James Timothy Baten has seen history happen at North Carolina A&T. From being a classmate of the Rev. Jesse Jackson to remembering the day four North Carolina A&T students staged a sit-in at Woolworth on February 1, 1960, Baten witnessed and experienced it all up close and personal.
Baten was born on September 28, 1939 in Herndon, Virginia. His parents were Robert and Mary Baten. James was the fourth child of six children. While at N.C. A&T, James played two years of basketball after which he was offered a baseball scholarship. James was one of five outstanding pitchers who helped the Aggies win four CIAA championships.
Thanks to his 90 mile per hour fastball, Baten was the first black pitcher that played four years of baseball and never lost a game. He also led the nation in strikeouts averaging 16 per game. James graduated from N.C. A&T with a degree in physical education. He went on to earn a master's degree in counseling. While working on his master's, James worked as a residence hall counselor and assistant baseball and basketball coach. James also served in the Army Reserves and he played for the San Francisco Giants minor league organization where he was selected for the Southern All-Star team. He won top player of the month award and outstanding pitcher of the month.
Baten treasures the many experiences he gained through traveling with the team at in the minor league. One experience was when the team was told they had to receive food from the back of the restaurant. James refused the food. He made it a point to be the first off the bus so that he could openly refuse to be served from the back of the restaurant. After several occasions of this, Max Lanier, a white coach decided they would not eat at restaurants where his team would not be served equally. The experience taught James to always speak up for his rights. It was with this tenacity and pride that he created a legacy of excellence that led to two generations of Aggie graduates to follow him. Perhaps that is because he experienced the civil rights movement up close during his time as a student at N.C. A&T.
Baten, 79, has been married 39 years to Frances Baten. Together they have four daughters, eight grandchildren and one great-grandchild. He lives in Charlotte, N.C.
