Bass had his best year in for an Astros team that narrowly missed a World Series appearance. Bass was named to the National League All-Star team, pacing the Astros with a .311 batting average, 20 home runs, 22 steals, and sterling defensive play. His career year did not have a storybook ending, however. In Game 6 of the epic 1986 NLCS, he struck out swinging with men on first and second in the 16th inning, sealing a 7–6 victory for the Mets, allowing them to advance to the 1986 World Series.