A native of Stanley, North Carolina, Abernathy was born on March 6, 1933 to Wade and Genora (McGinnis) Abernathy. He graduated from Stanley High School and signed as an amateur free agent with the Senators in 1952. In 1953 he married Margie Clemmer.\n', '

He changed his pitching motion from an overhead delivery to a three-quarter delivery after tearing two muscles in his shoulder making a throw from the outfield during his freshman year of high school. After shoulder surgery in 1959 left his career in doubt, he switched from the three-quarter delivery and become an effective sidearmer who developed a submarine pitch. He spent two years in the minor leagues before being called up by the Senators in April 1955. Throughout most of the 1950s, he split time between the Senators\' major league squad and their farm system.\n', '

During the Korean War he was drafted into the U.S. Army, serving with medics, driving an ambulance and repairing vehicles. He served at Fort McPherson, Georgia. He was discharged as a corporal in time to join the Senators for 1955 spring training. He made his Major League debut for the Senators at age 22 on April 13, 1955 in 19–1 loss to the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium. In the fourth inning he relieved Mickey McDermott and struck out Andy Carey before giving up a home run to Mickey Mantle followed by a groundout by Yogi Berra.\n', '

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