Rare Vintage Photos of Rams Running Back 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

Rams-Packers 1967. Guard Tom Mack gets a good block on Packer linebacker Lee Roy Caffey in an effort to spring Ram running back Dick Bass. In 1967, Bass was the Rams second best rusher with 627 yards and 8 touchdowns.

Looks like Bill Munson as just faked a handoff to fullback Les Josephson before pitching to Dick Bass. In 1965 Bass was the top Rams runner with 549 rushing yards. Josephson was second with 225.

Mike Curtis - the Colts outstanding linebacker of the late 60s and early 70s - put one of his hard-hitting tackles on Rams runner Dick Bass

Rams great Dick Bass played 10 seasons - all in LA. Finished with 5417 rushing yard and 1841 receiving yards for a grand total of 7258 Yards from scrimmage. He also had 42 Total Touchdowns.

Late 1960s LA Rams Offense - Roman Gabriel turns to hand off to former Viking Tommy Mason. In 1969 Gabriel not only made the Pro Bowl but was voted the NFL MVP. The other Rams seen here are #22, running back Dick Bass and #87, tight end Billy Truax.

Eddie Dove (#44) and Dick Bass (#22) - early 1960s NFL

Charlie Cowan spent 15 seasons in Los Angeles - here he gets out in front of Rams legend Dick Bass.

Rams runner Dick Bass slips past Colts defender Fred Miller. That's long-time Rams vet Joe Scibelli behing Miller.

Dick James and John Paluck of the Redskins move in to stop Dick Bass of the, LA Rams - Mid 1960s NFL

Ram Dick Bass gets past Alex Karras and the Detroit Lions defense. in His 10-year career Bass had 5417 yards rushing - still 5th best in Rams history.

A scene from early 1960s LA Rams football - Quarterback Roman Gabriel with running back Dick Bass.

NFL in the 1960s decade - With a determined Dick Bass at his side, Rams quarterback Roman Gabriel stands defiantly in the pocket.

Rams Hall of Fame lineman Tom Mack (#65) gets out in front of running back Dick Bass (#22) against the Giants.

Dick Bass Football Trading Cards

Dick Bass All Time Career Statistics

Career Regular Season Rushing & Receiving Totals
							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	Fumbles
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

Post Regular Season Rushing & Receiving Totals
				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

Career Regular Season Kick & Punt Returns Totals
						Punt Returns					Kick Returns					All-Purpose Yards
Season	Age	Team	Pos	#	Games	Returns	Yards	Long	Y/Ret	PRTD	Returns	Yards	Y/Ret	Long	KRTD	All-Purpose Yards
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