Thomas Woodley "Woody" Abernathy (October 16, 1908 – February 11, 1961) was a professional baseball player whose career spanned 13 seasons in minor league baseball. Over that time, Abernathy played for multiple teams in multiple leagues including the Class-D Vicksburg Hill Billies (1928) of the Cotton States League; the Class-B Montgomery Lions (1929–1930) of the Southeastern League; the Class-A Birmingham Barons (1931–1933) of the Southern Association; the Double-A Baltimore Orioles (1934–1937) and the Double-A Buffalo Bisons (1938) of the International League; the Class-A1 Knoxville Smokies (1939) of the Southern Association; and the Double-A Milwaukee Brewers (1940) and the St. Paul Saints (1940) of the American Association. During his career in the minors, Abernathy batted .315 with 1997 hits, 345 doubles, 106 triples and 210 home runs in 1713 games. For college, Abernathy attended Auburn University, where he played football. During his tenure in the International League, Abernathy ranked in the top-five in home runs hit in all of his four seasons in the league, including leading twice (1934, 1936). Although Abernathy never played in Major League Baseball, his contract was purchased by the Philadelphia Phillies from the Baltimore Orioles in 1935 and spent spring training with the Phillies in 1936. During the 1938 season, while playing with the Buffalo Bisons, Abernathy suffered a fractured skull after being stuck in the head by a pitch and was hospitalized for nearly a month. Abernathy batted left-handed and threw right-handed. Early life Thomas Woodley "Woody" Abernathy was born on October 16, 1908, in Athens, Alabama, to Thomas H. and Hortence Abernathy of Tennessee and Texas, respectively. Thomas H. Abernathy worked as a meat cutter in Jefferson, Alabama. Woody Abernathy attended Auburn University in Auburn, Alabama. While at Auburn, Abernathy was described as a "football star" by the Associated Press; however, he chose to play baseball professionally instead. Professional career Early career Abernathy began his professional career with the Class-D Vicksburg Hill Billies of the Cotton States League in 1928. With the Hill Billies, Abernathy batted .358 with 60 runs, 169 hits, 33 doubles, 16 triples, two home runs and six stolen bases in 123 games played. On the defensive side, Abernathy played 63 games at first base and 57 games in the outfield. He was second in the Cotton States League in triples, third in hits, sixth in doubles and ninth in batting average. In 1929, Abernathy began his tenure with the Class-B