Mike Barlow – Baseball Player Biography, Career, Net Worth Information

Mike Barlow might not be a name you hear every day, but his journey from a small farm in upstate New York to the major leagues is honestly pretty inspiring. Michael Roswell Barlow pitched for seven seasons in Major League Baseball from 1975 to 1981, playing for four different teams: the St. Louis Cardinals, Houston Astros, California Angels, and Toronto Blue Jays. Born April 30, 1948, in Stamford, New York, Barlow built a respectable career as a right-handed pitcher during a time when relief pitching was starting to become its own thing.

What really stands out about Barlow’s story is how he got to pro baseball in the first place. He actually started out playing basketball at Syracuse University, then switched to baseball after his sophomore year. That kind of switch takes guts and adaptability, and it ended up shaping his pro path. He became the last major leaguer to come out of Syracuse University’s baseball program before it folded in 1972—a quirky bit of baseball history.

Barlow’s career spanned some of baseball’s most interesting years, and as a middle reliever, he got a front-row seat to how the game was changing. From his debut with the Cardinals in 1975 to his final game with the Blue Jays in 1981, he saw the sport evolve and managed to leave a mark, not just with stats but through his later work in education and the community.

Early Life and Amateur Career

Barlow’s road to pro baseball started in upstate New York, where he honed his athletic skills in high school sports. He earned a basketball scholarship to Syracuse University, but his college years ended up being even more pivotal than he probably expected.

Childhood in Stamford, New York

Michael Roswell Barlow was born April 30, 1948, in Stamford, New York.

He grew up in this small Delaware County town, where he played all kinds of sports as a kid.

The rural life in Stamford let Barlow try out a bunch of different sports. His size definitely helped him stand out in both basketball and baseball.

Those early years in Stamford gave Barlow the work ethic and competitiveness he’d need later.

High School Sports Achievements

In high school, Barlow shined in several sports, showing off the versatility that would come to define him.

His height and athleticism made him a real asset on the basketball court, and he caught the eye of college recruiters.

That success on both the court and the diamond opened doors for his college career.

Syracuse University and Basketball Career

Barlow accepted a basketball scholarship to Syracuse and joined the Orange program. He played sparingly for three seasons from 1967 to 1970, getting into just 19 games.

His stats weren’t eye-popping, but there was steady improvement:

Barlow lettered in basketball in 1968 and 1969. Unfortunately, illness really limited him his senior year, and he only played in three games.

Even though basketball didn’t pan out, Syracuse ended up being where Barlow found his real calling.

Transition to Baseball and Collegiate Play

While Barlow struggled to find his place in basketball, he discovered a knack for pitching on the baseball team at Syracuse. Coaches and scouts noticed his arm pretty quickly.

He lettered in baseball three times from 1968 to 1970, and his size—6-foot-6, lefty batter, righty thrower—definitely made him intriguing to scouts.

Pro scouts started to pay attention during his college baseball career. The Baltimore Orioles drafted him in the 26th round in 1969, but he decided not to sign.

He stuck with college, which turned out to be the right move. The Dodgers picked him in the 4th round of the 1970 January Draft-Secondary Phase, a much better spot that reflected his growth.

Path to Major League Baseball

Barlow’s path to the majors really picked up with the draft and his time developing in the Oakland Athletics’ minor league system. Trades shuffled him between teams, but he finally landed with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1975.

MLB Draft History and Signing

The Orioles picked Barlow in the 26th round of the 1969 draft, but he passed on signing.

He kept playing baseball at Syracuse after switching from basketball. In 1969, he played summer ball with the Harwich Mariners in the Cape Cod Baseball League.

After Syracuse dropped its baseball program in 1972, Barlow made a big decision. He signed with the Oakland Athletics, officially starting his pro career.

At 24, he brought maturity and college experience—qualities pro teams really appreciated.

Minor League Development and Oakland Athletics

Barlow spent his first pro years working on his pitching in the A’s farm system. He batted left, threw right, and kept refining his game.

Those minor league seasons were tough but necessary. The Athletics helped him make the leap from college to pro baseball.

He learned pretty quickly what it took to play pro ball. That time in the minors got him ready for the big leagues.

