From 1868 to 1870, Ross starred for the Rockford Forest Citys, along with Albert Spalding, attaining professional status in the second year.

Barnes led the league with 66 runs scored and 91 total bases, finishing second in batting average at .401.

The Red Stockings began a four-year dominance of the Association, with Barnes a key player each year.

[2] Before the 1875 season ended, Barnes and four other Boston players signed contracts with the Chicago White Stockings.

Ross led the National League batting (.429), on-base percentage (.462), slugging (.562), runs (126), hits (138), bases (190), doubles (21), triples (14), and walks (20).

Many hitters would call for the pitch to be low, and then bunt the ball so that it landed fair and rolled foul, in which case it would be impossible for the defense to throw them out.

Barnes was the master at this, but differently than the other players he would take a full swing, aim for the top of the ball, so that it would bounce off home plate, and then roll way foul.

This technique allowed Barnes to be dominant, often hitting over .400, and lead the major leagues in ways that were unequaled.

In 2007, Nate Silver wrote that Barnes was "arguably the single most dominant player in Major League history.

"[5] Barnes held a variety of white-collar jobs in the Chicago area after his baseball career, including serving as an accountant with People's Gas, Light & Coke Company.