hiː sˈɔː ˈækʃən ɪn ˈɔːl ʌv pˈɑːɹts ʌv sˈɛvən mˈaɪnɚ lˈiːɡ sˈiːzənz spˈænɪŋ nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd fˈoːɹɾi nˈaɪn nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd fˈɪfti fˈaɪv, bᵻfˌoːɹ dʒˈɔɪnɪŋ ðə pˈaɪɹəts ˌɔn ˈeɪpɹəl fˈoːɹtiːn, nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd fˈɪfti fˈaɪv æz ɐ twˈɛnti sˈɛvənjˈɪɹˈoʊld ɹˈʊki.
He saw action in all of parts of seven Minor League seasons  spanning 1949–1955, before joining the Pirates on April 14, 1955 as a 27-year-old rookie.