College Pacific Role American football player | Name Norm Bass 1964 AFL Denver Broncos Positions Safety | |
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Born January 21, 1939 (age 85)
Laurel, Mississippi ( 1939-01-21 ) AFL Draft 1964 / Round : Free Agent | ||
Education University of the Pacific | ||
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. His is the brother of NFL player Dick Bass.
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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. Bass pitched in one minor league game in 1965, a complete game victory, but his baseball career ended after that performance.
Football career
Bass played safety for the Denver Broncos in 1964 after arthritis cut short his 1964 baseball season. His brother, Dick Bass, played running back for the Los Angeles Rams in the 1960s.
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. Bass is one of the few players (there are less than 70) to play both baseball and football professionally: List of athletes who played in Major League Baseball and the National Football League.
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.
Author/Media
Bass wrote the autobiography "Color Him Father: An American Journey of Hope and Redemption."