Dick Bass
Dick Bass: An Often Overlooked NFL Great
Dick Bass was a standout fullback for the Los Angeles Rams from 1960 to 1969, establishing himself as one of the era’s most reliable and productive running backs. Nicknamed “The Scooter,” Bass was selected as the second overall pick in the 1959 NFL draft after a stellar college career at the University of the Pacific, where he led the nation in rushing with 1,361 yards in 1958. Throughout his decade-long NFL career, Bass rushed for 5,417 yards and scored 42 touchdowns while leading the Rams in rushing four times. He left the NFL in 1969 as the Rams All-Time Leading Rusher and stills ranks #5 on that list today.
Bass reached 1,000-yard rushing milestone twice – in 1962 and 1966 and was selected to three Pro Bowls (1962, 1963, and 1966). He earned second-team All-Pro honors in both 1962 and 1966, and was named NFL Comeback Player of the Year in 1966. Beyond his rushing totals, Dick Bass also contributed as a receiver, catching 204 passes for 1,841 yards during his career. As a Special Teams Players he added 1678 Punt and Kick Return Yards for grand total of 8936 All-Purpose Yards. After he retired in 1969 he became a color analyst for Rams radio from 1977 to 1986.
Image Gallery of Dick Bass, Running Back 1960-1969
Dick Bass Football Trading Cards
Dick Bass All Time Career Statistics
| Rushing | Receiving | Totals | Fumbles | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Age | Team | Pos | # | Games | Starts | Carries | Yards | Y/A | Long | TD | Rec | Yards | Y/R | Long | TD | Touch | Y/Tch | YScm | R&R TDs | All TDs | |
| 1960 | 23 | RAM | RHB | 22 | 12 | 4 | 31 | 153 | 4.9 | 33 | 0 | 13 | 92 | 7.1 | 26 | 0 | 44 | 5.6 | 245 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 1961 | 24 | RAM | FB | 22 | 14 | 9 | 98 | 608 | 6.2 | 73♦t | 4 | 16 | 145 | 9.1 | 37 | 0 | 114 | 6.6 | 753 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| 1962* | 25 | RAM | FB | 22 | 14 | 13 | 196 | 1033 | 5.3 | 57 | 6 | 30 | 262 | 8.7 | 33t | 2 | 226 | 5.7 | 1295 | 8 | 8 | 7 |
| 1963* | 26 | RAM | FB | 22 | 12 | 10 | 143 | 520 | 3.6 | 51 | 5 | 30 | 348 | 11.6 | 53 | 0 | 173 | 5.0 | 868 | 5 | 5 | 2 |
| 1964 | 27 | RAM | HB | 22 | 9 | 7 | 72 | 342 | 4.8 | 59 | 2 | 9 | 83 | 9.2 | 24 | 0 | 81 | 5.2 | 425 | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| 1965 | 28 | RAM | FB | 22 | 12 | 8 | 121 | 549 | 4.5 | 49t | 2 | 21 | 230 | 11.0 | 36 | 2 | 142 | 5.5 | 779 | 4 | 4 | 7 |
| ♡1966* | 29 | RAM | FB | 22 | 14 | 14 | 248 | 1090 | 4.4 | 50 | 8 | 31 | 274 | 8.8 | 40 | 0 | 279 | 4.9 | 1364 | 8 | 8 | 5 |
| 1967 | 30 | RAM | FB | 22 | 14 | 14 | 187 | 627 | 3.4 | 27 | 6 | 27 | 212 | 7.9 | 30 | 1 | 214 | 3.9 | 839 | 7 | 7 | 6 |
| 1968 | 31 | RAM | FB | 22 | 10 | 10 | 121 | 494 | 4.1 | 20 | 1 | 27 | 195 | 7.2 | 28t | 2 | 148 | 4.7 | 689 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| 1969 | 32 | RAM | RB | 22 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1.0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1.0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 10 Year NFL Career | 112 | 89 | 1218 | 5417 | 4.4 | 73 | 34 | 204 | 1841 | 9.0 | 53 | 7 | 1422 | 5.1 | 7258 | 41 | 42 | 43 | ||||
| Rushing | Receiving | Totals | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Age | Team | Games | Att | Yards | Y/A | Long | TD | Catches | Yards | Y/R | TD | Touches | Y/Tch | YScm | TDs | Fmb | |
| 1967 | 30 | RAM | 1 | 14 | 40 | 2.9 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 14 | 2.9 | 40 | 0 | 0 | |
| Post Season Totals | 1 | 14 | 40 | 2.9 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 14 | 2.9 | 40 | 0 | 0 | |||
| Punt Returns | Kick Returns | All-Purpose Yards | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Age | Team | Pos | # | Games | Returns | Yards | Long | Y/Ret | PRTD | Returns | Yards | Y/Ret | Long | KRTD | |
| 1960 | 23 | RAM | RHB | 22 | 12 | 11 | 62 | 22 | 5.6 | 0 | 11 | 246 | 22.4 | 31 | 0 | 553 |
| 1961 | 24 | RAM | FB | 22 | 14 | 4 | 109 | 90♦ | 27.3 | 1 | 23 | 698 | 30.3♦ | 64 | 0 | 1560 |
| 1962* | 25 | RAM | FB | 22 | 14 | 6 | 81 | 48 | 13.5 | 0 | 19 | 446 | 23.5 | 40 | 0 | 1822 |
| 1963* | 26 | RAM | FB | 22 | 12 | 1 | 11 | 11 | 11.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 879 | |
| 1964 | 27 | RAM | HB | 22 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 1 | 25 | 25.0 | 25 | 0 | 450 |
| 1965 | 28 | RAM | FB | 22 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 779 | |
| 10 Year NFL Career | 112 | 24 | 263 | 90 | 11.0 | 1 | 54 | 1415 | 26.2 | 64 | 0 | 8936 | ||||
- * – NFL Pro Bowl Selection
- ♡ – AP Comeback Player of the Year
