Kevin Bass joined the Houston organization in late 1982 via a trade with the Milwaukee Brewers, a move that sent veteran Don Sutton to the American League in exchange for the young, switch-hitting outfielder. After spending his first few seasons in South Texas as a developing part-time player, he broke through as a full-time starter in 1985 and quickly became the definitive versatile threat of the "Orange Force" era.
Between 1985 and 1987, he recorded three consecutive seasons with at least 140 hits, 15 home runs, and 15 stolen bases. In the ’86 campaign, he had a career-high .311 batting average and a .364 on-base percentage. He showed the organization that he was a foundational star by earning his first All-Star selection and finishing seventh in the NL MVP voting.
His first departure following the 1989 season was a matter of seeking stability; the Astros refused to include a no-trade clause in their offer, leading Bass to sign a three-year deal with his hometown San Francisco Giants. However, after stints in the Bay Area and with the Mets, he realized that the Astrodome was the environment that best fit his game. He returned to Houston in early 1993. Even in a reserve role during this second run, he was efficient, batting .310 during the strike-shortened 1994 season.
He played one more MLB season with the Baltimore Orioles, and as an Astro, compiled 990 hits, a .278 batting average, and 102 stolen bases.
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