GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Sunday’s 2021 Cactus League debut for the White Sox felt more like Opening Day for Len Kasper and Darrin Jackson in their first radio broadcast together.

But for Kasper, who spent the last 16 years as the Cubs television play-by-play voice, this first contest was such a blast that it didn’t even feel like work.

“New partnership, new radio station, there’s a lot of new [Sunday],” Kasper said. “So, I felt great.

“It was weird because it was six innings, so it felt like it really flew by. The chemistry was instant and I’m going to really, really enjoy talking baseball with DJ. That’s the big take away from me is that we had a lot of very natural baseball conversations, and that’s the thing I love to do the most.”

Kasper has done a deep dive into the White Sox since joining the team and ESPN 1000, the organization’s new flagship station, on Dec. 4, 2020. He not only has been studying the current squad, but also researched franchise greats such as Nellie Fox, Luke Appling and Luis Aparicio.

As much as Kasper and Jackson will make the broadcasts their own moving into the future, Kasper wants to pay homage to the past. The open of each broadcast features a montage with the voices of Bob Elson, Harry Caray and John Rooney calling the final out of the 2005 World Series championship, and, of course, Ed Farmer, too.

Farmer, the larger than life longtime member of White Sox radio broadcasts, passed away at the age of 70 on April 1 of last year. Kasper eloquently spoke about Farmer’s friendship during his initial Zoom after taking the job, and he and Jackson, a close friend of Farmer’s, talked about him again Sunday.

“The open that will run before every first pitch this year, we have some classic White Sox radio calls and among those calls every day will include Ed Farmer and that was really important to me that his voice is on every White Sox broadcast,” Kasper said. “I spoke of his generosity.

“That’s a word that really always comes to mind when I think of Ed. He always welcomed me into the booth and I really got to become friendly with DJ because of 'Farmio.' I knew DJ and talked to him before they were partners, but our relationship became much better even when they were partners because they were so welcoming to me into their booth. It’s an honor to sit in that chair for sure. We were thinking a lot about Ed.”

There were other first-day memories for Kasper. Tim Anderson came to Camelback Ranch’s main field for batting practice Sunday morning and waved to Jason Benetti, the White Sox television voice, while welcoming him back. Benetti pointed to Kasper one booth over, and Anderson humorously and pointedly acknowledged Kasper’s crosstown move.

“Tim said, ‘No more Cubbie Blue for you. It’s all black and white now,’” Kasper said with a laugh. “I had my black vest on, the White Sox colors. I did it right in terms of the wardrobe today.”

Benetti and Kasper have swapped information early on, and Kasper is also friends with A.J. Pierzynski, who he can lean on as well. Kasper and Jackson have talked and texted a bunch leading up to Sunday, spending 90 minutes in person Saturday going over “philosophy and kind of the mechanics of a broadcast.”

Ten radio broadcasts are scheduled for White Sox Spring Training, with the final game likely being done remotely from Chicago to get ready logistically for the regular-season opener in Anaheim. As of the start of March, every ’21 White Sox broadcast will come from the home radio booth at Guaranteed Rate Field.

“I understand why we did it and why we have to start the season doing it,” Kasper said. “I said on the record many times, I want to get back to being on the road and being in the ballpark as soon as we possibly can. I think it’s good for us, it’s good for the listeners and the viewers.

“Information will be better. The White Sox have been very supportive of that whenever it’s appropriate and the guidelines allow us to do it.”

Jackson, who is entering his 13th season in the White Sox radio booth and 22nd overall as a White Sox broadcaster, likes to have fun on the air while also trying to inform the fans concerning the action on the field. It’s a combination fitting well with Kasper’s demeanor.

“I’m not perfect. I’m going to make mistakes. I’m willing to laugh at myself,” Kasper said. “I think DJ is too.

“Laughter and fun is what it’s all about. I embrace that too. I want to treat every single day like it’s unique and that it’s Game 7, baby. That’s really important as opposed to here’s another day on the calendar. I never look at it that way.”