McCabe was born on October 19, 1894, in Graniteville, Missouri. In the early 1910s, he pitched for local baseball clubs in the Iron County, Missouri area. In August 1913, McCabe traveled to St. Louis to try out with the St. Louis Cardinals of the National League after being noticed by former pitcher Barney Pelty. However, by September, scout Charly Barret would sign McCabe for the American League's St. Louis Browns for the 1914 season after McCabe struck out 23 hitters in an exhibition.
McCabe was sent to the Burlington Pathfinders of the Central Association in 1914 to begin his professional career. On September 10, he was transfer to the Browns, six days after their season ended.
He played with the Browns in spring training 1915, but was purchased by the Illinois–Indiana–Iowa League's Decatur Commodores in April. On May 8, he threw a no hitter against the Moline Plowboys.

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