Upton was born in Esther, Missouri. In between playing professional baseball, he attended Bucknell University and University of Pennsylvania. He also attended Southeast Missouri State University, but did not play for them.\n', '

Upton began his professional (minor league) career in 1944, after being signed by the New York Yankees. He split the 1944 season between the Norfolk Tars and Kansas City Blues, hitting a combined .140 with a .162 slugging percentage in 222 at-bat. He did not play in 1945 or 1946, however in 1947 he played for the Tars and Binghamton Triplets, hitting .227 in 100 games. For the Ventura Yankees, Quincy Gems and Triplets in 1948, he hit .271 in 398 at-bats. In 638 at-bats for the Beaumont Exporters in 1949, he hit .265 with a career-high four home runs.\n', '

Upton was drafted from the Yankees by the Browns in the 1949 Rule 5 draft, and on April 19, 1950, he made his big league debut. He was the Browns\' regular shortstop that year, hitting .237 with two home runs and seven stolen bases in 389 at-bats. He showed a good eye at the plate, walking 52 times and striking out only 45 times.\n', '

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