Baumgartner was born on October 6, 1892 in South Pittsburg, Tennessee. He served three years in the United States Navy and after playing baseball in the service was signed by the Norfolk Tars of the Virginia League in February 1915. He pitched for Norfolk until mid-May, when he joined the Winston-Salem Twins of the North Carolina State League. He pitched in 39 games for Winston-Salem, ending the season with a 16-16 win-loss record and 3.74 earned run average.
He remained with the Winston-Salem during spring training 1916 and pitched in the club's first game of the season on April 27, allowing two runs in 1.0 innings of relief. On April 29, he asked for and was granted his release from the Twins and signed by the Greensboro Hornets.
By 1920, Baumgartner was pitching for Clarksdale of the independent Delta League. During a July 31 game against Belzoni in which he allowed no runs and only three hits, he was noticed by Detroit Tigers scout Mike J. Flynn. After watching Baumgartner allow only hits to Charleston on August 3, Flynn signed Baumgartner to a contract, with Baumgartner scheduled to report to the major league club at the conclusion of the Delta League season.

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