Lary was born in Northport, Alabama, in April 1930 as the sixth of seven children in the family. He was raised with his six brothers at a two-bedroom house in his family\'s farm near Northport. His father, Joseph Milton "Mitt" Lary, was a cotton farmer and a former semipro spitball pitcher, who coached young Lary and five of his brothers when they were not working in the farm. His mother, Margaret, was a fiddle maker. Lary later went on to play baseball for the University of Alabama. His older brother Al Lary was briefly a pitcher for the Chicago Cubs, but spent most of his baseball career in the minor leagues. Lary followed his older brothers to the University of Alabama, where he had a 10-1 record in 1950 and won two more games in the College World Series. Lary dropped out of Alabama after two years to play professional baseball.\n', '

After his performance in the 1950 College World Series, Lary signed a $6,000 contract with the Toledo Mud Hens, the Detroit Tigers\' American Association farm club. He began his minor league career playing at Thomasville, Georgia, in the Georgia–Florida League. After winning four consecutive games in Thomasville, he moved to Jamestown, New York, in the PONY League, where he compiled a 5-2 record. Lary missed the 1951 and 1952 seasons due to service in the U.S. Army. He was considered a leading prospect with the Buffalo Bisons of the International League in 1953 and 1954. During the 1953 season, he compiled a 17-11 record and threw a no-hitter against Ottawa. In 1954, he compiled a 15-11 record and won 10 of his last 12 games.\n', '

Lary was called up to the Tigers late in the 1954 season, making his Major League debut on September 14. He played in parts of 11 seasons for the Tigers, and his 123 wins rank tenth in team history.\n', '

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