Talmadge Lafayette Abernathy (October 30, 1921 – November 16, 2001), also known as Tal Abernathy, was an American professional baseball player whose playing career spanned eight seasons, including parts of three in Major League Baseball with the Philadelphia Athletics (1942–1944).

[1] In 1939, both Abernathy and future Major League Baseball player Ed Sauer attended Elon University.

[1] In October 1974, Abernathy was inducted into the Elon University Sports Hall of Fame, recognized because of his contribution as an athlete at the college.

[2] Before the 1942 season, Abernathy was signed by the Philadelphia Athletics as an amateur free agent.

After pitching one game with the Philadelphia Athletics in 1944, Abernathy started playing in the St. Louis Browns organization with the Class-A1 Memphis Chickasaws of the Southern Association.

[12] During the 1946 season, still a member of the Memphis Chickasaws who were now redefined as a Double-A level team, Abernathy went 3–3 with a 3.48 ERA in nine games, seven starts.

[13] During the 1948 season, Abernathy made his managerial debut as the player-manager of two Carolina League teams; the Burlington Bees and the Reidsville Luckies.

During his tenure with the Bees, Abernathy was fined for throwing a baseball out of the ball park after getting upset over a call made by the umpire.