[2] Born in Kings Mountain, North Carolina, Early began his professional baseball career in 1936 at the age of 21 with the Jacksonville Tars of the South Atlantic League.

[1] He served as a reserve catcher, backing up future Baseball Hall of Fame member, Rick Ferrell.

[4] The Senators traded Ferrell to the St. Louis Browns in May 1941, leaving Early to share catching duties with Al Evans.

[5] Although his batting average dropped to .204, he led American League catchers in assists and in baserunners caught stealing, and finished second in putouts.

[4] These methods of distraction included his imitation of a radio announcer's play-by-play commentary, an auctioneer's sales pitch and even singing.

Dutch Leonard, Johnny Niggeling, Roger Wolff and Mickey Haefner all threw the notoriously difficult to catch knuckleball.

[1] After being discharged from military service, Early returned to play for the Senators in 1946 but, his two years absence from the game showed as he only managed to post a .201 average while sharing catching duties with Evans.