*Wasn't That a Time (Sammy Baugh Tribute)*

Human Events ^ | 1/8/09 | Pat Buchanan

[Cyropaedia]

New York had Joe Dimaggio. Boston had Ted Williams.

And Washington, D.C.? Well, we had Sammy Baugh, the greatest football player ever to pull on a jersey.

In 1943, Baugh led the NFL in pass completions, punting and interceptions as a defensive back with 11, calling forth the tribute of legendary sportswriter Grantland Rice, "Sammy Baugh is just about the most valuable player of all time, according to most pro coaches I've talked to."

[Cyropaedia]

What Sammy Baugh did in '43 was truly historic. A seventy percent completion in '43 was a huge milestone.

[Sybeck1]

Now they have Jason Campbell, who should be benched, playing in the CFL, or in another line of work.

[Cyropaedia]

He even led the NFL with 11 interceptions in '43. That alone would send you into the Pro Bowl today, - in a sixteen game season.

[chopperman]

Don’t be too impressed with 1943 stats. That year was not a good year for talent in the league. The war grabbed the healthy ones.

[Cyropaedia]

Still, even under those circumstances it was a remarkable feat.

A side note: two out of the three quarterbacks that reached the seventy percent completion percentage (for a season) were coached by Bill Walsh.

Kenny Anderson ('82) and Joe Montana ('89).

[Mind-numbed Robot]

Don’t be too impressed with 1943 stats. That year was not a good year for talent in the league. The war grabbed the healthy ones.

He wasn't playing against cripples. Bronco Nagurski was no wimp. There were many great players in the league, a league of only about eight teams playing about ten games a year. (I am uncertain about those figures and too lazy to verify them but the point is the same.) You can't denigrate greatness with such pansy excuses. Leadership is leadership and a 51+ yds punting average? That is terrific even if there was no one else on the field.