Jimmy Breton was born on July 15, 1891, in Chicago, Illinois. After starring in baseball at the University of Illinois, Jimmy began his professional career at Davenport in the Three I League in 1910.

From there, he moved to Aurora of the Wisconsin-Illinois League and then to Kansas City. In 1913, 1914, and 1915, he played third base for the Chicago White Sox.

In 1916, Jimmy joined the Fairbanks Morse Fairies where he was a fixture at third base and in the outfield until the baseball team disbanded in 1927. He was the team captain of the Fairies.

A fine defensive player, Jimmy was also a steady hitter. Jimmy had graduated as an engineer from Illinois and, shortly after his arrival in Beloit, Fairbanks Morse decided to build a stadium.

Jimmy designed one of the finest small city stadiums in existence. He became team captain of the Fairies, playing in the stadium he designed.