ˈæftɚ bɪɡˈɪnɪŋ nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd fˈoːɹɾi ˈeɪt ɪnðə mˈaɪnɚ lˈiːɡz wɪð ɐ pɹˈɑːmɪsɪŋ kæmpˈeɪn æt klˈæs bˈiː dˈænvɪl — hiː wɛnt ɪlˈɛvən sˈɛvən wɪð ɐ tˈuː.twˈɛnti fˈaɪv ˈɜːnd ɹˈʌn ˈævɹɪdʒ ɪn twˈɛnti fˈoːɹ ɡˈeɪmz — hiː wʌz ɹᵻkˈɔːld ˈæftɚ sɛptˈɛmbɚ wˈʌn, ænd mˌeɪd hɪz ˌɛmˌɛlbˈiː deɪbjˈuː ˌɔn sɛptˈɛmbɚ sˈɪks, nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd fˈoːɹɾi ˈeɪt, ɪn ɹᵻlˈiːf ɐɡˈɛnst ðɪ ᵻvˈɛntʃuːəl nˈæʃənəl lˈiːɡ tʃˈæmpiən bˈɔstən bɹˈeɪvz æt bɹˈeɪvz fˈiːld.
After beginning 1948 in the minor leagues with a promising campaign at Class B Danville — he went 11–7 with a 2.25 earned run average in 24 games — he was recalled after September 1, and made his MLB debut on September 6, 1948, in relief against the eventual National League champion Boston Braves at Braves Field.