Redskins Great Sammy Baugh Dies at 94
Few (read: none) of us 'Skins fans here at DCist remember the days of "Slingin'" Sammy Baugh, but his name will forever be tied to the early, championship-winning years of the franchise in Washington. Baugh passed away last night in Rotan, Texas at the age of 94.
Baugh was truly old-school, an all-time great all-around football player known for his three-way play (quarterback, safety, and punter) and his revolutionary use of the forward pass. Prior to Baugh, the forward pass was extremely rare. For a little perspective, in his rookie year (1937) he set the record for most completions in a season with 81, about 7 per game in comparison to the league average around 3 per game. He continues to hold the Redskins' record for touchdown passes with 187, and based on Jason Campbell and the Jim Zorn offense's current production, that should be safe for a while longer. He still ranks third in Redskins history with 31 interceptions.
Though comparing players' contracts across eras is a pretty worthless exercise, we can't help but note that Baugh was the team's highest paid player when he signed as a rookie for $8,000 a year and made an estimated $300,000 over the course of a 16-year pro career. The Redskins have been trying for years to get Baugh back to D.C. -- or, rather, Landover -- for a Hall of Fame event, but he spent the last years of his life holed up in his West Texas ranch. As he said, "I don't fly. I don't drive at night. And I sure don't miss it a lot." Yeah, but has he seen Danny Boy's private jet?
Post sportswriter Len Shapiro and Andy Pollin recently ranked Baugh as the greatest 'Skins quarterback in their book of Washington, D.C. sports lists. Baugh was the last surviving member of the inaugural Pro Football Hall of Fame class and remains the only Washington Redskin to ever have his jersey (#33) retired. Hail to a legendary Redskin and an incredible football player.
Photo from NFL.com