Sammy Baugh biography
Sammy Baugh, in full Samuel Adrian Baugh, byname Slingin’ Sammy, (born March 17, 1914, Temple, Texas, U.S.—died Dec. 17, 2008, Rotan, Texas), first excellent quarterback within the historical past of American skilled gridiron soccer. He performed a significant position within the emergence of the ahead move as a major offensive tactic within the Thirties and ’40s. He led the National Football League (NFL) in passing in 6 of his 16 seasons (1937–52) with the Washington Redskins. He additionally excelled as a punter and as a defensive again. In 1943 he led the NFL in passing, punting, and interceptions (as a defensive again).
At Texas Christian University, in Fort Worth, Baugh grew to become the highest passer within the Southwest Conference, a league famous for its wide-open offenses at a time when most soccer groups used the ahead move solely sparingly. He led his staff to a victory within the 1936 Sugar Bowl, serving to to convey nationwide consideration to the convention and to soccer within the Southwest for the primary time. Baugh was named a consensus All-American in his senior season.
After commencement in 1937, Baugh joined each the Redskins and the St. Louis Cardinals baseball group, for which he performed shortstop within the minor leagues for just a few years. Baugh led the NFL in completions and passing yards per recreation in his first season and helped Washington to an 8–3 report and a spot within the championship recreation, the place he threw three landing passes in a 28–21 upset of the Chicago Bears. Behind Baugh, the Redskins performed in 4 extra championship video games, capturing a second title in 1942. He led the NFL in passing yards per recreation once more in 1938, 1940, 1945, 1947, and 1948 and in common yards per punt in 1940–43. As a defensive again, he led the NFL in 1943 by intercepting 11 passes, which stays one of many highest single-season totals in league historical past. He had profession aggregates of 1,693 move completions in 2,995 makes an attempt (56.5 p.c) for 21,886 yards and 187 touchdowns, all of which have been NFL information on the time of his retirement.
Baugh was head coach of two American Football League groups: the New York Titans in 1960–61 and the Houston Oilers in 1964. He was a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s inaugural class in 1963.