Former South Carolina All-American to be honored as SEC Legend

Former Gamecocks baseball star Earl Bass will be one of four former players honored as an SEC Baseball Legend at this year's SEC Tournament. Bass won 34 games in a four-year career at Carolina from 1972-75.

The 2017 class features LSU’s Ben McDonald, Ole Miss’ Don Kessinger and Missouri’s Dave Silvestri. Four legends are recognized each year.

“The Southeastern Conference has a rich tradition in the sport of baseball,” SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey said. “Through our legends program, we are pleased to honor the individuals who have helped establish a foundation for the current and future success of our programs and the opportunities available to our student-athletes today.”

Bass compiled a won-loss record of 34-3, despite missing most of the 1973 season with an arm injury. A first-team All-America selection in 1974 and 1975, Bass had a 12-1 mark in 1974 and was 17-1 in 1975. He set a then national record by winning 23 consecutive games over two seasons, a feat that still ranks second. Bass holds school records for shutouts (10), earned run average (1.34), and strikeouts (392).

He was runner-up in balloting for the Lefty Gomez Plate, symbolic of the top amateur baseball player in the United States, in 1975 when he pitched the Gamecocks to within one game of the NCAA championship at the College World Series in Omaha, Neb.

Bass is the second Gamecock to be honored after Bobby Richardson.

Each legend will be recognized individually throughout the two quarterfinal matchups on Friday and will have on-field recognition and an awards presentation by Commissioner Sankey on Saturday, May 27 during the semifinals of the SEC Tournament.

This story was originally published May 10, 2017 at 3:44 PM with the headline "Former South Carolina All-American to be honored as SEC Legend."