He played as an outfielder in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1943 to 1948 for the Boston Red Sox and the Washington Senators.

Culberson's first year in professional baseball was 1940, when he played for the Kannapolis Towelers of the Class D North Carolina State League.

Baseball records for many years credited a career minor league pitcher, Al Olsen, as appearing in the first game of that day's doubleheader as a pinch hitter who walked and had a stolen base.

He played through the war years due to a trick knee condition that rendered him unfit for military duty, and also sidelined him at times.

After Red Sox center fielder Dom DiMaggio drove in two runs in the top of the eighth, the score was tied 3–3.

With outfielder Harry Walker at the plate with a two balls and one strike count, the Cardinals called for a hit and run.

What exactly happened when Pesky turned around is still a matter of contention, but catcher Roy Partee caught a delayed throw up the line, allowing Slaughter to score what proved to be the winning run.

[9] While "Pesky held the ball" became a catchphrase in Boston, a soft throw from Culberson (playing in place of the strong-armed DiMaggio) may have been more to blame.