[3] Basinski attended the University of Buffalo where he lettered in tennis and cross country (they had no baseball team).

Starting at shortstop and batting eighth, he went 1–4, with his first hit a fifth-inning triple off Bob Katz, and later scoring on a single by Frenchy Bordagaray in a 6–1 win.

Following the death of Eddie Robinson in October 2021, he became the second-oldest living major leaguer, behind George Elder.

[citation needed] Basinski began practicing the violin at an early age and even held a chair with the Buffalo Symphony Orchestra.

[6] After retiring from baseball, Basinski remained in the Portland area with his wife and two sons, working for Consolidated Freightways for 31 years as an account manager.

[6] His son, Jeff, was a coach, athletic director and assistant principal during his 29 years with Forest Grove School District in Washington County, Oregon.