Wahl was born in Columbia, South Dakota, graduated from high school in that town, and attended Indiana University. He was signed off the IU campus by the Reds in during the World War II manpower shortage and made his major league debut as a pinch runner and pinch hitter during four early summer games. In his first big-league at bat, he popped out on July 2 against Johnny Allen of the New York Giants; he stayed in the game at third base, but handled no chances in the field.1944-7-2(2) box score from Retrosheet Wahl also spent part of the 1944 season with the Reds' Class A1 affiliate, the Birmingham Barons of the Southern Association.
