 Pavletich served in the U.S. Army from May 1957 to February 1959.Pavletich's first Major League hit was in the first game of a doubleheader on April 29, 1962, in a 16–3 Reds loss to the St. Louis Cardinals.Replacing Reds catcher Johnny Edwards midway through the fourth inning, in the next inning Pavletich singled off the Cardinals' Larry Jackson.