Key Trades and Team Transitions

The Oakland A’s traded Barlow to the St. Louis Cardinals organization before the 1975 season. That move turned out to be a turning point.

Barlow made his MLB debut on June 18, 1975, with the Cardinals at age 27. He pitched two innings against the Pirates, gave up six hits and three earned runs, but struck out two.

The Cardinals gave him his first real shot at the majors. That chance kicked off a seven-year career with four different teams.

Moving from the A’s to the Cardinals let Barlow finally break into the big leagues and prove himself.

Major League Career Overview

Mike Barlow’s seven-season MLB career ran from 1975 to 1981. He finished with a 10-6 record and a 4.63 ERA in 133 games. He played for the Cardinals, Astros, Angels, and wrapped up with the Blue Jays.

Debut with St. Louis Cardinals

Barlow made his Major League debut on June 18, 1975, with the Cardinals at 27. He pitched two innings against the Pirates that first game.

Starting his MLB career in his late twenties was unusual, but his background explains it—he started out in basketball before switching to baseball at Syracuse.

His time with the Cardinals was short but important. They gave him his first chance at the big leagues after he signed with the A’s following Syracuse’s baseball shutdown.

Houston Astros Tenure

In 1976, Barlow joined the Houston Astros for a season. This was his second MLB team and another step in his pitching journey.

Houston gave him a taste of National League baseball. It was another chapter in his mid-’70s travels between teams.

There isn’t a ton of detailed info about his stats with the Astros, but that year helped him build his MLB experience and show he could hang at that level.

California Angels Highlights

Barlow spent the longest stretch of his career with the California Angels, playing there from 1977 to 1979. Those three seasons were his most stable years in the majors.

He exceeded rookie limits with the Angels in 1977, officially becoming a veteran in the league.

The Angels years were key for Barlow’s growth and stats. Being with one team for three years let him settle into a role.

He mostly pitched in relief for California. The Angels relied on him out of the bullpen during the late ’70s.

Toronto Blue Jays Final MLB Years

Barlow wrapped up his MLB career with the Toronto Blue Jays in 1980 and 1981. His last big league game came on June 8, 1981, against the White Sox when he was 33.

In that final game, he tossed one inning, gave up two hits, struck out one, walked none, and didn’t allow any runs. Not a bad way to close out a career.

The Blue Jays gave him his last shot at the majors. After 1981, he stuck around in their system, picking up eight saves for the Syracuse Chiefs in 1982.

He finished with 96 strikeouts in 133 major league games. Barlow’s run with four teams showed just how persistent and adaptable he was.

Statistical Performance and Playing Style

Barlow’s seven years in the majors added up to a 10-6 record and a 4.63 ERA in 133 games. He was mainly a reliever—131 of those games were out of the bullpen, with just two starts. He struck out 96 batters over 246.2 innings.

Win–Loss Record and Team Contributions

Barlow posted a 10-6 record with a .625 winning percentage between 1975 and 1981. His best season came in 1977 with the Angels, where he went 4-2.

He picked up six saves in his career, five of them with the Blue Jays. He finished 60 games in relief, which really shows he was a bullpen guy, not a starter.

His impact varied by team. He had his best run with the Angels, going 5-3 over three seasons. With Toronto, he was 3-1 and notched most of his saves.

ERA and WHIP Metrics

Barlow’s career 4.63 ERA was below league average at the time. His ERA+ was 87, so he allowed about 13% more runs than the average pitcher. His best ERA in a season was 4.09 with Toronto in 1980.

His WHIP (walks plus hits per inning pitched) was 1.553, which points to some control issues. He gave up 279 hits and 104 walks in 246.2 innings, so there were runners on base pretty often.

His stats bounced around depending on the team. His worst WHIP came with Houston in 1976 at 2.000, but with California in 1977, it was a much better 1.356. Adjusting to new teams clearly had its challenges.

Strikeouts and Pitching Approach

Barlow struck out 96 batters in his career, about 3.5 per nine innings. That’s not a huge number, so he definitely wasn’t a power pitcher.

His strikeout-to-walk ratio was 0.92, which means he walked almost as many as he struck out. In 1979 with California, he had his best single-season strikeout total at 33.

