Heydt began his career as a right-handed hitting centerfielder, where he was exceptional defensively and a consistent .300 hitter. After playing with some of the stronger amateur teams in the area, Viz., Donnelly Stars and Parks Norge, Heydt was inducted into the military. He led the Greenville, Mississippi Air Force team in batting in 1943 and 1944 with a .368 average, playing mostly against major league opposition. He umpired minor league baseball in 1947 and 1948. Heydt managed Khoury League youngsters from 1957 to 1970.

For five years, he served as an administrator in the Metro Collegian League. In all of his years in amateur baseball, one of his fondest memories was his play for the 1381 Infantry American Legion team with teammate Buddy Blattner, opposing Aubuchon -Dennison’s Norv Hunthausen, Joe Schulz and Tommy Woodruff.