NEW VOICE IN BOOTH
Masur, a Chicago-area native, takes over for legendary Sox radio play-by-play announcer Farmer, who died April 1
“I AM TRULY HONORED AND HUMBLED TO JOIN MY FRIEND DARRIN JACKSON IN THE WHITE SOX RADIO BOOTH THIS SEASON. MANY PEOPLE BEFORE ME HAVE SAID LEGENDS CANNOT BE REPLACED, AND THE GREAT ED FARMER IS TRULY IRREPLACEABLE.” ANDY MASUR
The White Sox and WGN Radio named Andy Masur to replace Ed Farmer as the team’s radio play-by-play voice for the 2020 season Tuesday.
Masur will join analyst Darrin Jackson in the booth for broadcasts on 720-AM and the White Sox Radio Network during the shortened season. Farmer died April 1 at 70 after battling kidney disease for most of his life.
A graduate of Maine East High School in Park Ridge and Bradley University in Peoria, Masur was pregame host the last two seasons and called an inning of play-by-play for Sox home games. He also filled in for both Farmer and Jackson.
After working about 30 games as the playby-play voice last season, Masur seemed the natural choice to succeed Farmer, who often missed time with health issues in 2019. So the announcement was no surprise.
“I am truly honored and humbled to join my friend Darrin Jackson in the White Sox radio booth this season,” Masur said. “Many people before me have said legends cannot be replaced, and the great Ed Farmer is truly irreplaceable. As a fellow Chicagoan, I hope my passion for the city and the game of baseball connects with White Sox fans in a way that Ed
would be proud. I want to thank the White Sox and WGN Radio for this fantastic opportunity.”
Masur also has done select playby-play and pre- and postgame work for the Blackhawks, Cubs and Northwestern. Before rejoining WGN Radio in 2014, he spent seven seasons (2007-13) with the Padres as part of their radio broadcast team and worked games on FOX Sports San Diego. He also did playby-play for University of San Diego men’s basketball for eight seasons.
From 1999 to 2007, Masur worked for WGN as part of the Cubs Radio Network.
Jackson enters his 21st season as a Sox broadcaster in the radio and TV booths.
“After the loss of my best friend and partner Ed Farmer, I look forward to working with another friend, Andy Masur,” Jackson said via text message.
“I am fortunate enough to have already sat next to Andy on multiple occasions. Tune in for a fun season!”
Because of the coronavirus, broadcasters are expected to work home games from their teams’ ballparks and road games remotely.
Farmer, like Masur a “Chicago guy,” pitched for his hometown Sox during his playing career and spent 30 years as a Sox radio broadcaster.