spent almost 30 years as the voice of Chicago White Sox radio. Over the years, he worked with John Rooney, Chris Singleton, and Darrin Jackson, moving from color commentator to play-by-play announcer.

Becoming a Radio Broadcaster

Farmer’s broadcasting story started in 1989, but not behind a microphone—he joined the Baltimore Orioles as a scout. That job helped him look at the game in a new way, analyzing players and seeing things differently.

Three years later, in 1992, he made the jump to radio broadcasting.

The Chicago White Sox brought Farmer on as their radio broadcaster, bringing him back home to Chicago’s South Side. His playing days gave him insights that really came through in the booth.

Farmer’s move from player to broadcaster felt natural. He understood pitching and game strategy, so he made it easy for listeners to follow along. Fans liked how he could break down baseball situations in a way that made sense.

Role as Chicago White Sox Announcer

Farmer became the main voice of White Sox baseball for 28 years. He called games from both old Comiskey Park and the new stadium, which eventually became Guaranteed Rate Field.

His broadcasting career ran from 1992 until his death in 2020.

During those years, Farmer called some of the biggest moments in White Sox history. He was on the mic for the 2005 World Series run, which snapped the franchise’s title drought since 1917.

Farmer’s style was easygoing and informative. He drew on his pitching experience to break down strategy and player choices. Fans seemed to appreciate his honest takes and deep baseball knowledge.

Work with John Rooney, Chris Singleton, and Darrin Jackson

John Rooney Partnership (1992-2005)

Farmer had his longest booth partnership with John Rooney. They worked together for 13 seasons, from 1992 through 2005. Rooney called the play-by-play, while Farmer added color commentary.

Chris Singleton Era (2006-2008)

After Rooney left, Farmer teamed up with Chris Singleton, a former White Sox outfielder. They worked together for three seasons, from 2006 to 2008. Singleton brought his own on-field experience, which balanced nicely with Farmer’s pitching background.

Later Broadcasting Partners

Farmer kept working with different partners, including Darrin Jackson in his later years. These collaborations let him share his baseball smarts with a variety of broadcasting styles.

Transition from Color Commentator to Play-by-Play

Farmer started out as a color commentator, offering analysis and insight between plays while his partner described the action. His pitching background made him especially good at explaining strategy and decisions.

Eventually, Farmer took on more play-by-play duties. He got comfortable calling the action as it unfolded on the field.

By his later years, Farmer had become the main voice of White Sox baseball. He handled both play-by-play and color commentary, depending on what the moment called for. That flexibility made him a real asset to the broadcast team.

Personal Life, Health Challenges, and Legacy

Off the field, Ed Farmer faced hereditary kidney disease with a lot of courage. He also worked hard to help others dealing with similar health issues. His fight with polycystic kidney disease shaped his life and pushed him to raise awareness about organ donation.

Battling Kidney Disease

Farmer inherited polycystic kidney disease from his family. This condition creates clusters of cysts around the kidneys.

The disease took his mother Marilyn’s life when she was just 38. Farmer was only 17, in his first year of minor league ball, when he lost his mom.

Years later, the same disease threatened his own life. By 1990, Farmer was working as a scout for the Orioles when his health started to fail.

During a scouting trip to Boston in August 1990, Angels manager Doug Rader noticed how sick Farmer looked. Team trainers rushed him to Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center.

Doctors told him he had just three days to live if he didn’t get a kidney transplant.

Farmer’s brother Tom became his donor, and it turned out to be a perfect match. Dr. Theodore Steinman performed the life-saving surgery on January 18, 1991.

That transplant gave Farmer a second chance at life, and it set the stage for his broadcasting career with the Chicago White Sox.

Community Impact and Charity Work

After his transplant, Farmer became a strong advocate for kidney disease awareness. He talked openly about his health challenges, hoping to help others understand the condition.

Farmer used his platform as a broadcaster to encourage organ donation. He shared his story to inspire people to become donors. His brother’s gift saved his life and let him keep serving baseball fans.

The former pitcher was known for being approachable and kind, both to fans and colleagues. He always made time to chat with people who wanted to talk.

His warmth and generosity made him a beloved figure in the Chicago sports community.

Lasting Influence on Baseball and Broadcasting

Farmer spent 29 years as a radio broadcaster for the Chicago White Sox. Only Hall of Famer Bob Elson stuck around longer behind the mic for the team.

His style stood out—full of sharp wit and real pitching expertise. He worked with folks like John Rooney, Chris Singleton, and Steve Stone.

Darrin Jackson once called Farmer “a competitor who was everyone’s best friend.” That deep knowledge of pitching? It really helped fans see the game in a new way.

Farmer’s time as a broadcaster far outlasted his playing days. He became a familiar voice for White Sox fans, whether they were at home, stuck in traffic, or catching a game at the ballpark.

His voice kept generations of Chicago baseball fans connected right up until his passing on April 1, 2020, at age 70.