Toots joined the Newark Eagles in 1947 at age 18. In 1948-50, he played with the Baltimore Elite Giants and barnstormed with Jackie Robinson. After his contract was sold to the Brooklyn Dodgers,
he played three years with their Triple A farm teams, but an army football injury kept him from making the majors. He played with many famous black players who helped break baseball’s color barrier.
Ferrell pitched in most of the major league stadiums of his era, Shibe Park, Yankee Stadium, Briggs Stadium, Fenway Park, Memorial Stadium, Forbes Field, Griffith Stadium, the Polo Grounds, Comiskey
Park and Ebbetts Field, against the Kansas City Monarchs, Memphis Reds, Homestead Grays, Birmingham Black Barons, Philadelphia Stars, Brooklyn Bushwicks and New York Black Yankees. Some players he
played against are Luke Easter, Junior Gilliam, Monte Irvin, Wes Covington, Sam Bankhead, Sad Sam Jones, Joe Black, Larry Doby, Hank Thompson, Curt Roberts, Roy Campanella, Gene Baker, Satchel Paige
and Jackie Robinson.