 He had an unsuccessful tryout with the St. Louis Cardinals as a player in 1934.He began umpiring while serving as an Army Special Services officer during World War II, and eventually worked his way up to the National League after stops in the Eastern Shore (1948), Interstate (1949), Western (1950–52) and Pacific Coast Leagues (1953–59).He worked in the World Series in 1966 and 1972, serving as crew chief the second time, and in the All-Star Game in 1961 (second game), 1967 and 1975.