[3] Finishing school at the 6th grade, Barrow plied his trade as a part time catcher as a young man on various semi-pro and barnstorming teams beginning in 1920.

In 1926, Barrow made his professional debut with the Chattanooga Black Lookouts of the Negro Southern League, where another rookie pitcher named Satchel Paige was among his teammates.

The Portland Rosebuds, owned by track and field legend Jesse Owens, raised the curtain on the season with Barrow as skipper and starting pitcher.

[12] Following a third place finish in 1946,[13] the Negro National League's Baltimore Elite Giants hired Barrow as manager "in their overall plan of building a playoff contender in 1947.

[19] Following the success of western Canada tours by his Creoles,[20] Barrow ventured northwest to Winnipeg, Manitoba to manage the integrated Elmwood Giants of the Manitoba-Dakota League.

[24] Though the Negro American League folded in 1961, Barrow stayed in baseball, piloting the independent Gretna Jax Sports, billed as "one of the finest semi-pro teams in Louisiana.

[31] A new ballpark was erected on the same site, and today's Wesley Barrow Stadium has served as the home of Louisiana high school tournaments, several local college teams, and the Major League Baseball Urban Youth Academy.