A native of Stanley, North Carolina, Abernathy changed his pitching motion after shoulder surgery left his career in doubt, switching from a three-quarter delivery and becoming an effective sidearmer who developed a submarine pitch.
A native of Stanley, North Carolina, Abernathy was born on March 6,1933 to Wade and Genora (McGinnis) Abernathy. 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.