He mainly tried to get hitters to put the ball in play, aiming for grounders and fly outs instead of strikeouts. His 4.23 FIP (Fielding Independent Pitching) matched up pretty closely with his ERA, so his results were about what you’d expect from his underlying numbers. He was steady, if not flashy, as a relief specialist.

Post-Playing Career and Personal Life

After his major league career ended in 1981, Mike Barlow jumped into education and athletics administration. He raised a family that stayed pretty connected to sports.

He worked as an athletic director at Bishop Grimes Junior/Senior High School. For a while, he also owned a restaurant in Syracuse, New York.

Broadcasting and Media Involvement

Mike Barlow didn’t go into broadcasting or media after leaving professional baseball. Unlike a lot of former players who end up on TV or radio, Barlow just chose a different direction when he retired in 1981.

He focused mainly on education and working in athletics administration. He seemed to prefer working directly with young athletes and schools over staying in the public eye.

Work as Athletic Director

Barlow took on the role of athletic director at Bishop Grimes Junior/Senior High School in East Syracuse from 1998 to June 2011. This job gave him a chance to use his sports background to help guide young athletes.

He oversaw athletic programs and helped student-athletes develop their skills. His experience as a professional pitcher gave him some real insight into sports management and athlete development.

Before working at the school, Barlow briefly owned a restaurant in Syracuse. That business venture showed his entrepreneurial side as he moved away from pro sports.

Family Life and Legacy in Sports

Barlow married and had four kids, all of whom played sports in college. His son Chris Barlow followed him as a pitcher.

The Montreal Expos drafted Chris in the 9th round of the 2002 MLB June Amateur Draft from LeMoyne College. Chris played three seasons in the Expos organization, keeping the family’s baseball streak going.

As of 2018, Barlow lived in central New York with his wife. He has five grandchildren, and the family’s sports legacy just keeps growing.

The Barlows have always felt a strong connection to Syracuse University, where Mike once played basketball before switching to baseball. His ties to the area stayed strong long after his playing days.

Legacy and Impact in Baseball

Mike Barlow played seven seasons with four Major League Baseball teams. He built a reputation as a reliable pitcher and contributed to the game’s development in the late 1970s and early 1980s.

His journey from Syracuse University basketball to the major leagues really shows how athletes found different ways to reach pro baseball back then.

Recognition as a Professional Baseball Player

Mike Barlow earned recognition as a professional baseball player thanks to his steady performance across several MLB teams. He finished with a career record of 10 wins and 6 losses over 133 games.

He posted a 4.63 earned run average and struck out 96 batters, which reflected his role as a dependable pitcher.

Barlow’s versatility stood out. He started with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1975, then the Houston Astros picked him up in 1976.

The California Angels kept him around for three seasons from 1977 to 1979, which was his longest stint with any team. The Toronto Blue Jays wrapped up his major league career from 1980 to 1981.

Contributions to Teams and Community

Barlow’s Major League Baseball career meant more than just stats. Each team gained from his experience as a left-handed batter who threw right-handed, a combo that offered some strategic perks in different situations.

After baseball, he stayed committed to athletics and giving back to his community. He worked as athletic director at Bishop Grimes Junior/Senior High School from 1998 to 2011.

That 13-year stretch in East Syracuse really showed his dedication to helping young athletes grow.

The baseball legacy carried on through his family. Chris Barlow followed in his footsteps, getting drafted by the Montreal Expos in 2002 and playing three seasons in their minor league system after coming out of LeMoyne College.

Historical Significance in MLB

Barlow played during a time when professional baseball was really changing, especially in the late 1970s and early 1980s. When he debuted on June 18, 1975, he joined a group of players who saw the sport shift in ways that might seem surprising now.

He wrapped up his career on June 8, 1981, which felt like the end of an era for a lot of his peers. That 1981 season? It got thrown off by a players’ strike, shaking up the whole league.

Barlow switched from basketball at Syracuse University to Major League Baseball, showing off the kind of athletic range you just don’t see every day. He also played summer ball with the Harwich Mariners in the Cape Cod Baseball League, which gave him some key experience and probably helped set him up for the pros.