Born in Yanceyville, North Carolina, he batted left-handed and threw right-handed; he was listed as 6 feet (1.83 m) tall and 195 pounds (88 kg).

He served in the United States Army in the European Theater of Operations during World War II,[1] where he received a Purple Heart during his service and was 24 years old when he was signed as a free agent by the New York Giants in 1947.

Primarily a catcher, Watlington was acquired by Philadelphia in February 1952 when the Athletics took over as parent team of the Triple-A Ottawa Giants of the International League.

The Athletics recalled Watlington from Ottawa in the midsummer of 1953, and he appeared in 21 games for them through the remainder of the American League season.

In 2016 Watlington received France's Legion of Honour medal for his combat services to help liberate that nation during World War II.