James C. Barton (1981) - Hall of Fame - University of Akron Athletics

James C. Barton

Induction:
1981
Class:
1968

1962-65
Baseball
‘68
During his years 1962-65, Jim Barton was one of the mainstays who helped make Akron a winner both football and baseball. He came to UA as a 6-1, 205-pound end and pitcher and grew to 6-2, 220 as the Zips compiled a 24-11-1 record in football and 36-18 mark in baseball. As a freshman on Gordon Larson’s second football team, Barton earned the starting assignment at left defensive end. On the way to a 7-2 record, the Zips’ defense shut three opponents and limited three other foes to but one touchdown. The 1963 and ’64 teams finished with identical 6-3 marks as Barton earned UA’s most outstanding sophomore and junior awards. Those two seasons also saw Barton going both ways for the Zip gridders. He was UA’s second-leading receiver both seasons—catching 10 passes for 135 yards in ’63 and 16 passes for 198 yards in ’64—while still holding down his defensive end job. Barton was voted captain in 1965 and despite snapping a collarbone in the sixth game of the season, earned his fourth letter as well as the Fred Sefton Award for the outstanding offensive performance. In those previous five games, Barton had caught 13 passes for 125 yards and his career ended without him catching a TD pass. However, it was in baseball that Barton received the most recognition. As a freshman in 1963 he struck out 72 in 44 innings while compiling a 402 won-loss record. The following year, Barton won six of seven games, struck out an OC-leading 70 batters in 42 innings and had a 1.07 earned run average. For his effort he was voted UA’s MVP and earned first team All-Ohio Conference. He slipped to a 5-5 record in 1965 but lowered his ERA to 0.93 yet more important, led the nation with 112 strikeouts. Baron decided to forego his senior season and signed a bonus contract with the Chicago Cubs. He played one season of minor league ball at Winter Haven, Florida and returned to UA to seek his degree. For the past 11 years, Barton has been employed by American Telephone and Telegraph. In June 1980, he earned his MBA from Michigan State. Barton and his wife, Lynne and son Kevin, reside in West Bloomfield, Mich.