A left-hander, he played in parts of four Major League Baseball seasons, from 1903 to 1906, with the New York Highlanders and the St. Louis Cardinals.

[1] He began his baseball career playing for teams in the West End of Cincinnati before joining a club in Washington Court House in 1902.

[2] He ended his season with a 27–16 win–loss record and signed with the Helena Senators of the Pacific National League in 1903, taking the spot of Jimmy Wiggs.

[5][6] He made his major league debut on September 4 against the Washington Senators, relieving John Deering and allowing two runs, one of which was earned, and striking out three batters in 5.0 innings.

[14][15][16] He returned to the Highlanders in September and pitched in seven more games, ending the year with a 2–7 win-loss record and a .313 batting average as a hitter.

[4] In 1909, an arm injury led to him playing first base for a team in the Blue Grass League,[20] and by September he was training to transition from a pitcher to a first baseman.

[4] Puttmann left professional baseball after the 1911 season, and became manager and pitcher of the semi-pro Price Hill Knights of Columbus team in the Spinney League in 1912.