Baugh, "Sammy" (Samuel A.)
Football
b. March 17, 1914, near Temple, TX
During much of his professional career, Baugh was a T-formation quarterback known for his passing, but he was a great all-around athlete. A three-sport star in high school, he was recruited by Texas Christian University baseball coach Leo "Dutch" Meyer in 1933.
Meyer became head football coach in 1934 and made Baugh his starting tailback in 1935. He was not only a great passer, but an outstanding punter and defensive back and a good, intelligent runner. TCU beat Louisiana State in the 1936 Sugar Bowl, 3-2, on a rainy day when passing was inadvisable. Baugh had a 45-yard run, intercepted two passes, and punted 14 times for an average of 48 yards a kick.
He was named to some All-American teams after that season and was a consensus choice in 1936, when he completed 109 of 219 passes for 1,890 yards and two touchdowns. TCU lost only once that year, a game that Baugh missed because of a leg injury, and beat Marquette 16-6 in the Cotton Bowl.
Baugh signed as a third baseman with the St. Louis Cardinals after graduating, but was sent to the minor leagues and decide to give professional football a try. He had only a week of practice with the Washington Redskins before the 1937 season opened and wasn't supposed to start. However, tailback Cliff Battles couldn't play because of an infected knee and Baugh completed 11 of 16 passes for 116 yards as the Redskins beat the New York Giants 13-3.
Washington beat the Chicago Bears for the NFL championship in his rookie season. Baugh threw a 42-yard pass to Battles, now playing fullback, to set up the first touchdown, but the Redskins were behind 14-7 at halftime. In the second half, Baugh had touchdown passes of 55, 78, and 33 yards to lead the team to a 28-21 victory.
The Redskins and Bears played for the title three more times in the next six years. After a humiliating 73-0 defeat in 1940, Baugh threw a 23-yard touchdown pass and his punting kept the Bears out of scoring range in a 14-6 win in 1942. He threw two early touchdowns passes in the 1943 but had to leave the game because of a concussion and the Bears ended up winning, 41-21.
The Redskins got into the championship once more during Baugh's tenure, in 1946, and once again he was hurt during the game. He continued playing despite two separated ribs, but was not effective and the Cleveland Rams beat Washington, 15-14.
Baugh, who had switched from single-wing tailback to T-formation quarterback in 1944, played six more seasons with mediocre teams. One of his greatest games was on Sammy Baugh Day in 1947. He passed for 365 yards and 6 touchdowns in a 45-21 victory over the Chicago Cardinals, who went on to win the NFL championship.
Perhaps his greatest season was 1943, when he became the only player ever to lead the NFL in passing, punting, and interceptions. Baugh was an All-Pro in 1937, 1940, 1943, 1945, 1947, and 1947. When he retired after the 1952 season, he held most of the NFL's passing records. His punting average of 51.4 yards a kick in 1940 and his passing completion mark of 70.3 percent in 1945 are still records.
Baugh coached Hardin-Simmons University for five years, beginning in 1955, winning 23 games while losing 28. He then became coach of the New York Titans (now the Jets) in the American Football League for two seasons, 1960-61, and had a 7-7 record each season.