Earley was listed as tall and . He appeared in eight seasons in the major leagues with the
Boston Red Sox (1960–65),
Chicago Cubs (1966) and
Houston Astros (1967). Signed by the Red Sox as an amateur free agent in 1952, he did not make his major league debut until 1960 at age 27. He missed the 1954 and 1955 seasons while serving in the
United States Army. He appeared in 223 major league games (all but ten as a
relief pitcher) and had a lifetime record of 12–20 with 310
strikeouts, 85
games finished and 14
saves. As a
starting pitcher, he threw one
complete game: on July 15, 1964, he defeated the contending
Chicago White Sox, 11–2, at
Fenway Park, allowing only four
hits. In 381 career
innings pitched, Earley surrendered 400 hits and 188
bases on balls. His lifetime
earned run average was 4.48 for an
Adjusted ERA+ of 87. His best season was when he played in 25 games for the Red Sox and had an
earned run average of 2.68 and an
Adjusted ERA+ of 143. ==Death==