August 20, 2015

Highlighted Year: Steve Bagarus, 1945

Halfback, Washington Redskins


Age: 26
5th season in pro football, 1st in NFL & with Redskins
College: Notre Dame
Height: 6’0”   Weight: 170

Prelude:
Recipient of a basketball scholarship to attend Notre Dame, Bagarus had his biggest football moment when he returned an interception for a touchdown in a 14-0 win over Army in 1939. He went into the military during World War II and also played for the San Diego Bombers of the Pacific Coast Football League from 1941 to ‘44. He led the league in touchdowns three times and scoring twice, with highs of 12 TDs and 72 points in 1943. Bagarus joined the Redskins in 1945 and proved to be an outstanding receiver out of the backfield as well as an excellent open-field runner.

1945 Season Summary
Appeared in all 10 games
[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Rushing
Attempts – 39
Yards – 154
Average gain – 3.9
TDs – 1

Pass Receiving
Receptions – 34 [3]
Yards – 617 [3]
Most yards, game – 162 (on 8 catches) at NY Giants 10/28
Average gain – 18.1 [7]
TDs – 5 [6, tied with John Greene]

Kickoff Returns
Returns – 12 [4]
Yards – 325 [3]
Average per return – 27.1 [2]
TDs – 0
Longest return – 55 yards

Punt Returns
Returns – 21 [1]
Yards – 251 [1]
Average per return – 12.0 [4]
TDs – 0
Longest return – 28 yards

All-Purpose yards – 1347 [2]

Scoring
TDs – 6 [9, tied with Frank Akins, Ken Kavanaugh & Pug Manders]
Points – 36 [13, tied with Frank Akins, Ken Kavanaugh & Pug Manders]

Postseason: 1 G (NFL Championship at Cleveland)
Rushing attempts – 5
Rushing yards – -4
Average gain rushing – -0.8
Rushing TDs – 0

Pass receptions – 3
Receiving yards – 95
Average yards per reception – 31.7
Pass receiving TDs – 1

Kickoff returns – 1
Kickoff return yards – 29
Average yards per return – 29.0
Kickoff return TDs – 0

Punt returns – 4
Punt return yards – 52
Average yards per return – 13.0
Punt return TDs – 0

Awards & Honors:
1st team All-NFL: AP
2nd team All-NFL: Chicago Herald-American, NY Daily News

Redskins went 8-2 to finish first in the NFL Eastern Division while leading the league in total yards (3546). Lost NFL Championship to Cleveland Rams (15-14).

Aftermath:
Bagarus gained 771 yards from scrimmage in 1946 and also averaged 10.7 yards on 18 punt returns and 25.5 yards returning 13 kickoffs. He was traded to the Rams in 1947 and broke his leg, sidelining him for most of the season. Waived early in ’48, the Redskins re-signed him for the last five games. He caught 15 passes for 100 yards and a TD and retired, although he did see action with Wilmington and Richmond of the minor league AFL in 1949. Overall in the NFL, Bagarus had 80 pass receptions for 1155 yards (14.4 avg.), ran the ball 98 times for 343 yards (3.5 avg.), returned 41 punts for an 11.2-yard average and 27 kickoffs for an average of 25.3 yards. He also intercepted five passes on defense and scored a total of 10 touchdowns.  

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Highlighted Years features players who were first-team All-League* selections or league* or conference** leaders in the following statistical categories:

Rushing: Yards, TDs (min. 10)
Passing: Yards, Completion Pct., Yards per Attempt, TDs, Rating
Receiving: Catches, Yards, TDs (min. 10)
Scoring: TDs, Points, Field Goals (min. 5)
All-Purpose: Total Yards
Defense: Interceptions, Sacks
Kickoff Returns: Average
Punt Returns: Average
Punting: Average

*Leagues include NFL (1920 to date), AFL (1926), AFL (1936-37), AAFC (1946-49), AFL (1960-69), WFL (1974-75), USFL (1983-85)

**NFC/AFC since 1970