The greatest player in Washington Redskins history finally is part of the Super Bowl.
A jersey literally torn off the late Sammy Baugh in the 1940s is part of a massive football memorabilia auction on Sunday. Ripped while playing the Boston Yanks in 1947 or ’48, it’s expected to draw top dollar among 280 items by Hunt Auctions during Super Bowl pregame activities in Miami.
The only other known Baugh jersey is in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. This jersey was taken from the Redskins locker room by a team employee and given to a fan, whose family now is selling it. It was framed in the 1970s with the tears remaining and some sun damage to the fabric.
Hunt Auctions president David Hunt’s early estimate of $20,000 minimum was based on comparisons of other rare jerseys of Johnny Unitas and Joe Namath. Already, the Baugh jersey has a $19,800, bid while a Namath jersey from the early 1970s has drawn $22,500 at HuntAuctions.com. Hunt said the Baugh jersey’s price is uncertain partly given its uniqueness.
“It’s priceless in terms of memories,” Hunt said, “but if somebody’s not willing to pay it then it’s not. You could argue it’s worth $10,000, you could argue it’s worth $100,000. If it brings $50,000 then that’s what it’s worth.”
That Baugh played from 1937-52 for the Redskins may actually decrease the value because most of today’s fans never saw him play aside from rare black-and-white reels.
“You can buy a 1972 [Miami] Dolphins helmet and understand what it is,” Hunt said. “But to buy a Sammy Baugh jersey you have to understand it’s a one-of-a-kind item. We’re trying to bring the history of the game into the marketplace and understand who these guys were.”
Hall of Fame quarterback Sonny Jurgensen is considered the leading Redskin of the last half century. Yet Jurgensen never hesitates when he says that Baugh was the team’s top player of all-time.
A member of the Hall of Fame’s inaugural class in 1963, “Slingin’ Sammy” won two titles while setting 13 NFL records at quarterback, punter and defensive back. Baugh died in Dec. 2008.
Hunt says football memorabilia trails baseball greatly among collectors. Baugh may be football’s equivalent of baseball’s Babe Ruth, but a signed baseball by the Bambino fetched $40,000 in 2007.
“Baseball, by nature of game, is more collectable, more statistics-oriented,” Hunt said. “Baseball players wear hats, you see their faces. You remember them. Football players wear helmets. It’s further away. You don’t see their faces a lot.”
Rick Snider has covered local sports since 1978. Read more at TheRickSniderReport.com and Twitter @Snide_Remarks or e-mail [email protected].
