He played for the Tigers during parts of the 1935 and 1937 seasons, compiling a 1–0 record and 8.44 earned run average (ERA) in 11 major league games.

[7] Five days later, he struck out 14 batters and threw a four-hit shutout against the University of Louisville Cardinals.

[10] He appeared in 40 games for Dayton in 1930, compiling a 12–15 record with 217 strikeouts and a 5.14 earned run average (ERA) in 247 innings pitched.

[11][12] On September 10, 1934, the Colonels sold Hatter to the Detroit Tigers in exchange for Rip Sewell.

[14] In late April, Detroit manager Mickey Cochrane said: "Hatter has a good fastball and an exceptional curve.

At the time of Hatter's demotion, Charles P. Ward wrote in the Detroit Free Press: "The silent southpaw looked like a big league pitcher during the spring training season but has not looked so good since the American League season opened.

"[17] During his three months with the Tigers during the 1935 season, Hatter appeared eight games, two as a starter, pitching 33-1/3 innings with no decisions and a 7.56 ERA.

In 1936, he appeared in 38 games for the Brewers, 30 as a starter, led the American Association with 16 wins, and compiled a 16–6 record with a 4.52 ERA.

[11] At the end of the 1936 season, Hatter reportedly suffered a "nervous breakdown" and failed to appear at the ball park for the opening game of the 1936 Little World Series.

In March 1937, and after two strong seasons with Milwaukee, Hatter was returned to the Tigers for spring training.

At the time, Charles P. Ward of the Detroit Free Press wrote:"Hatter has been a disappointment this year just as he has been on two previous occasions.

According to Owen, Hatter failed to show up at the ballpark for a couple days, claiming to be sick.

[23] On August 20, 1937, Hatter retired the first 16 batters and pitched a two-hit victory over the Minneapolis Millers.

[25] On September 8, 1937, Hatter returned to the Mud Hens and pitched for a 4–3 victory over the Indianapolis Indians.

[11] A newspaper account published on September 29, 1937, reported the Mud Hens had offered to give Hatter "the best of medical attention during the coming winter to bring him back to tip-top physical condition", and that the Mud Hens had assigned a "chaperon" to Hatter, but the chaperon had not kept him in shape to pitch.

[28] The account further opined that Hatter had blown two shots at the majors due to his behavior and was "of little use to the Mud Hens during the past campaign because of his wayward acts.

[29] The coroner's death certificate reported: "Died suddenly before I arrived -- Probably Heart Disease.

Interviewed in the 1980s, Owen reported on Hatter's death this way: "He went home that winter and they found him dead in the back of his father's car.