KEVIN BASS
Career file
First season with the Orioles. Signed as a free agent for $250,000 and could earn another $160,000 in incentives. Bass batted .310 in 82 games with the Houston Astros last season and also has played for the Milwaukee Brewers, San Francisco Giants and New York Mets.
Personal file
Turned 36 on May 12. Born in Redwood City, Calif. He and his wife, Elaine, have four children four children: Garrett, 10; April, 8; Justin, 6; Austin, 18 months.
To get away from the grind
"Usually, having four kids, I'm just constantly with them. With kids, there's always something to do. They're my hobbies, just constantly tending to their needs. I just love being around my wife and my kids. It's not a hobby; it's my life."
Hardest thing about changing teams
"Acceptance. You just want to fit right in. You want to be in the family, in the mix. I never want to stick out. I want to fit right in with the guys and have everyone feel comfortable around me and me feel comfortable around them."
Best book he's read lately
The Bible.
Best thing about Baltimore
"The closeness. Everything is right there. Being from Houston, everything is spread out. It doesn't take any time to get from Towson to the ballpark or Timonium to the ballpark. The people are really nice. From what I know, it's kind of a New York kind of feeling. The suburban areas are nice. The hills add a little accent, compared to Houston, which is really flat. I like the newness of it for me personally."
Person who most influenced his career
"Cecil Cooper. When I got to the Brewers, he was pretty much my mentor. Now, he's my agent. He's really helped out a lot."
Players he admires
Jose Cruz, Willie McGee, Harold Baines, Cal Ripken, Eddie Murray, Willie Randolph. "I've always . . . admired professional guys, guys that are great at what they do but they're not flashy, not brassy."
If he wasn't playing baseball
Broadcaster. "I signed a letter of intent to go to USC to study broadcasting, communications. Guys have suggested it, saying, 'You have a decent voice.' I haven't really thrown my name out there to try to do it, but that sounded interesting. It might be something I'll do."
Most enjoyable moment in baseball
Playing in the National League playoffs in 1986. "It seems like so long ago now, but that was really, really enjoyable. And being a member of the All-Star team, the one I made [1986]. That year had to have been the most enjoyable."
Most embarrassing moment in baseball
Going O-for-7 in his first appearance at Shea Stadium with the Mets in 1992, striking out three times and leaving 10 men on base.
Favorite entertainer
John P. Kee, Christian rock singer.
Childhood hero
Willie Mays.
Toughest pitchers
Orel Hershiser, Dwight Gooden and Fernando Valenzuela in their primes.
Favorite pitchers
Bob Welch and Tom Browning.Orioles most likely to be a manager
"He just got traded, Jack Voigt. Cal, easily. He'll be a general manager. Those guys think ahead a lot, hypothetical."
