In six minor league seasons (1931–1934, 1936–1937), Erickson batted .265 with 333 hits, 49 doubles, 20 triples, and five home runs in 402 games. He played for three teams in the minors; the Double-A Louisville Colonels of the American Association, the Double-A Toronto Maple Leafs of the International League, and the Class-A Waterloo Reds of the Western League. During his career, Erickson had the nickname "Popeye".\n', '

Erickson began his professional career in 1931 with the Double-A Louisville Colonels. In eight games that season, Erickson batted .179 with five hits, and one triple. Erickson spent the next three seasons with the Colonels. In 1932, Erickson batted .301 with 71 hits, nine doubles, six triples, and one home run. The next season, 1933, Erickson batted .298 with 105 hits, 18 doubles, four triples, and two home runs in 105 games. Erickson spent his final season with the Colonels in 1934. During that season, he batted .264 with 57 hits, 10 doubles, five triples, two home runs. Erickson was sent to the Philadelphia Athletics that season, however, he was returned before making an appearance.\n', '

In 1935, Erickson was purchased by the Cincinnati Reds as a part of a rebuilding phase in the franchise. On April 18, after replacing injured catcher Ernie Lombardi in a game against the Pittsburgh Pirates, Erickson hit his first major league home run. During his time with the Reds, Erickson was given the nickname "Popeye" after the comic strip character. Erickson was involved in an automobile accident in September. He suffered a dislocated right hip, a broken left elbow, a skull fracture, a brain injury, and skull lacerations. Early into his hospital stay, Erickson slipped in and out of consciousness. He was unable to play for the remainder of the season. Injured catcher Ernie Lombardi had to take over the bulk of the catching duties while Erickson was out. Erickson played 37 games with the Reds and batted .261 with nine runs, 23 hits, three doubles, two triples, one home run, and four runs batted in (RBIs).\n', '

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