He then missed four full seasons due to World War II service in the United States Navy.

Lavagetto is best-known for his performance in game four of the 1947 World Series, when he drove home the winning run with a double while New York Yankees pitcher Bill Bevens was one out away from throwing what would have been the first no-hitter in World Series history.

Lavagetto started his professional baseball career with the Oakland Oaks of the Pacific Coast League in 1933.

In game four, played on October 3 at Ebbets Field, Yankees pitcher Bill Bevens had a no-hitter with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning and was ahead 2–1.

[3] Lavagetto returned to Oakland and finished his playing career with the Oaks (1948–1950),[2] where he was a mentor to a young Billy Martin.

[3] When Oakland manager Chuck Dressen was named the field leader of the Dodgers in 1951, Lavagetto accompanied him and returned to Brooklyn as one of his coaches.

The club featured promising young players such as Harmon Killebrew, Jim Kaat, Earl Battey, and Bob Allison, as well as veteran pitcher Camilo Pascual, just entering his prime.

However, the Senators' encouraging 1960 season came too late to keep the franchise in Washington; owner Calvin Griffith moved the club to Minneapolis–Saint Paul, where it became the Minnesota Twins in 1961.

Lavagetto then returned to the coaching ranks with the New York Mets (1962–1963), and — back home in the Bay Area — the San Francisco Giants (1964–1967) before leaving baseball.