John Barris, a 1937 graduate of Fordham College, was a threat both on the mound and at the plate for the Fordham baseball teams of the 1930's. A pitcher and clean-up hitter from 1935-37, Barris compiled a 21-2 career record as a pitcher and hit .435 his senior year. He was a three-time Metropolitan All-Star and played on two Metropolitan Conference Championship teams. As a junior, Barris went 7-1 on the mound with a .382 batting average as the Rams won the Metropolitan Championship. As a senior, Barris pitched and played right field, posting a 9-1 record on the mound and hitting .435 as the Rams won the Metropolitan Championship. He was called "a big league pitcher and hitter" by New York Yankees scout Paul Kritchel, the scout who signed Lou Gehrig to a professional contract.

Following graduation he turned down six big league offers to work for Anaconda W&C Company where he played baseball for the company team.