By age 10 Wilber “Pete” Stout had already begun to display a natural talent for the game of baseball. During the 1930s he played in the Frederick County and Tri-State leagues with Woodsboro, Taneytown, and Cedar Grove. In the 1940s, he joined the nationally ranked Frederick Hustlers, playing shortstop and where he was a consistent .300 hitter leading the team in stolen bases. While serving in the Army during World War II, Stout batted .364 and was named to the Panama League All-Star team. The highlight of his career was playing for the Hustlers in the National Championships in Wichita, Kansas, in 1947. He was an outstanding defensive player, aggressive base runner, and a superb hitter.