 Archdeacon had two nicknames, "Flash" and "Comet".While a player for Rochester of the International League in 1921, he set a speed record by circling the bases in 13.4 seconds during a pre-game exhibition (the record was broken by Evar Swanson in 1932).He was purchased for $50,000 by the White Sox from Rochester on September 13, 1923 after having stolen 225 bases in his last five minor league seasons.