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 to 1963. A safety in football, he played college football at the University of the Pacific, and 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] He is the brother of NFL player Dick Bass.

Norm Bass
Bass in 1963
Pitcher
Born: (1939-01-21) January 21, 1939
Laurel, Mississippi, U.S.
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
Norm Bass
No. 46
Position:Safety
Personal information
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 · 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 uniform number 46.[4] From 1960 to 1969, his brother, Dick Bass, was a running back for the Los Angeles Rams.[1]

2–Sport athlete

Bass played both 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' table tennis career accomplishments led to him being elected to the Table Tennis Hall of Fame.[1][5][6]

Personal

Bass was stricken with meningitis at age 10 and had to be quarantined for a time after the illness almost took his life. The illness left him blind and deaf for three months.[7][8]

Bass followed his older brother Dick Bass in starring at Vallejo High School and attending the University of Pacific, where he was a multi–sport athlete.[9][7][8]

In signing with the Kansas City Athletics, Bass received a $4,000 signing bonus, which he used to support his young family.[7]

Norm Bass had a career working for McDonnell Douglas, retiring after 30 years with the company.[9]

In 2005, Bass' son, Norman Delaney Bass, III, wrote a biography of his father. The book is titled "Color Him Father: An American Journey of Hope and Redemption." ISBN 978-1-419-65007-9.[10][11]

Bass was elected to the Table Tennis Hall of Fame in 2018.[6][8]

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.
  7. Nusbaum, Eric (24 September 2020). "The Redemption of Norm Bass". sportsstories.substack.com.
  8. "Norm Bass: From three pro sports … to film played by Terrence Howard?". July 10, 2020.
  9. "Arthritis Didn't Rob Bass of Competitive Instincts". Los Angeles Times. December 19, 1999.
  10. III, Norman Delaney Bass (November 29, 2005). Color Him Father: An American Journey of Hope and Redemption. Booksurge Publishing. ISBN 9781419627194 – via Google Books.
  11. "Color Him Father : III Norman Delaney Bass : 9781419650079". www.bookdepository.com.
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