Sammy Baugh
Washington Redskins
During much of his professional career, Baugh was a T-formation
quarterback known for his passing, but he was a great all-around
athlete. A three-sport star in high school, he was recruited by Texas
Christian University baseball coach Leo "Dutch" Meyer in 1933. At TCU,
he was an All-American.
Baugh signed as a third baseman with the St. Louis Cardinals after
graduating, but was sent to the minor leagues and decide to give
professional football a try. He had only a week of practice with the
Washington Redskins before the 1937 season opened and wasn't supposed to
start. However, tailback Cliff Battles couldn't play because of an
infected knee and Baugh completed 11 of 16 passes for 116 yards as the
Redskins beat the New York Giants 13-3.
Washington beat the Chicago Bears for the NFL championship in his rookie
season. Baugh threw a 42-yard pass to Battles, now playing fullback, to
set up the first touchdown, but the Redskins were behind 14-7 at
halftime. In the second half, Baugh had touchdown passes of 55, 78, and
33 yards to lead the team to a 28-21 victory.
The Redskins and Bears played for the title three more times in the next
six years. After a humiliating 73-0 defeat in 1940, Baugh threw a
23-yard touchdown pass and his punting kept the Bears out of scoring
range in a 14-6 win in 1942. He threw two early touchdowns passes in the
1943 but had to leave the game because of a concussion and the Bears
ended up winning, 41-21.
The Redskins got into the championship once more during Baugh's tenure,
in 1946, and once again he was hurt during the game. He continued
playing despite two separated ribs, but was not effective and the
Cleveland Rams beat Washington, 15-14.
Baugh, who had switched from single-wing tailback to T-formation
quarterback in 1944, played six more seasons with mediocre teams. One of
his greatest games was on Sammy Baugh Day in 1947. He passed for 365
yards and 6 touchdowns in a 45-21 victory over the Chicago Cardinals,
who went on to win the NFL championship. The aging veteran completed
54.2 of his passes in the 1950 season for 1130 yards and 10 TD’s
Perhaps his greatest season was 1943, when he became the only player
ever to lead the NFL in passing, punting, and interceptions. Baugh was
an All-Pro in 1937, 1940, 1943, 1945, 1946, and 1947. When he retired
after the 1952 season, he held most of the NFL's passing records. His
punting average of 51.4 yards a kick in 1940 and his passing completion
mark of 70.3 percent in 1945 are still records.
(Hickock Sports)
