Born and raised in Los Angeles, Pettit graduated from Narbonne H.S. in Harbor City, California. He was known as the "Wizard of Whiff." As an amateur—in high school, for the semipro Signal Oilers—he pitched six no-hitters, three of them in a row, and struck out 945 batters in 549 innings. In one 12-inning high school game, he struck out 27 batters.\n', '

In 1949, movie producer Frederick Stephani was looking to make a baseball movie but could not afford the story of an established star. Instead, Stephani scouted high school athletes with major league prospects, and eventually signed Pettit for $85,000. Upon his graduation in 1950, Pettit was signed by the Pittsburgh Pirates, who bought his contract from Stephani (though Stephani retained film rights), plus an additional $15,000. This sum was a new record, and made Pettit baseball\'s first $100,000.00 bonus baby.\n', '

Pettit started his career in New Orleans with very high prospects, spending the remainder of the 1950 season with the Pelicans with the clear expectation that he would be brought up to the Pirates the following season.\n', '

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