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People and Pop Culture

Longtime White Sox Announcer Ed Farmer Passes Away At 70

Longtime White Sox radio play-by-play announcer ED FARMER, who grew up on the South Side of Chicago and pitched in the major leagues for 11 seasons before "embarking on a 28-year broadcasting career," died Wednesday night at 70 in an L.A.-area hospital of "complications from a previous illness," according to Daryl Van Schouwen of the CHICAGO SUN-TIMES. Farmer was a White Sox broadcaster for the last 14 seasons, "doing play-by-play on radio after working his first 14 in the booth as color commentator alongside JOHN ROONEY" from '92-'05. Between his playing and broadcast days, Farmer was a major league scout for the Orioles from '88-90 and served as a special assistant for the White Sox in '91. White Sox Chair JERRY REINSDORF in a statement said, "Ed Farmer was the radio voice of the Chicago White Sox for three decades, and he called no-hitters, perfect games and of course, a World Series championship. His experience as a major league All-Star pitcher, his wry sense of clubhouse humor, his love of baseball and his passion for the White Sox combined to make White Sox radio broadcasts the sound of summer for millions of fans" (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 4/2).

MAKING AN IMPACT: In Chicago, Vinnie Duber wrote to any of the hundreds of players who "came to the White Sox during Farmer’s tenure in the broadcast booth, they learned what made him a unique part of the organization." Farmer's broadcast was "often a talking point among White Sox fans." His broadcast partner, DARRIN JACKSON, said, "No matter what you thought of him as a play-by-play (announcer), you’ll never forget what he brought into your home, into your car. And the times he was broadcasting, he’s just such a memorable guy that there’s absolutely no way he didn’t make a difference in your life" (NBCSPORTSCHICAGO.com, 4/2). The AP noted Farmer became an "advocate for organ donation after a kidney transplant" in '91. He served on the BOD of the Polycystic Kidney Disease Research Foundation and "testified before the U.S. House of Representatives about the disease" in '95. He also "supported the state of Illinois organ donor program" (AP, 4/2). In Chicago, Teddy Greenstein writes under the header, "Ed Farmer And I Had Beef. But In Our Final Interaction, Thankfully, We Didn’t" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 4/3).

TWITTER REAX: White Sox analyst Steve Stone tweeted, "We were partners for a year on the radio. His love of the Sox and his passion for baseball ran deep. The South Side ran thru his blood." White Sox TV announcer Jason Benetti: "Ed Farmer was such a loyal, welcoming friend. Scores of people have lost a piece of their heart, including me." WGN's Andy Masur: "A competitor on the field & a gentleman off. He treated people so well. His stories were legendary & will be a lasting memory." ESPN Radio St. Louis' Chris Rongey: "Never known anyone like him. Truly I haven't. And there isn't a chance on Earth I ever will again. Ed Farmer was generous. He cared about people. He was funny, often times on purpose. He knew everybody. I think, literally, everybody. Goodbye, friend." 

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