Norm Bass

Norman Delaney Bass, Jr. (born January 21, 1939) is a former American college and professional football player and baseball player. He was a pitcher for the Kansas City Athletics from 1961-63. A safety in football, he played college football at the University of the Pacific, and played professionally in the American Football League for the Denver Broncos in 1964. Bass became an international table tennis player. His 2-sport athlete status came about because arthritis forced him to retire from baseball.[1] His is the brother of NFL player Dick Bass.

Norm Bass
Bass in 1963
Pitcher
Batted: Right Threw: Right
MLB debut
April 23, 1961, for the Kansas City Athletics
Last MLB appearance
April 26, 1963, for the Kansas City Athletics
MLB statistics
Win–loss record13–17
Earned run average5.32
Strikeouts111
Teams
  • Kansas City Athletics (1961–1963)
Norm Bass
No. 46
Position:Safety
Personal information
Born: (1939-01-21) January 21, 1939
Laurel, Mississippi
Height:6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight:210 lb (95 kg)
Career information
High school:Vallejo High School
College:Pacific
Undrafted:1964
Career history
Career NFL statistics
Player stats at NFL.com
Player stats at PFR

Baseball career

Bass pitched in 65 games (34 starts) for the Kansas City Athletics, finishing with a 13-17 record and a 5.32 career ERA in his Major League career. In his rookie year with the Athletics he had 11 wins and 11 losses. Bass signed with the Athletics before the 1958 season and made his debut with the Pocatello A's. He worked his way to the major leagues, making his debut at age 22. As a hitter, he hit his lone major league home run in 1961.[2] Bass pitched in one minor league game in 1965, a complete game victory, but his baseball career ended after that performance.[3]

Football career

Bass played safety for the Denver Broncos in 1964 after arthritis cut short his 1964 baseball season. The Broncos were an American Football League team that went 2-11-1 that season, with Bass playing Defensive Back and wearing #46.[4] From 1960-1969, his brother, Dick Bass, was a running back for the Los Angeles Rams.[1]

2-Sport athlete

Bass played football and baseball in college and joined the Denver Broncos after he was unable pitch effectively in 1964, due to arthritis. The arthritis forced him to retire from football as well.[1] Bass is one of the few players (there are less than 70) to play both baseball and football professionally.

Table Tennis

Bass took up table tennis in the 1970s and became a ranked player in his age groups. He played for the United States Paralympic table tennis team in 1998. He won a Bronze Medal at the 2000 Paralympic Games in Sydney, Australia. Bass was elected to the Table Tennis Hall of Fame in 2018.[1][5][6]

See also

References
  1. PUCIN, DIANE (19 December 1999). "Arthritis Didn't Rob Bass of Competitive Instincts" – via LA Times.
  2. "Norm Bass Stats". Baseball-Reference.com.
  3. "Norm Bass Minor Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com.
  4. "1964 – Denver Broncos History".
  5. "Norm Bass: From three pro sports … to film played by Terrence Howard?". July 10, 2020.
  6. https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Table-Tennis/History/Hall-of-Fame/Profiles/Norman-Bass-Jr
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