Posted on 12/17/2008 6:40:22 PM PST by EveningStar
LUBBOCK, Texas Sammy Baugh, who set numerous passing records with the Washington Redskins in an era when NFL teams were running most every down, died Wednesday night, his son said. Baugh, who was 94 and had numerous health issues, died at Fisher County Hospital in Rotan, David Baugh said. David Baugh said his father had battled Alzheimer's and dementia for several years. He had been ill recently with kidney problems, low blood pressure and double pneumonia.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
RIP
Alzheimer that sucks
He actually had a gig acting once, starring as the two-fisted hero in the Republic serial, “KING OF THE TEXAS RANGERS” (1941). His acting talent was a bit lacking, but the serial itself is one of the better of its kind, full of non-stop action.
A coach once told Baugh that when throwing a pass he should try to hit the receiver in the eye. Slingin’ Sammy repied; “which eye”?
TCU All-American and the last surviving member of the NFL Hall fo Fame inaugural class. And if you ever got see him interviewed in his latter years he was an all star cusser too!
RIP Sammy
Great quarterback. RIP.
http://www.coldhardfootballfacts.com/Article.php?Page=1055
Slingin Sammy Baugh (6-2, 185)
Washington Redskins (1937-52)
All-Time 11 positions: quarterback, free safety, punter
All-NFL: 7 times
MVP: n/a
NFL champion: 1937, 1942
Hometown: Temple, Texas
College: Texas Christian
Hall of Fame: 1963 (charter member)
Wait no more for the Pigskin Messiah, friends of the Cold, Hard Football Facts. The Gridiron Gods have already given us the perfect all-purpose football player, and his name is Sammy Baugh. He could throw like Dan Marino, run like Michael Vick, pick off passes like Ronnie Lott and punt the ball better than Ray Guy. Baugh is the obvious choice to lead the offense of the All-Time 11. He also plays defensive back and, in the rare case that we find ourselves unable to convert a third down, he pins our opponents deep with his electrifying punts.
A two-time All-American at TCU, Baugh joined the NFL as a single-wing tailback. By the 1940s, he had become one of the first quarterbacks as we know them today as passing specialists. Many historians credit him with creating the modern quarterback position.
His passing numbers have stood the test of time. In 1945, he completed 70.3 percent of his attempts and posted a very modern-looking 109.9 passer rating. His amazing 70.3 completion percentage has been surpassed only once, by Cincinnatis Ken Anderson (70.6) in the Live Ball Era season of 1982. The 109.9 passer rating in 1945 is the second-best passing season in the history of the NFL when compared with the league-wide rating that year (47.4).
Baugh was also a two-way iron man who intercepted 31 passes as a defensive back. He still stands as arguably the greatest punter in NFL history. His career punting average of 45.1 is second all-time to current Oakland punter Shane Lechlers 45.9. He averaged an amazing 51.4 yards per punt in 1940 still an NFL record and led the league in punting a record four different seasons (1940-43).
As good as he was in 1945, Baughs signature season was 1943. In that 10-game campaign, he led the NFL in passing (1,754 yards), interceptions (11) and punting (45.9 average) and became one of just three Triple Crown winners in NFL history.
rest in peace, sammy.
Baugh matched his finesse with toughness.
One time there was a defensive lineman who was coming down on me with his fists closed, he once told The San Antonio Express-News. A couple of plays later, I found a play we could waste and I told our linemen to just let him come through.
The guy got about five feet from me, and I hit him right in the forehead with the ball. He turned red and passed out. It scared the hell out of me.
Can you imagine any quarterback, today....... doing all of this? The game has certainly evolved.
Tim Tebow?
I played at the Western Texas College Golf course that Mr. Baugh frequented in his latter years. He was a fine man... a gentleman who had no pretense and was completely approachable. He would sign footballs, cereral boxes etc. not as a celebrity, but just because he was a good guy. They made very few men like him when he was at his peak, they do no make any men like him anymore.
You think Tim might lead the league in punting....someday?
Little league.....maybe!
He is probably a great all around player....I'm sure...but he'll never get a chance to prove it as the game is too specialized today.
Condolences to Sammy Baugh’s family and friends.
"Slingin' Sammy Baugh pitched the Washington Redskins to a 15-to-0 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates today to keep them in the race for the Eastern divsion championship of the National Football League."
Check it out. Maybe I will bump the article in honor of Mr. Baugh.
Please do bump it. Sammy and his fans and his would be fans deserve it.
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