"[1] Like Ruth, Arlett was a large man, 6 feet 4 inches (1.93 m) and 230 pounds (100 kg), who began his career as a pitcher before becoming his league's dominant home run hitter.

He was for many decades the all-time minor league home run king in the United States, until being surpassed by Mike Hessman on August 3, 2015.

Arlett was the youngest of four sons (Alexander, Harry, Leslie "Dick", and Russell) born to German immigrant Beny and his English wife Lillian.

During their youth, the Arlett brothers would often play baseball from sunrise till sundown.

Although he compiled a .313 batting average and hit 18 home runs — fourth in the National League — his lackluster fielding led the Phillies to use him as a pinch-hitter for much of the season.

On June 2, 1932, he hit home runs in consecutive at bats against the team from Reading, Pennsylvania.

Arlett's record of 54 home runs in 1932 is the second-highest annual total in International League history, and through the 2003 season no International League batter has equalled or surpassed Arlett's 54 home runs.

In 1934, Arlett briefly started the season with the Birmingham Barons and then moved to the Minneapolis Millers of the American Association.

In his career as a minor-league player, Arlett earned a .341 batting average and a .604 slugging percentage.

In 1936, Arlett married Vivian Johnson, who was secretary to Minneapolis Millers owner Mike Kelly.