Breeding graduated from Decatur High School in his native city, and played for the baseball team at Samford University. His slick fielding abilities and a quick bat prompted him to sign with the Baltimore Orioles in 1955.
Before the 1963 season Breeding was sent to the new Washington Senators in a five-players deal, playing at third and second bases. Then, in the midseason he was traded to the Dodgers. While in Los Angeles, Breeding served as a backup for injured Jim Gilliam (2B) and Maury Wills (SS). He sat the bench as a member of the Dodgers in their four-game sweep over the New York Yankees during the 1963 World Series.
In a four-season majors career, Breeding was a .250 hitter with seven home runs and 92 RBI in 415 games. After 1963, he played in the minor leagues for five more seasons at the Triple-A level.
Following his baseball retirement in 1968, Breeding worked as a manufacturer's representative and eventually started Marve Breeding Enterprises, which included M&B Industries machine shop in Decatur. In February 2006, he was selected to the Samford Baseball Hall of Fame.