Slingin' Sammy Baugh
I was saddened with the news yesterday, that this historic football player from Sweetwater, Texas, had passed away at the age of 94. The word icon was created for men like him.
A member of the first NFL Hall Of Fame class, his accomplishments on the field are legendary. Not only was he the first quarterback to make the forward pass an every down threat, and not out of desperation, but he was a complete athlete, and seldom left the field of play. Mr. Baugh also still holds the Washington Redskins record for per punt average, and he retired in 1952. Mr. Baugh is also still third on the Redskins all-time career interception list.
In his entire football playing career, in high school, at TCU, and including fifteen years in the NFL, he never once wore a face mask.
Known for his colorful language, and his kindness, Mr. Baugh raised his family on his 7,600 acre Double Mountain ranch, near Lubbock, and seldom ventured out of Texas from that day forward.
God Bless You, Sammy Baugh, and your family. You were a Texas icon, and a true Son Of Texas.
Glad you posted this, as I’d meant to but never found the time.
Sammy Baugh was an amazing football player and an even greater Texan.
He once led the NFL in passing, interceptions, and punting avg. for an entire season. During that season, he had a game where he threw 4 TD passes and intercepted 4 passes.
You will never see that feat duplicated again. Ever.
He was also the last survivor from the inaugural induction class to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
They truly don’t make many men like Slingin’ Sammy anymore.
I’m glad we were on the same page, and that I had some time this morning to jot it down.
I couldn’t let his passing go unnoticed.
I grew up hearing my Dad, and other Dad’s and coaches talk about Slingin’ Sammy, as though he were a myth, and not a living, breathing man.
Some of the quotes from him, and about him, that I came across, as well as some comments on a forum, gave me more insight into the humanity of the man, and what he meant to so many who never saw him play football.
[...] the era of Slingin’ Sammy Baugh, to the current era, Texas High School football has encountered many different styles of play, but [...]
[...] the era of Slingin’ Sammy Baugh, to the current era, Texas High School football has encountered many different styles of play, but [...]