He played in the North American Soccer League and coached for thirty years at Philadelphia Textile and UNLV.
That year the North American Soccer League (NASL) held its first college draft and the Montreal Olympique selected Barto in the third round.
Despite his low standing in the draft, Barto finished second to Mike Winter for Rookie of the Year.
At the end of the season, the Philadelphia Atoms, an NASL expansion franchise, traded for Barto as part of its efforts to create a team dominated by American, and preferably local, players.
In 1973, the Atoms took the NASL championship and Barto was selected as an All Star Honorable Mention (third team).