From Bryant Pond, the Hall of Fame adds another good hitting pitcher to its roster —Stan Farrar— whose career encompassed parts of five decades.
Born in 1919, Farrar's name appeared at the age of 14 when he lost a 2-1 outing In 14 innings for the Woodstock town team. In 1937, as a senior at Woodstock H.S., Stan hurled a complete game, but lost 3-2 in the state final against Livermore Falls. in this losing effort, he slammed two triples. And this would be his trademark - "good pitch," "good hit".
in 1938 and 1939 Stan played for the Woodstock town team and participated in Portland tournaments that featured the Worumbo Indians ——noted throughout the state. in one of those tournaments, Farrar gained all-state honors at third base with no errors and a gaudy .585 batting average.
From 1942 to 1945, Farrar was in the Marine Corps and fought at Guadalcanal. Upon his return, he resumed playing for town teams.
Farrar had a one-year fling In professional baseball, pastiming in 1947 for a Red Sox farm club, the Geneva, N.Y. Red Birds. The Geneva nine was managed by Charlie Small (HOF '75). Farrar pitched in 37 games, posting a record of 8-15. He also played 15 games in the outfield and occasionally pinch hit with a BA of .300 plus.
in 1948, he returned to Bryant Pond to become postmaster, a job that he held until retirement in 1977.
in 1952, Stan joined the Dixfield team in the Eastern Amateur Baseball Congress (ABC) tournament at Battlecreek, Michigan. It was Dixfield's third trip to Battle Creek, but the Maine club was described as a ‘lightly regarded team’.
in the opener, Dixfield gained a 13-9 triumph over Oklahoma City with Farrar moving from first base to give 2 2/3 innings of relief: Oklahoma City was labeled "highly favored".
in the second game, Farrar went 3 for 5 at the plate and hurled a 19-2 complete game victory over Huntington, W. Virginia. Against Louden, Tennessee, Farrar used the glove at first base to make a sensational grab to save game #3. For the first time a Maine team had progressed to the final eight.
But that was to be the high spot as the Dixfield boys dropped two of the next three —beating Battle Creek 2-O— and finished a surprising third behind the NY City and Cuba entries.
Farrar continued to play town ball until he was 51 —playing all nine positions at one time or another. His last appearance came when he broke a shoulder sliding into second base at an Old timers Game at the age of 62! When asked why he went in head first, Mr. Farrar replied, "It's the only way | know how to play baseball."
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