During his playing days, Barr was an outfielder on outstanding ballclubs like Chesterfield, Ellisville, Giesler-Jorgen, and Bergstrom Air Base. His abilities warranted selection to four All-Star teams and he was the manager of the St. Louis County All Star team in the Carling tournament. Dick helped the American Legion build and maintain ball diamonds in Chesterfield. He umpired and coached in the Khoury League, and managed Chesterfield in the County League for six years He helped to rebuild the County League into a very strong 12-team league in the late 1960s. He was the Vice President and President of the County League for 10 years. Barr was also the Deputy Commissioner of the Missouri National Baseball Congress for 10 years.