Breeding graduated from Decatur High School in his native city, and played for the baseball team at Samford University.

Breeding reached the major leagues in 1960 with the Orioles, spending three years with them before moving to the Washington Senators and Los Angeles Dodgers.

His most productive season came in 1960 as the regular second baseman for Baltimore, when he posted career-highs in batting average (.267), home runs (3), runs (69), RBI (43), hits (147), doubles (25), stolen bases (10) and games played (152), including seven three-hits games.

While in Los Angeles, Breeding served as a backup for injured Jim Gilliam (2B) and Maury Wills (SS).

He sat the bench as a member of the Dodgers in their four-game sweep over the New York Yankees during the 1963 World Series.