Andy Bass – various Major League Baseball clubs and Hanshin Tigers of Japanese Baseball

What is known for?

Randy Bass, born on March 13, 1954, in Lawton, Oklahoma, is notably recognized as both an accomplished baseball player and a seasoned politician. Following a successful stint in Major League Baseball (MLB) and Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB), Bass transitioned to politics, becoming a member of the Oklahoma Senate representing the 32nd district from 2005 to 2019.

In his baseball career, Bass had a distinguished record. He began his journey in the MLB in 1977, playing for the Minnesota Twins, Kansas City Royals, Montreal Expos, San Diego Padres, and Texas Rangers. Despite a series of team changes, Bass demonstrated resilience becoming a versatile first baseman. His MLB statistics, though not sky-high, were nonetheless respectable, with a batting average of .212, 9 home runs, and 42 runs batted in.

Arguably, the highlight of his baseball career came during his tenure with the Hanshin Tigers of the NPB from 1983 to 1988. Here, Bass shone brightly, boasting a .337 batting average, 202 home runs, and 486 runs batted in. These impressive statistics were complemented by several awards, including two Japanese Triple Crown wins in 1985 and 1986, the Central League Most Valuable Player award in 1985, and the Japan Series champion win in the same year. In 2023, he was inducted into the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame, an acknowledgment of the significant impact he left on Japanese baseball.

Aside from his dynamic sporting career, Bass outlines a narrative of success in politics too. As a Democrat, Bass served fourteen years in the Oklahoma Senate. He held the role of Minority Leader from January 6 to July 3, 2015.

Check out more about Randy Bass on his Baseball-Reference Profile and about his political career on the Oklahoma State Senate website.