After languishing over eight seasons in the minors, Farr capitalized on a trial with the Royals in 1985. Relying on a baffling slider and fine curveball, he eventually replaced Dan Quisenberry as the Royals' closer. In 1988 Farr saved 20 games and led Kansas City pitchers with a 2.50 ERA.
Farr notched 18 saves for the Royals in 1989, but the emergence of Jeff Montgomery signaled the end of his tenure as the club's top fireman. In November 1990 Farr signed with the Yankees, with whom he averaged 26 saves over the next three seasons.
1994 marked the end of the road for the aging veteran, who began the year with the Indians but was sent to the Red Sox with prospect Chris Nabholz in June in a deal for Jeff Russell. When the strike hit, Farr called it quits. (FO/JGR)
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FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY
»August 1, 1984: Cleveland's Steve Farr wins his 2nd game against seven losses, allowing two Tiger hits in six 1/3 innings, as the Indians win, 4–2. John Vukovich clubs two homers for Cleveland.
»August 15, 1991: Yankees 1B Don Mattingly is benched and fined $250 for refusing to cut his shoulder-length hair, but the Yankees still beat Kansas City, 5–1. He will get one two days later, and the hair will eventually be auctioned off for $3,000 to benefit a children's charity. Mattingly is not alone; Steve Farr, Matt Nokes, and Pascual Perez have all been told their hair length violates club policy. Mel Hall, who wears his hair in a small ponytail before and after games, is warned his appearance is "borderline."
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