 He graduated from Springfield High School in Springfield, Minnesota in 1963 and attended Augsburg College before signing his first pro contract with the Baltimore Orioles in 1964.Drafted out of the Oriole system by the Giants that winter, he played for one season with the 1965 Springfield Giants of the Double-A Eastern League, then entered military service.When he resumed his career, in 1969, he converted from a starting pitcher to a reliever.