Alexander Johnson Farmer, Jr. was a catcher for Brooklyn in 1908, appearing in 12 games but batting only .167 (5 for 30) in his dozen appearances. His major league career lasted but a month – September, to be exact – but what makes him a little unique is that he was a 31-year-old rookie…

The Superbas were short catchers. Bill Bergen found out his wife was seriously ill and left the club. Meanwhile, Lew Ritter was ill and sent home to Harrisburg to recover. That left outfielder Billy Maloney, who had caught when he came up with Milwaukee in 1901, as the only player on the roster with any catching experience. With Brooklyn on the way to Philadelphia, a wire was sent to a scout to find Farmer, who at least had played in higher level minor leagues (Providence in the Eastern League a few years earlier) and appeared in exhibitions against professionals more recently as a member of the Ridgewoods, to have him join the team. Joe Dunn, sent to Evansville to get more experience, was soon recalled joining Farmer for the last four weeks. When the season ended, Farmer returned to his amateur baseball world.

Much of Farmer’s baseball life was spent with the Ridgewoods, an amateur club in Brooklyn. He pitched there from 1906 through at least 1911 (and possibly before that). Prior to that, Baseball-Reference.com shows him spending at least one year with New London in the Connecticut State League in 1900 and parts of two seasons in the Eastern League in 1904 and 1905. I found an article that notes his catching for the Alis club in New Jersey as well.

The third of four children born to Alexander and Amelia (Shaw) Farmer, Alexander, Jr. arrived on May 9, 1877 in New York City. After his career he became a plumber, following in his father’s footsteps. Alex, Jr. and his wife, the former Charlotte Washburn, added two daughters to their family. Like many of the day, he died of tuberculosis and is buried in Kensico Cemetery.

Sources:

1860, 1900, 1910, 1920 US Census
WWI Draft Registration Form

“At New London,” Waterbury Democrat, June 13, 1900: 7.
“Trentons Will Try to Defeat Lindermann,” Brooklyn Times Union, April 11, 1906: 8.
“Ritter and Bergen Away; Al. Farmer Joins Brooklyn,” Brooklyn Daily Standard, September 1, 1908: 4.
“Farmer,” (Obit) New York Herald, March 7, 1920: 15.
“With the Amateurs,” Brooklyn Eagle, May 17, 1909: 22.
“Benefit to Al. Farmer,” Brooklyn Eagle, May 10, 1911: 24.

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