Bat Could Take Farr A Long Way 3Rd Generation Catcher Pumps Up His Average

The silver anniversary of Ted Farr’s Big Call is one month away.

For any baseball people with juicy offers, the line to the Farr household is still open.

Ted Farr, No. 1 draft selection of the Los Angeles Dodgers in June 1973, is now No. 1 father to five boys and one girl.

The oldest son, Aaron, is a catcher like dad and grandpa before him. The difference between father and son is clear, Ted said.

“He’s a far, far better hitter than I was,” Ted said. “When I was drafted, it was basically for my arm.

“He works harder than I did, too.”

Aaron Farr is hitting close to .650 for North Central, one of five Greater Spokane League teams jockeying for the final three berths to the six-team district tournament.

NC was 3-7 less than three weeks ago, but has since avenged losses to Gonzaga Prep, Central Valley, Rogers, Mead and Lewis and Clark.

Chris Blotsky, Matt Schwarzer and Nick Froscheiser have helped lead the offensive charge, but nobody has kept up with Farr’s pace. His .583 average last week (7 for 12) actually dropped his overall average to .643.

The results are, well, a Farr cry from ‘97, when Aaron hit about .300.

Ted Farr said the GSL’s subpar pitching is one factor contributing to Aaron’s upswing. But both father and son agree that hours spent in the weight room have led to increased confidence at the plate.

Farr went 3 for 4, with three doubles, against league champion Ferris three weeks ago. Farr’s “triple-doubles” occurred in front of several scouts who were gauging the fastball of Saxons pitching ace Eric Sandberg.

“NC doesn’t exactly always have the best record, so I don’t get many looks,” Aaron said. “And my dad doesn’t like to talk me up and I don’t want him to do that sort of thing.”

Ted Farr, a Shadle Park graduate, spent five seasons of professional ball in the Dodgers organization. He played a few games at Triple-A Albuquerque, filling in for an injured catcher, then hit .270 with 18 homers for Double-A San Antonio in 1977.

Yet Ted never fully recovered from arm injuries that came early in his pro career.

Aaron doesn’t throw with the same power as did his dad, but his defensive skills are strong. Until his hitting surge, Aaron considered himself a defensive catcher.

The desire to catch came from talking to his dad and grandfather, Bill, who caught Jack Spring at Lewis and Clark before Spring’s professional career.

Nobody will question Aaron’s will to succeed. He and Shadle’s Ryan Keyes run a 6-year-old lawn care business that services 60 customers per week. Some of Aaron’s four younger brothers distribute hundreds of fliers to attract new blood.

“You wouldn’t believe how hard he works,” Ted said. “It’s a legitimate business.”

Aaron has saved more than $3,000 toward college. That’s $42,000 less than Ted signed for as the Dodgers’ bonus baby 25 years ago.