Prior to the 1964 season, Patterson was signed as an amateur free agent by the Los Angeles Dodgers.

He appeared in 22 games and compiled a 1–6 win–loss record with a 6.60 earned run average (ERA) for Santa Barbara.

[3] Patterson made his Major League Baseball debut with the Detroit Tigers on April 10, 1968.

[1] During the 1968 season, he appeared in 38 games, 37 as a relief pitcher, and compiled a 2.12 ERA, 49 strikeouts, and seven saves in 68 innings pitched.

[1] In parts of four seasons with the Tigers, he compiled a 9–7 win–loss records with a 3.55 ERA and 121 strikeouts in 177+2⁄3 innings pitched.

He was brought up to the Pirates in 1974, compiled a 7.29 ERA in 21 innings pitched, and appeared in his last major league game on September 14, 1974.

He had 35 at-bats without a hit with 1 RBI and 2 bases on balls in 37 plate appearances[1] After retiring from baseball, Patterson worked for 20 years for Pacific Gas & Electric.