A longtime San Diego resident who was born in Albany, New York, Brucker threw and batted right-handed, stood 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) (180 cm) tall and weighed 175 pounds (79 kg).

He made his first appearance in professional baseball in 1924 for the Seattle Indians of the Pacific Coast League, but it would be 13 years before he would reach the majors.

He played his entire MLB career (1937–40; 1943) for the Philadelphia Athletics and served as a player-coach or coach under legendary A's manager Connie Mack for nine full seasons, 1941–49.

During his long tenure with Philadelphia, he also witnessed the brief major-league career of his son Earle Jr., also a catcher, who appeared in two games for the Athletics at the end of the 1948 season.

During the latter season, from July 30 to August 3,[1] he served as interim manager of the Reds for five games during the transition when Luke Sewell was replaced by Rogers Hornsby.