Carl played in one game for the 1874 Baltimore Canaries of the National Association.

He was 0-for-3 that day, and the Canaries lost to the New York Mutuals, 15-1, en route to 9-38 season, after which they folded.

Three years later, in 1877, Carl appeared in eight games for the Manchester, New Hampshire based, Manchester club of the International Association, a quasi-major league that featured many players that would later play in the real big leagues, including John O'Rourke, brother of "Orator" Jim O'Rourke.

John Carl died on October 2, 1927, in Baltimore, Maryland, at the age of 73.

This biographical article relating to an American baseball catcher born in the 1850s is a stub.