• Card series: Beginnings: 1880's
• City: Pittsburgh
• Team: Alleghenys
• League: National League

William Charles Farmer (1864-1928) had a very brief major league career as a catcher for two teams in 1888. He played first for the Pittsburgh Alleghenys of the National League and got into two games with four at bats. He then moved across state to the Philadelphia Athletics of the American Association where he played in three games and got two hits in 12 plate appearances. He drove in one run. Such was the lot of this would-be big leaguer, a “career average” of .125. Bill did better when he moved west to the St. Paul Apostles in 1889. He was behind the plate for 28 of his 63 games and batted .272. He even showed some speed with 38 steals. He was on the team’s roster the following year but performance data is lacking. Similarly, for Farmer’s first minor league assignment in 1887 with the Shamokin Maroons in the Central Pennsylvania League, we know only that he was on the team.

• High Heat Stats has compiled a list of all the Emerald Isle-born players who made it to MLB. Farmer, of Dublin, is one of only 44 on that roll
• The Goodwin editors point out a somewhat mournful stat for Mr. Farmer: he was featured in more Old Judge card poses (5) than he had hits in his major league tenure (2)