hiː ɡˈeɪnd ɐ tɹˈaɪaʊt wɪððɪ ˈiːɡəlz ɪn nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd θˈɜːɾi nˈaɪn, ænd wʌz sˈaɪnd baɪ ðɛɹ fˈɑːɹm tˈiːm, ðə wˈɪlmɪŋtən klˈɪpɚz.
He gained a tryout with the Eagles in 1939, and was signed by their farm team, the Wilmington Clippers.