In the Negro leagues, he played shortstop for the Crawfords in Pittsburgh in 1937–38, in Toledo in 1939, and in Indianapolis in early 1940, where the team folded.

[4] In 1950 at age 35, Clarkson entered the minor leagues with the Milwaukee Brewers of the American Association.

[4] In 1952, five years after Jackie Robinson became the first African American major leagues baseball player, Clarkson at age 37 had his only opportunity to play in the major leagues when he played fourteen games for the Boston Braves.

With the Crabbers, Clarkson played alongside two young stars in the making: Roberto Clemente and Willie Mays.

After his retirement, Buster Clarkson led a relatively quiet life in Pennsylvania, until his death, on January 18, 1989, in the small town of Jeannette.