Sammy Baugh

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Samuel Adrian Baugh (born March 17, 1914) is a retired American football player born in Temple, Texas, the second son of James and Lucy Baugh. Baugh, who came to be widely known by the nickname "Slingin Sammy", began playing football as a schoolboy in Sweetwater, Texas in the 1920s. He has been referred to as the first outstanding professional football quarterback.

[edit] College career

Baugh matriculated to Texas Christian University after high school. At TCU, he was an All-American. His coach was the legendary Dutch Meyer and it was from him that Baugh first learned the passing skills and tactics that would make him a great quarterback in the pros. One of Sammy's favorite targets at TCU was the coach Meyer's nephew, L.D. Meyer, also known as Dutch and a future major league baseball player.

He finished fourth in voting for the Heisman Trophy in 1936, when he was a consensus All-American. He led TCU to a 1936 Sugar Bowl victory, 3-2 over Louisiana State, and to a 16-6 win over Marquette in the 1937 Cotton Bowl (the first year this bowl was played). After college, Sammy signed as a third baseman with the St. Louis Cardinals, but he was unhappy with his prospects and turned to professional football.

[edit] NFL career

After graduation, Baugh was widely sought after. He was signed by the Washington Redskins. As a rookie, Baugh led the National Football League in passing while leading the Redskins to two NFL championships. At 6' 2" and 182 pounds, Baugh was the prototype NFL quarterback for his era. Due to his large hands, he gripped the football in an unconventional way (with his thumb resting on the laces); he said it gave him the flat, accurate down field spiral that his passes were famous for.

Baugh led the Washington Redskins to the top of the NFL in 1937 (his rookie year), where they beat the Chicago Bears 28-21 for the league title. Baugh threw for 335 yards and three TD passes in the bitter cold of Wrigley Field, including the game-winning 33 yarder to Ed Justice. Three years later he faced the Bears again for the championship. Baugh deployed the single wing formation against Chicago's revolutionary T-formation. The Bears dominated from the outset. To avoid further embarrassment to their star player, the Redskins pulled Baugh out of this historic game, a 73-0 Bears victory. Baugh was 9 of 16 for 91 yards and 2 interceptions in that game. Arguably, his peak as a pro player came in 1942 when the Redskins defeated Chicago 14-6 to win the NFL championship and prevent a perfect season by the Bears (who had finished the regular season 11-0). In 1943, the Redskins and Bears met again in the title game. Baugh left with injury after tackling Sid Luckman, the Bears QB (every player went both ways in the years before free substitution). The Bears won easily 41-21.

Baugh encouraged the Redskins to deploy the T-formation, which they finally did for the 1945 season, unleashing a potent passing attack and fully exploiting Baugh's quarterbacking skills. Baugh's best statistical season came in 1945 when he completed 128 of 182 attempts for 1669 yards. His 70.3 completion percentage that year was an NFL record for decades before being bested by Ken Anderson in 1982. Baugh and the Redskins lost the 1945 championship to the Cleveland Rams, 15-14. Sammy left the game with an injury, somewhat besmirching an otherwise stellar season. His best game may have been on "Sammy Baugh Day" in 1947 where he threw for 6 touchdowns against the Chicago Cardinals, that season's eventual NFL champion.

Baugh stayed with Washington through the 1952 season, playing for 16 seasons, a record at that time. He led the NFL in passing six times, punting average four times, and interceptions once. He is the only player to lead the league in an offensive, defensive, and special teams category.

"Slingin' Sammy" was the finest punter of his time, leading the NFL for four consecutive seasons from 1940-1943. His 45.1 career punting average is still the second best in NFL history. His single season punting average of 51.4, a record set in 1940, still stands. He held most of the league passing records at the time of his retirement although they have all since been broken.

His career ledger shows 1695 completions on 2995 attempts. He threw for 21,886 yards and 187 touchdowns. Baugh rushed for 9 touchdowns. He also had at least 12 interceptions, including 4 in one game, still tied for the NFL record.

Sammy Baugh and Sid Luckman (of the Bears) are the only two early NFL quarterbacks for which the present-day NFL passer rating can be applied.

Baugh starred in several movies, including "King of the Texas Rangers".

[edit] Coaching career

After his playing career, Baugh became a coach. He coached at Hardin-Simmons University from 1955 to 1959, with a record of 23-38. Then he was the first coach of the New York Titans of the American Football League and briefly with the AFL's Houston Oilers. He retired to Rotan, Texas, where despite his advanced age still works as a cattle rancher on a daily basis.

[edit] Honors

Baugh is the last living charter member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Additionally he has been honored by the Redskins with the retirement of his jersey number, #33, the only number the team has officially retired.

Additional Honors:

• An avenue in his hometown of Rotan, Texas
• 50th Anniversary Team by the NFL (1969)
• 75th Anniversary Team by the NFL (1994)
• 36th greatest athlete of the 20th century by Burt Randolph Sugar (1995)
• 64th greatest athlete of the 20th century by ESPN (1999)
• 43rd greatest athlete of the 20th century by the Associated Press (1999)
• 3rd greatest NFL player of the 20th century by the Associated Press (1999)
• 11th greatest NFL player of the 20th century by The Sporting News (1999); highest-ranking player for the Redskins
• Scripps-Howard all-time college football team (1999)
• 4th greatest college football player by SPORT magazine(1999)
• 3rd greatest college football player by College Football News (2003)
• 7th greatest college football player by Brad Rawlins (2006)
• 5th greatest college football player by ESPN (2007)
• Named starting quarterback, defensive back and punter of the Cold, Hard Football Facts.com "All-Time 11" (2006)
• Named as the Most Versatile Player of all-time by the NFL Network (2007)[1].
• Has his number retired at Sweetwater High School, his alma mater.

Has a children's home in Jayton, Kent County, Texas named in his honor.

[edit] See also

• Other American Football League coaches, players, and contributors

[edit] External links

• Pro Football Hall of Fame - Sammy Baugh
• College Football Hall of Fame - Sammy Baugh
• Cold, Hard Football Facts - Sammy Baugh, All-Time 11
• Sammy Baugh Biography

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