1961 Profile: Sammy Baugh

Head Coach
"The Sweetwater, Texas passing man who became pro football's No. 1 aerialist. An all-time great, he spent 16 seasons with the Redskins and completed more passes than all the others. He was a genuine triple-threat star in the single wing and one of the NFL's top punters during his career.
Sammy coached Hardin-Simmons for five years before taking on the Titan post."

-1961 Pro Football Handbook


PITCHINGEST OF 'EM ALL
"Nobody who ever saw him pass that football will ever forget Sammy Baugh and his slinging. He was fantastic in college, and when he went pro he astounded fans.
In 1936 the All-America quarterback was Samuel Adrian Baugh. He played his football for Texas Christian University. The stories from the Southwest about this young man's passing wizardry were unbelievable. A Texas photographer taking shots of Baugh for publicity purposes had asked Sammy to hit a receiver in the eye with a pass of 40 yards. Baugh's calm, straight-faced reply reportedly was, 'Which eye, sir?'
The rest of the nation reserved comment on Baugh, for his college football days had been limited wholly to the south. Football-minded midwesterners regarded Sammy as a Texas hurricane who surely would fold to a zephyr if his Horned Frog team were to meet any of the IR powerhouses.
After his college graduation in 1937, Baugh received swarms of offers from professional football. Although somewhat of an unknown quantity, the club owners knew Baugh would be a strong gate attraction for the curious. Baugh turned down the offers ... in his Texas drawl he told them he was too frail for the rigors of professional football and that he was hoping to coach the backfield for his alma mater. Sammy, at 6'2" and 185 pounds, was rawboned and anything but frail, so the persuasive powers of pro football kept waving their contracts.
Playing left halfback for the Washington Redkins in Coach Ray Flaherty's single wing, Baugh made the country pass-conscious. He led the league in passing, completing 81 of his 171 attempts. But he did more than just throw the pigskin. He was among the league's best punters. He was a fine runner when called upon to run the ball. He was a nimble defensive back at safety.
At season's end, Sammy was unanimously voted Rookie of the Year in the National Football League. What's more, this freshman back was voted All-League halfback along with his storied teammate, fullback Cliff Battles. Besides these honors, Baugh had led his team to one more. The Washington Redskins had won the Eastern Division of the NFL and the right to play the Chicago Bears, Western champs, on December 12 for the league title at Chicago's Wrigley Field.
The Bears for several years had been the scourge of the NFL. Their brutal charging and bulky line, led by left tackle Joe Stydahar, had earned them the nickname of 'Monsters of the Midway.' Their backfield featured such brilliant runners as Bronko Nagurski, Jack Manders and Ray Nolting. Quarterback Bernie Masterson was a slick passer and a brainy field general. The Bears were the favorite nearly every time and the Redskin game was no exception.
December 12 in Chicago was fiercely cold, temperature 15 degrees. But it was the icy wind blasts off Lake Michigan that made it feel even colder.
The quick-opening Bear plays were ideally suited to the situation. It was a day for straightaway running, bullet bursts through the middle of the line. It certainly wasn't a day for passing, even if your passer was Sammy Baugh. The Redskin ends were thought of as men with very cold hands.
The crowd was small, but this was to be expected. Hardly a ticket had been sold at the gate. The 15,878 present had purchased their tickets long before and, had they been weather prophets, this game would have been played to an empty house.
Earlap vendors were doing a land-office business in the stands as the game prepared to get underway. The Bears kicked off and slammed the Redskin returner to the frozen tundra deep in Washington territory.
On the first play from scrimmage, Baugh went back to pass. The predominantly Chicago crowd screamed their delight as the Bear line bore down on Sammy in the Washington end zone. Just before Baugh was tackled, he got rid of the ball. It was hastily flung, but not an errant toss. Redskin fullback Cliff Battles grabbed it and was brought down on the Washington 42.
Unable to gain on the ground, Washington punted to the Bears. Three downs later Ray Nolting punted back to the Redskins, and Washington took over on its 41-yard line. It looked like a punting duel was developing, with both teams content to play defensive football and wait for the first break.
The only breaks were the crooks in Baugh's arm as he drew it back to pass. From the 41, Sammy slung to Riley Smith and then to Ernie Pinckert for 32 yards. Again to Smith for six more vital yards. Then Baugh and Battles along the ground, ground out the remaining 21 yards to paydirt, with Battles navigating the final seven on a sweeping reverse of his own left end. Riley Smith made good the conversion, and the stunned crowd had watched the Redskins take a 7-0 lead.
The angry Bears stormed back with deadly force on the ensuing kickoff. They stormed 71 yards in four plays for the equalizer. Jack Manders blasted over from the 11 on a burst through the middle after a Masterson to Manders aerial had gained 51 yards. 'Automatic' Jack Manders booted the tying point through the uprights.
Later in the first quarter, Baugh went back once more to pass. A Bear intercepted the pass and returned it to midfield. Chicago went the remaining distance in the air and on the ground for the tie-breaking touchdown. The big gainer was the M & M team of Masterson to Manders on a 38-yard pass play. Manders' point after touchdown made it 14-7 for Chicago as the quarter ended. To this point, Baugh had been outgunned by the arm of Masterson.
