A former second baseman who appeared in 200 Major League Baseball games for the Pittsburgh Pirates (1948–49; 1951), Basgall became a longtime member of the Los Angeles Dodgers' organization who served as the bench and infield coach for Hall of Fame managers Walter Alston and Tommy Lasorda for 14 seasons (1973–86).

After one season in the minors, he served in the Army for three years[1] before resuming his baseball career in 1946 with the Double-A Fort Worth Cats of the Texas League.

But Basgall's MLB playing career was hampered by poor offensive production; he batted only .216, .218 and .209 in his three years in the majors, with 110 total hits, which included 15 doubles, three triples and four home runs.

Pittsburgh sent him to the Hollywood Stars of the top-level Pacific Coast League in 1952, and he spent four years in the PCL before starting his managing and coaching career.

During that time, he helped convert former catcher Ted Sizemore and former outfielders Bill Russell and Davey Lopes to middle infielders.