A Look At Sammy Baugh’s Bronzed Cleats
Posted by on February 13, 2012 – 4:22 pm
AP Image
On this date in 1937, the Boston Braves left the friendly confines of Fenway Park and headed south to the Nation’s Capital, their new permanent home. Henceforth, they would always be known as your Washington Redskins.
To celebrate the 75th anniversary of the move, the Pro Football Hall of Fame (@ProFootballHOF) tweeted out a trivia question to its followers this afternoon:
On this day in 1937 the @Redskins relocated from Boston to Washington D.C. Which game-changing QB was a rookie on the team that year?—
Pro Football HOF (@ProFootballHOF) February 13, 2012
That “game-changing” rookie, of course, was Slingin’ Sammy Baugh, one of the initial inductees into the Pro Football Hall Of Fame in 1963.
At the time of his retirement, he held 13 NFL records across three different positions (quarterback, punter and defensive back), and is widely regarded as one of the best to ever play the game.
During his time in the NFL, he won the NFL passing record six times and led the league in lowest percentage of interceptions five times. He is also the only player to ever lead the league in passing, punting and interceptions in the same season.
In confirmation of the correct answer, the Pro Football Hall Of Fame then tweeted the picture of Baugh’s bronzed cleats, located in a display case in Canton:
In other obscure Canton news, the leading home state for Pro Football Hall Of Fame inductees is Pennsylvania with 29. Ironically, the leading home state for Redskins players is Texas (four), although the 19 Redskins Hall Of Famers have hailed from 12 total states.
Now you know, and knowing is half the battle.
Tags: boston braves, Hall of Fame, Sammy Baugh, washington redskins
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By W.W. Wassmann on Feb 13, 2012 | Reply
I didn’t think the Interstate Highway system existed in 1937!
By Brian Tinsman on Feb 13, 2012 | Reply
@W.W. Wassmann–
A fair point, my poetic license got ahead of my almanac there…
By 007 on Feb 13, 2012 | Reply
The reason i became a REDSKIN fan in the first place, SAM BAUGH.
By 007 on Feb 13, 2012 | Reply
BTW, doesn’t he still hold the record for punting average in a season at 70+ yards?
By vaughan on Feb 13, 2012 | Reply
yo joe!
By 'ol Pops on Feb 14, 2012 | Reply
and in that same case with Baugh’s shoes is my father’s Redskin Band feathered headdress, which is all that remains of his original band uniform that was once on display.
Dad and I always talked about going to Canton, but we never made it. I made sure I went with my sons.
By 007 on Feb 14, 2012 | Reply
Looked it up. The record for average in a season, 51.4 per punt [1940] held by SAMMY BAUGH. A lot of times he would quick kick on third down from the single-wing if they were deep in their own territory. The punt would clear the d-backs and roll for another fifteen-twenty yards.
By Brian Tinsman on Feb 14, 2012 | Reply
@oo7–
Taking lucky bounces or not, that’s still an impressive average
By Butch Jenks on Feb 17, 2012 | Reply
Sammy Baugh wore jersey #33 which I think may be retired. Is #45 the jersey that he wore in Boston?
By Brian Tinsman on Feb 17, 2012 | Reply
@Butch Jenks–
Good eye. I believe he was No. 45 at TCU in college, as he was always No. 33 as a pro.