As the second quarter started, a feeble ray of sunshine broke the clouds, but its heating effects fooled nobody. It disappeared as if it knew its presence would only be mocked by the frozen spectators.
Early in the second quarter the rushing Bear line finally caught up with the elusive Mr. Baugh. The customers heckled Sammy as he limped from the field.
'Why you're just a Texas Sunflower, Baugh! Our boys play too hard for you.'
Sammy remained on the bench, and throughout the second quarter the Redskins never went past midfield. It was only through the defensive play of Washington's left tackle, Turk Edwards, that the Bears failed to make a rout of the game. Again and again he made crucial tackles that halted Chicago advances. Chicago's Manders missed field goal tries of 38 and 40 yards, and the halftime interruption came with the Bears still up 14-7.
If Wrigley Field were ever in danger of being destroyed by arson, it was on that memorable December 12, 1937. Park policemen were kept busy throughout the halftime stomping out small blazes in every section of the park.
If ever a diversion was needed to prevent a crowd from committing mayhem, it was needed that afternoon in Chicago's Wrigley Field. The needed antidote came in the second half with the return of Sammy Baugh to the Washington lineup. He performed in such a manner as to make the spectators forget that they were suffering from the earliest stages of frostbite. He left them limp with the emotional heat of his magnificence.
Baugh threw passes that had to be seen to be believed. He pitched while in full flight and hung them on a nail. He tossed them as tacklers clung to his left arm and both of his legs, but so accurate were they that a blind man could have caught them.
Within seven minutes of the start of the third quarter, three touchdowns were scored. Washington swept 70 yards in four plays. The payoff came from the Redskin 45. Left end Wayne Millner crossed over and Baugh bulls-eyed him on the Bear 25. With Chicago in pursuit, Millner was finally thrown by Masterson just as he crossed the goal line. Smith's kick was good and the game was tied 14-14.
The relentless Bears crashed back immediately and their superb running backs carried the ball to a first down on the Redskin four-yard line. For two downs the staunch Redskin line held. On third down, bruising Bronko Nagurski slammed into a wall of Redskin tacklers for no gain. On fourth down Chicago's Masterson delved into Coach George Halas's bag of many tricks. Bernie took the ball from under the center, jumped and at the height of his leap, lofted a basketball pass into the arms of end Ed Manske in the end zone. Manders was unfailing in his kick and the Bears again led 21-14.
Sammy Baugh, however, refused to be denied. Washington received the kick and brought back the ball to its 23-yard line. On first down, Sammy threw the longest touchdown pass ever thrown to that time in professional football. He threw down the center alley to Wayne Millner at midfield and the speedster scampered the remaining distance to the right corner of the end zone. The pass-run play had covered 77 yards.
Without a touch of nerves, Riley Smith kicked true and once more knotted the game 21-21. This great third quarter finally came to an end with no further scoring.
Early in the fourth quarter, when Chicago was held at midfield, the Indians and Chief Baugh struck the warpath once again. Substitute Irwin, replacing the injured Battles, drove along the ground and Baugh fired through the air. The turning point was reached on a gamble when Irwin bucked for a yard on fourth down at the Bear 42 and made it.
Two passes were left in Sammy's arm and he made them both count. He hit Irwin for seven to the 35 and wound up his golden right arm again with the groggy Bears chasing him all over the field.
Chicago had been laying for Wayne Millner, Baugh's favorite receiver throughout the game. This time Baugh had Millner cut to the center and, naturally, a cortege of Chicagoans enveloped him. Sammy then turned and whirled a perfect pass to Ed Justice in the right flat for 35 yards and the lead. Smith was there to add the point and the score stood Washington 28, Chicago 21.
Late in the fourth quarter, the Bears tried once more. Dick Plasma caught a pass from Masterson, and with a clear field ahead of him set sail for the Washington goal line. Lo and behold if Baugh didn't catch him from behind forcing him out at midfield.
Out of frustration, Plasma got up and threw a punch at Baugh. The entire Washington was on him in no time.
The final gun came soon after and, with it, the championship for Washington. It was the first title that any Eastern team but the Giants had ever gained.
Outside the steamy dressing room of the Redskins, many of the crowd hung around to catch a glimpse of the exiting Baugh. They were Chicagoans but not adverse to paying tribute to the feats they had seen Sammy perform.
Inside the dressing room it was apparent that it would be some time before Baugh would be permitted to leave. Some of football's own great had gathered here to pay Baugh their respects.
Earl 'Dutch' Clark, Detroit Lions' coach and longtime pro star, said Baugh 'is the greatest passer I've ever seen.'
Ray Flaherty, Redskin coach, said the Texan's exhibition was 'the greatest one-man show ever put on in pro football.'
George Halas, beaten owner and coach, stopped by to tell everybody who would listen that Baugh's passing and the receiving of Wayne Millner were among the finest he had ever seen.
In the little town of Sweetwater, Texas, they began to prepare a welcoming celebration for Baugh. The banner strung across Main Street was to read 'Home of the World Champion, Pass Slinging Baugh.'
By the time Sammy wrapped up his football playing career in 1952, he was to practically rewrite the section devoted to passing in the NFL record book. With all his achievement, certainly the finest game he ever played was the frigid December 12 of his rookie year when he proved to the midwest that he was no Sunflower."

-Who's Who in Pro Football (1961 Edition)