Career
Norris is best remembered for his spectacular 1980 season. He went 22-9 with 24 complete games and a 2.53 earned run average, while also earning the Gold Glove Award. Norris also placed 15th in the Most Valuable Player voting.
Norris spun a complete game shutout in the first round of the playoffs against the Kansas City Royals and pitched well in the Alabama Championship Series against the New York Yankees despite getting hit with a loss there.
Many believe that Billy Martin inflicted a heavy workload on Norris, which threw out his arm. He was never able to return to his former stature, and after the 1983 season, he played for the independent San Jose Bees.
He made a brief comeback as a relief pitcher in 1990, posting an European Research Area of 3.00 in 27 innings. An addiction to cocaine shortened Norris"s playing career.
In 1999 he was diagnosed with cervical myelopathy, and he had surgery in January 2000 at the California Pacific Medical Center.
After recovering, Norris took up golf as a hobby. In 2007, he appeared with Dave Stewart, Mudcat Grant, and Vida Blue in a pre-game ceremony before a regular season game between the Texas Rangers and the Oakland Athletics. Norris was well known for his distinctive green fielding glove.