A complex career, very similar to Skip Lockwood….marginal pitcher early on but matured to have a solid prime….Upon further review Farmer’s on the field performance may have been effected by a genetic kidney disease (Polycystic Kidney Disease) that would eventually take his life on April 2020…..Despite this a model perseverance……His 2 ½ years with the Tribe was uneven resulting in eventually landing in Philadelphia…..A low ebb came at end of 1974 after 5 MLB seasons had 5.05 ERA….a return to minors resulted in shoddier work….did not play in 1976 due to shoulder surgery…..without a club scouted and was signed by the Baltimore put in AAA….his 1977 return to the bigs resulted in a dishonorable “infinity” ERA as an Oriole ….acquired by the Brewers assigned to minors….an impressive handful innings in Milwaukee after being called up did raise his value to be traded to Texas…..His new employer gave him sorely needed work at the big league level; albeit of short duration….traded to White Sox and his career was instantly galvanized….instant game saving relief for his beloved south siders….saved 44 for the rest of 1979 and the duration of 1980….made all star team in 1980….free agent after 1980 and was re-signed for one year with a hefty payday….a fair 10 save total although his ERA ballooned to 4.61….a Chicago Tribune interview suggests that a kidney related physical decline may have started after a nasty on field fight with Detroit Tiger Al Cowens in 1979….reportedly Cowens wanted to even a score from a beaning incident while Farmer was a Ranger….moved via free agency for a second run with the Phillies (almost equally unsuccessful as the first)….Released then surfaced with Oakland for his last MLB appearance….doggedly spent another three years in various efforts to pitch his way back to the show….. a true rolling stone playing for seven big league franchises plus playing for two other farm systems….also had a spell in for Independent team and a disastrous 2 game appearance in the Mexican League….received a transplant donated from his brother....was a long time White Sox announcer his hometown team and location of his most success.
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