Turk Farrell
Encyclopedia
Richard Joseph "Turk" Farrell (April 8, 1934–June 10, 1977) was an American
right-handed pitcher
in Major League Baseball
who had a 14-year career from 1956 to 1969. Born in Boston, Massachusetts, he played for the Philadelphia Phillies
, Los Angeles Dodgers
and Houston Colt .45s
and Astros
, all of the National League
.
Before the 1953 season, Farrell was signed by the Philadelphia Phillies as an amateur free agent. The nineteen year old was assigned to the class A Schenectady Blue Jays where over a two year span (1953–54), he would build an 18-18 record and a 3.30 ERA. He spent 1955 in the IL with the Syracuse Chiefs going 12-12 with a 3.94 ERA, and in 1956 he played for the Miami Marlins
, going 12-6 with a 2.50 ERA.
Turk would get a late season look in 1956 by the Phillies and would lose his only decision but set the groundwork for a 14 year run in the major leagues. Turk was one of the young Phillies pitchers of the late 1950s, along with Jack Meyer
and Jim Owens
, dubbed the "Dalton Gang" for their fun loving late hour escapades. It was once said of Farrell by a teammate, "When he loses, he loses his temper, but when he wins he's the life of the party." After one tough defeat he broke a mirror with his fist in a Milwaukee bar explaining, "I looked in the mirror and didn't like what I saw so I threw a punch."
Phillies fans liked what they saw of the 6'4" hard throwing rookie right-hander in 1957 when he was 10-2 plus 10 saves and a 2.38 ERA in 52 appearances out of the bullpen. On September 3, 1957, Farrell was the winning pitcher for the Phils in the last of fifteen home games the Dodgers played at the Jersey City Roosevelt Stadium, 3-2 in twelve innings. After four more seasons of relief work with the Phils, "Turk" was traded to the Dodgers early in 1961.
Farrell was selected in the 1961 MLB expansion draft
by the Houston Colt .45s
. In 1962, Farrell finished with the seventh best ERA
at 3.02, but finished with a poor 10-20 record.
A starter in Houston, Farrell was used almost exclusively in relief with Philadelphia and Los Angeles. His career totals include 590 games pitched (134 starts), a won-loss record of 106-111, 83 saves, and an ERA of 3.45.
He was selected to the National League All-Star
team 4 times (1958, 1962, 1964 and 1965) in his career.
Farrell last pitched in the major leagues on September 19, 1969 for the Phillies against the Expos in a game the Phillies lost 10-6. Farrell went 1⅔ innings in the first game of a doubleheader at Parc Jarry, allowing one hit and striking out one. He would never pitch in the majors again, and would leave the US shortly thereafter for good. Farrell moved to England where he lived and worked on an offshore oil rig just off Great Britain in the North Sea.
He was killed on June 10, 1977 in an auto accident in Great Yarmouth
, England
at age 43.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
right-handed pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
who had a 14-year career from 1956 to 1969. Born in Boston, Massachusetts, he played for the Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
, Los Angeles Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
and Houston Colt .45s
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
and Astros
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
, all of the National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
.
Before the 1953 season, Farrell was signed by the Philadelphia Phillies as an amateur free agent. The nineteen year old was assigned to the class A Schenectady Blue Jays where over a two year span (1953–54), he would build an 18-18 record and a 3.30 ERA. He spent 1955 in the IL with the Syracuse Chiefs going 12-12 with a 3.94 ERA, and in 1956 he played for the Miami Marlins
Miami Marlins (IL)
The Miami Marlins was the name of a Class AAA American minor league baseball franchise based in Miami, Florida, that played in the International League from 1956 through 1960.The Marlins were a transplanted version of the original Syracuse Chiefs...
, going 12-6 with a 2.50 ERA.
Turk would get a late season look in 1956 by the Phillies and would lose his only decision but set the groundwork for a 14 year run in the major leagues. Turk was one of the young Phillies pitchers of the late 1950s, along with Jack Meyer
Jack Meyer
John Robert "Jack" Meyer is a former professional baseball player. He was a right-handed pitcher over parts of seven seasons with the Philadelphia Phillies...
and Jim Owens
Jim Owens (baseball)
James Philip Owens , nicknamed "Bear," is a former right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who played from to with the Philadelphia Phillies, Cincinnati Reds and Houston Astros. He was 5'11" tall and he weighed 190 pounds.Originally signed by the Phillies in , he played in the minors until...
, dubbed the "Dalton Gang" for their fun loving late hour escapades. It was once said of Farrell by a teammate, "When he loses, he loses his temper, but when he wins he's the life of the party." After one tough defeat he broke a mirror with his fist in a Milwaukee bar explaining, "I looked in the mirror and didn't like what I saw so I threw a punch."
Phillies fans liked what they saw of the 6'4" hard throwing rookie right-hander in 1957 when he was 10-2 plus 10 saves and a 2.38 ERA in 52 appearances out of the bullpen. On September 3, 1957, Farrell was the winning pitcher for the Phils in the last of fifteen home games the Dodgers played at the Jersey City Roosevelt Stadium, 3-2 in twelve innings. After four more seasons of relief work with the Phils, "Turk" was traded to the Dodgers early in 1961.
Farrell was selected in the 1961 MLB expansion draft
1961 MLB Expansion Draft
The 1961 MLB Expansion Draft was held by Major League Baseball on October 10, 1961 to fill the rosters of the New York Mets and the Houston Colt .45s. The Mets and the Colts were the new franchises which would enter the league in the 1962 season...
by the Houston Colt .45s
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
. In 1962, Farrell finished with the seventh best ERA
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
at 3.02, but finished with a poor 10-20 record.
A starter in Houston, Farrell was used almost exclusively in relief with Philadelphia and Los Angeles. His career totals include 590 games pitched (134 starts), a won-loss record of 106-111, 83 saves, and an ERA of 3.45.
He was selected to the National League All-Star
Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The Major League Baseball All-Star Game, also known as the "Midsummer Classic", is an annual baseball game between players from the National League and the American League, currently selected by a combination of fans, players, coaches, and managers...
team 4 times (1958, 1962, 1964 and 1965) in his career.
Farrell last pitched in the major leagues on September 19, 1969 for the Phillies against the Expos in a game the Phillies lost 10-6. Farrell went 1⅔ innings in the first game of a doubleheader at Parc Jarry, allowing one hit and striking out one. He would never pitch in the majors again, and would leave the US shortly thereafter for good. Farrell moved to England where he lived and worked on an offshore oil rig just off Great Britain in the North Sea.
He was killed on June 10, 1977 in an auto accident in Great Yarmouth
Great Yarmouth
Great Yarmouth, often known to locals as Yarmouth, is a coastal town in Norfolk, England. It is at the mouth of the River Yare, east of Norwich.It has been a seaside resort since 1760, and is the gateway from the Norfolk Broads to the sea...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
at age 43.