LUBBOCK, Texas — Sammy Baugh, the ultimate three-way threat who revolutionized the use of the forward pass as a Hall of Fame quarterback for the Washington Redskins, died Wednesday night. He was 94.
Baugh died at Fisher County Hospital in Rotan, Texas, according to his son, David Baugh. He said his father had battled Alzheimer’s disease and dementia for several years and recently had been ill with kidney problems, low blood pressure and double pneumonia.
“It wasn’t the same Sam we all knew,” his son said. “He just finally wore out.”
Sammy Baugh was the last surviving member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s inaugural class. After starring at TCU, “Slingin’ Sammy” played with the Redskins from 1937-52, leading them to the NFL title in his rookie season and again in 1942.
Baugh was the best all-around player in an era when such versatility was essential. In 1943, he led the league in passing, punting and defensive interceptions. In one game, he threw four touchdown passes and intercepted four as well. He threw six touchdowns passes in a game twice, and his 51.4-yard punting average in 1940 is still the NFL record.
“There’s nobody any better than Sam Baugh was in pro football,” Don Maynard, a fellow West Texas Hall of Famer who played for Baugh, said in 2002. “When I see somebody picking the greatest player around, to me, if they didn’t go both ways, they don’t really deserve to be nominated. I always ask, ‘Well, how’d he do on defense? How was his punting?’ ”
When Baugh entered the NFL, the forward pass was so rare it was used mostly in desperate situations. But Baugh turn the pass into a regular feature.
As a rookie in 1937, he completed a record 81 passes (about seven a game) and led the league with 1,127 yards. By contrast, only six quarterbacks averaged three completions a game that year. He went on to lead the league in passing six times.
Baugh still holds Redskins records for career touchdown passes (187) and completion percentage in a season (70.3). His 31 interceptions on defense are third on the team’s career list. He finished his career with 21,886 passing yards, 187 touchdown passes and 31 interceptions.
“Sammy Baugh embodied all we aspire to at the Washington Redskins,” team owner Daniel Snyder said. “He was one of the greatest to ever play the game of football.”
Baugh guided the Redskins to five title games, playing his entire career without a face mask. His No. 33 is the only jersey Washington has retired.
