May 16, 2016

Highlighted Year: Sammy Baugh, 1937

Tailback/Defensive Back, Washington Redskins


Age: 23
1st season in pro football
College: Texas Christian
Height: 6’2”   Weight: 185

Prelude:
The multi-talented Baugh was a two-time All-American at TCU, where he passed for 3439 yards and 39 touchdowns and was also an outstanding punter. While a baseball prospect as well, “Slingin’ Sammy” signed with the Redskins, newly relocated from Boston to Washington, who chose him in the first round of the 1937 NFL draft (sixth overall). A passing tailback in the single-wing offense, he improved as the season progressed and impressed with his poise as well as precision throwing ability.

1937 Season Summary
Appeared in all 11 games
[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Passing
Attempts – 171 [1]
Completions – 81 [1]
Yards – 1127 [1]
Completion percentage – 47.4 [2]
Yards per attempt – 6.6 [2]
TD passes – 8 [2, tied with Bob Monnett & Ed Danowski]
Most TD passes, game – 2 vs. Chi. Cardinals 9/24
Interceptions – 14 [1, tied with Dave Smukler]
Passer rating – 50.5 [2]

Rushing
Attempts – 86 [19]
Yards – 240
Yards per attempt – 2.8
TDs – 1 [17, tied with many others]

Scoring
TDs – 1
Points – 6

Postseason: 1 G (NFL Championship at Chicago Bears)
Pass attempts – 33
Pass completions – 18
Passing yardage – 335
TD passes – 3
Interceptions – 1

Rushing attempts – 4
Rushing yards – 6
Average gain rushing – 1.5
Rushing TDs – 0

Punts – 5
Punting yards – 132
Punting average – 26.4
Longest punt – 43 yards

Awards & Honors:
1st team All-NFL: League, INS, UPI, NY Daily News

Redskins went 8-3 to finish first in the NFL Eastern Division. Won NFL Championship over Chicago Bears (28-21).

Aftermath:
Baugh went on to play 16 seasons in the NFL, all with the Redskins. Along the way, utilizing his sidearm passing motion to excellent effect he led the league in numerous statistical categories, including passing yards four times, touchdown passes twice, and overall passing on six occasions. Baugh also excelled on defense and as a punter and in 1943 led the NFL in passing, punting (45.9 avg.), and interceptions (11). The Redskins benefited from his wide-open style and won five Eastern Division titles and two league championships in Baugh’s first nine seasons. After a difficult year of transition to the T-formation in 1944, Baugh came back to set a completion percentage record of 70.3 (that lasted until 1982) as the Redskins topped the Eastern Division, and he continued to excel even as the team went into decline thereafter, up until his retirement in 1952. Overall, he passed for 21,886 yards and 187 TDs with a 56.5 percent completion percentage on 1693 completions in 2995 attempts, all of which were NFL records at the time. Baugh, masterful at the art of the quick-kick, also set league records with a 51.4-yard average in 1940 and a career average of 45.1 yards, leading the league five times. On defense, he intercepted 31 passes. Baugh received first-team All-NFL recognition after seven seasons and second-team honors following two other years. His #33 was retired by the Redskins (the only retired number thus far in franchise history) and he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame as a Charter Member in 1963. He went on to become a head coach in the AFL with the New York Titans and Houston Oilers.

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Highlighted Years features players who were consensus 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