Sammy Baugh Tribute
Redskins Legend Sammy Baugh: 1914-2008
Sammy Baugh, considered one of the greatest Redskins of all time, passed away on Dec. 17, 2008. He was 94.
Baugh grew up in Sweetwater, Tex., and starred at Texas Christian University from 1934-36, leading the Horned Frogs to a national championship.
He joined the Redskins as a first-round draft pick in 1937 and found instant success, guiding the franchise to an NFL championship in his first year in Washington. He led the Redskins to their second NFL championship in 1942.
Baugh was a three-way player, serving as a quarterback, defensive back and punter. Known as "Slingin' Sammy," he was the first NFL quarterback to make the forward pass a key component of his game.
Baugh played in 165 games and completed 1,693-of-2,995 passes for 21,886 yards, 187 touchdowns and 203 interceptions.
As a defensive back, Baugh recorded 31 career interceptions. As a punter, he had a 45.1 career punting average.
Baugh would go on to set numerous NFL and Redskins passing records.
A colorful character to boot, Baugh attained celebrity status in Washington, D.C., and in the NFL during his playing days.
Simply put, they just don't make them anymore like Sammy Baugh.
Sammy Baugh At a Glance
Baugh was a charter member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, inducted in 1963.
Baugh was the first quarterback in history to lead his college team (Texas Christian University) to a national championship and his pro team (the Redskins) to an NFL championship. (Joe Namath and Joe Montana also accomplished the feat.)
Baugh led the NFL in passing six times, a mark tied for most ever with Steve Young.
Baugh owns the NFL record of most seasons leading the league with lowest interception percentage, a feat he accomplished five times.
In 1943, Baugh led the NFL in passing (133-of-239 for 1,754 yards), punting (45.9-yard average) and interceptions (11).
Baugh's 51.4 punting average in 1940 remains an NFL record.
Baugh has the NFL's second-highest career punting average with 45.1 yards per punt.
As a defensive back, Baugh set an NFL record with four interceptions in a game against Detroit on Nov. 14, 1943. The mark is tied with 18 other players.
Baugh owns the Redskins franchise record for most passing yards in a game with 446 in a 48-10 win over the Brooklyn Dodgers.
On "Sammy Baugh Day" at Griffith Stadium on Nov. 23, 1947, Redskins fans gave Baugh a maroon station wagon. Baugh responded by throwing six touchdown passes in leading the Redskins to a 45-21 rout of the Chicago Cardinals. The six TDs remain a Redskins franchise record.
The Legacy of Sammy Baugh
Redskins owner Daniel M. Snyder
"Sammy Baugh embodied all we aspire to at the Washington Redskins. He was a competitor in everything he did and a winner. He was one of the greatest to ever play the game of football, and one of the greatest the Redskins ever had."
Bill Dudley, Former Redskins Running Back and Hall of Famer
"He was the best, as far as I'm concerned. He could not only throw the ball. He could play defense, he could punt the football, he ran it when he had to. He and I roomed together, and he was a football man. He knew football, played it, and everybody had a lot of confidence in him."
Ace Parker, NFL Quarterback (1937-46) and Hall of Famer
"He was the best passer I ever saw. He could do everything. He could pass, he could play defense, he was the best kicker, and he still holds the single-season punting record."
Sammy Baugh Career Stats: Quarterback
| Year/Team | Games | Att. | Comp. | Yards | TD |
|---|
| 1937 Redskins |
11 |
171 |
81 |
1,127 |
8 |
| 1938 Redskins |
9 |
128 |
63 |
853 |
5 |
| 1939 Redskins |
9 |
96 |
53 |
518 |
6 |
| 1940 Redskins |
11 |
177 |
111 |
1,367 |
12 |
| 1941 Redskins |
11 |
193 |
106 |
1,263 |
10 |
| 1942 Redskins |
11 |
225 |
132 |
1,524 |
16 |
| 1943 Redskins |
10 |
239 |
133 |
1,754 |
23 |
| 1944 Redskins |
8 |
146 |
82 |
849 |
4 |
| 1945 Redskins |
8 |
182 |
128 |
1,669 |
11 |
| 1946 Redskins |
11 |
161 |
87 |
1,163 |
8 |
| 1947 Redskins |
12 |
354 |
210 |
2,938 |
25 |
| 1948 Redskins |
12 |
315 |
185 |
2,599 |
22 |
| 1949 Redskins |
12 |
255 |
145 |
1,903 |
18 |
| 1950 Redskins |
11 |
166 |
90 |
1,130 |
10 |
| 1951 Redskins |
12 |
154 |
67 |
1,104 |
7 |
| 1952 Redskins |
7 |
33 |
20 |
152 |
2 |
Sammy Baugh Career Stats: Punting
| Year/Team | Games | Punts | Yds. | Avg. | Blk. |
|---|
| 1937 Redskins |
11 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| 1938 Redskins |
9 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| 1939 Redskins |
9 |
26 |
998 |
38.4 |
0 |
| 1940 Redskins |
11 |
35 |
1,799 |
51.4 |
0 |
| 1941 Redskins |
11 |
30 |
1,462 |
48.7 |
0 |
| 1942 Redskins |
11 |
37 |
1,785 |
48.2 |
0 |
| 1943 Redskins |
10 |
50 |
2,295 |
45.9 |
0 |
| 1944 Redskins |
8 |
44 |
1,787 |
40.6 |
0 |
| 1945 Redskins |
8 |
33 |
1,429 |
40.6 |
0 |
| 1946 Redskins |
11 |
33 |
1,488 |
45.1 |
0 |
| 1947 Redskins |
12 |
35 |
1,528 |
43.7 |
0 |
| 1948 Redskins |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| 1949 Redskins |
11 |
1 |
53 |
53.0 |
0 |
| 1950 Redskins |
11 |
9 |
352 |
39.1 |
0 |
| 1951 Redskins |
12 |
4 |
221 |
55.3 |
0 |
| 1952 Redskins |
7 |
1 |
48 |
48.0 |
0 |