Knowlton was born in Philadelphia in 1898. According to one account, he got his start in baseball at the Baldwin Locomotive Works in Eddystone, Pennsylvania. According to another, he gained fame as a sandlot pitcher in Philadelphia and then played for Petersburg in the Virginia League.
Kowlton appeared in one game in Major League Baseball. On September 3, 1920, he started a game for the Philadelphia Athletics against the Washington Senators at Shibe Park. He pitched 5-2/3 innings and allowed three earned runs in a losing effort. His career record in Major League Baseball was zero wins, one loss, five strikeouts, and a 4.76 earned run average.
Knowlton continued playing in the minor leagues for several years, including stints with the Jersey City Skeeters (1922), Crisfield Crabbers (1922), Wilkes-Barre Barons (1925-1926), Toronto Maple Leafs (1926), and Williamsport Grays (1926-1929). He also reportedly played for baseball clubs in Montreal and Decatur, Illinois.

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