Bill Bass facts for kids
| Date of birth: | 1921 |
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| Place of birth: | Greensboro, North Carolina, U.S. |
| Date of death: | (aged 45) |
| Place of death: | Tillsonburg, Ontario, Canada |
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Career information
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| CFL status: | Import |
| Position(s): | RB |
| Height: | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) |
| Weight: | 180 lb (82 kg) |
| College: | University of Nevada, Reno & Tennessee State University |
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Organizations
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Career highlights and awards
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| CFL All-Star: | 1951 |
| Honors: | Grey Cup champion - 1950 & 1952 |
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Career stats
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| Playing stats at DatabaseFootball.com | |
William Bass (born 1921 – died September 28, 1967) was an amazing running back in Canadian football. He was an all-star player and helped his team win the Grey Cup. Bill Bass was also one of the first players to help break the colour barrier in Canadian football. This means he was one of the first Black players to play in the league.
Contents
Early Life and College Football
Bill Bass was born in 1921. He grew up in Greensboro, North Carolina, in the U.S. He loved playing football.
College Sports and Challenges
Bill went to college at the University of Nevada, Reno and Tennessee State University. During his time at Nevada, Reno, something unfair happened. A football game was canceled because the other team, Mississippi State University, refused to play. They would not play because Bill Bass and another teammate were Black. This shows the challenges Black athletes faced at the time.
Professional Football Career
After college, Bill Bass started his professional football journey. He played for several teams in both the U.S. and Canada.
Starting in the AAFC
In 1947, Bill began his pro career with the Chicago Rockets. This team was part of the AAFC. He showed his skills by running with the ball and catching passes.
Moving to Canada
In 1948, Bill Bass moved to Canada. He joined the Montreal Alouettes and played 11 games with them. After a short tryout back with the Rockets in 1949, he returned to Canada.
Success with the Toronto Argonauts
Bill signed with the Toronto Argonauts in Canada. He played for them for four seasons, from 1950 to 1953. During this time, he played 45 regular season games. He also played in 9 playoff games. In 1951, he was chosen as an All-Star player.
As a team captain, Bill Bass was a very important player for the Argonauts. He helped his team win the Grey Cup twice! They won in 1950 and again in 1952. The Grey Cup is like the championship trophy for Canadian football.
Later Career and Retirement
Later, rules about players from other countries changed. This meant Bill had to leave the Argonauts. In 1954, he played with the Ottawa Rough Riders. His final season was in 1955. He played for the amateur Toronto Balmy Beach Beachers. He was also a player-coach for this team.
Breaking Barriers and Later Life
Bill Bass was a pioneer in Canadian football. He was one of the first African-American players to play in the league. He followed the path of other great players like Herb Trawick. These players helped open doors for many others.
After his football career, Bill Bass made his home in Ontario, Canada. For the last six years of his life, he worked at Delhi District Secondary School. He was the supervisor for physical education. This means he helped guide sports and fitness programs for students.
Bill Bass passed away on September 28, 1967. He was 45 years old. He died from a heart attack at his home in Tillsonburg, Ontario.
