Jim Barbe (2007) - JMU Athletics Hall of Fame - James Madison University Athletics

Jim Barbe

Induction:
2007
Class:
1977

Jim Barbe was a top performer on early JMU baseball teams (1974-77). The Dukes were 112-37 (.817) during his career and placed in the 1976 NCAA Division II South Atlantic Regional. At the start of the 2007 season he still was fourth in team history with 34 home runs and tied for fifth with 178 runs batted in.

He had a .371 career batting average and a career .599 slugging percentage, and he closed his career as JMU's leader in home runs, RBI and bases on balls. He held JMU's season home run record (12), set in 1975 (32 games), until 1981 when it fell during a 60-game season. He began his career as JMU's shortstop starter and was a regular in the pitching rotation before moving to third base for his final two years.

He played several seasons in the Texas Rangers' system and was a league most valuable player. He was second-team All-America in 1975, All-South Atlantic Region in 1976, second-team All-South Independent in 1977, and All-Virginia College Athletic Association in 1974 and 1975. He was team most valuable player in 1975 and its offensive MVP in 1977.