 Born in Louisville, Kentucky, in 1929, Littrell initially signed with the Boston Red Sox in 1948, and played in Boston's farm system during the 1948 and 1949 seasons.In a New York–Penn League game (then known as the PONY League) on August 15, 1949, he hit four home runs, coming on consecutive at bats.Littrell moved to the Philadelphia Athletics prior to the 1950 season, and played in the Athletics' minor league system from 1950 through 1954.