hɪz mˈoʊst pɹədˈʌktɪv ɪnðə mˈaɪnɚz kˈeɪm ɪn nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd fˈɪfti fˈoːɹ, wˌɛn hiː pˈoʊstᵻd ˈeɪ .θɹˈiːhˈʌndɹɪd ˈeɪɾi sˈɛvən bˈæɾɪŋ ˈævɹɪdʒ wɪð θˈɜːɾi tˈuː hˈoʊm ɹˈʌnz ænd lˈɛd ðɪ ˌæɹɪzˈoʊnə tˈɛksəs lˈiːɡ wɪð wˈʌnhˈʌndɹɪd nˈaɪnti fˈaɪv ɹˈʌnz bˈæɾᵻd ˈɪn, hˈɛlpɪŋ ðə fˈiːnɪks stˈɑːɹz klˈɪntʃ ðə pˈɛnənt tˈaɪɾəl, ˈɜːnɪŋ ˈɔːlstˈɑːɹ tˈiːm ˈɑːnɚz fɔːɹ hɪz stˈɛlɚ nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd fˈɪfti fˈoːɹ kæmpˈeɪn.
His most productive in the minors came in 1954, when he posted a .387 batting average with 32 home runs and led the Arizona–Texas League with 195 runs batted in, helping the Phoenix Stars clinch the pennant title, earning All-Star Team honors for his stellar 1954 campaign.