Mo Bassett facts for kids
Bassett on a 1955 Bowman football card
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| No. 38, 30 | |||||||||
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| Position: | Fullback | ||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||
| Born: | April 26, 1931 Chickasha, Oklahoma |
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| Died: | May 24, 1991 (aged 60) Springfield, Ohio |
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| Career information | |||||||||
| College: | Langston | ||||||||
| NFL Draft: | 1954 / Round: 3 / Pick: 36 | ||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||
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Maurice LaFrancis Bassett was an American football player. He was born on April 26, 1931, and passed away on May 24, 1991. Maurice played as a fullback for the Cleveland Browns team. He played for three seasons, from 1954 to 1956.
Maurice was a very talented player. In his first year, he was the best rusher on his team. This means he gained the most yards by running with the football. The Cleveland Browns even named an award after him. This award is given to their best new player each year.
Early Life and College
Maurice Bassett was born in Chickasha, Oklahoma. He grew up loving sports. He went to Langston University, which is a college in Oklahoma. While there, he played college football. He was a great player for the Langston Lions team.
After college, Maurice served in the United States Navy. This was before he started his professional football career.
Playing for the Cleveland Browns
In 1954, Maurice Bassett joined the Cleveland Browns. He was drafted in the third round of the NFL Draft. This means he was one of the first players chosen by a team that year. He played as a fullback. A fullback is a player who helps block for other runners. They also run with the ball themselves and catch passes.
Maurice quickly made a big impact. In his first year, called his rookie year, he was the team's top rusher. He ran for 380 yards that season. He also scored four touchdowns. This was a great start to his career.
He continued to play for the Browns for two more seasons. During his time with the team, he rushed for a total of 891 yards. He also caught 33 passes for 317 yards. In total, he scored 11 touchdowns for the Browns. He was an important part of the team's offense.
Legacy
Maurice Bassett is remembered for his strong start in the NFL. The Cleveland Browns honor his memory with an award. The Maurice Bassett Rookie of the Year Award is given to the best rookie player on the team. This shows how important his contributions were. It also shows how much he was respected by the team.
Maurice Bassett passed away on May 24, 1991, in Springfield, Ohio. He left behind a legacy as a dedicated player. He is remembered as a key part of the Cleveland Browns' history.
