NFL legend Sammy Baugh dead at 94

Dec 18, 2008 - 7:33 AM ROTAN, Texas (Ticker) -- Hall of Fame quarterback Sammy Baugh, who set numerous passing records with the Washington Redskins, died on Wednesday at Fisher County Hospital. He was 94.

David Baugh said his father had battled Alzheimer's and dementia for several years. He had been ill recently with kidney problems, low blood pressure and double pneumonia, the Dallas Morning News reported.

Baugh redefined the position of quarterback with the Redskins after joining the team as a first-round pick - sixth overall - in 1937.

"Slingin' Sammy" Baugh played college ball at Texas Christian before joining the Redskins. Once in Washington, Baugh was a huge factor in the development of offenses that took place in the late 1930s and early 1940s.

Baugh played an enormous role in the development of the forward pass as a weapon. He was the first quarterback who could throw the ball with accuracy that is commonplace in today's NFL.

"Sammy Baugh embodied all we aspire to at the Washington Redskins," team owner Daniel Snyder said in a statement. "He was a competitor in everything he did and a winner. He was one of the greatest to ever play the game of football, and one of the greatest the Redskins ever had. My thoughts and prayers are with his family tonight."

Baugh spent his entire career with the Redskins, playing 165 games over 16 years. He threw for 21,886 yards and 187 touchdown passes. He also punted, booming one 85 yards in 1940, a career-long.

As a rookie, Baugh did everything for the Redskins. He played quarterback, defensive back, and punter. In the NFL championship game that season, Baugh threw second-half touchdown passes of 55, 78 and 33 yards to give Washington a 28-21 victory over the Chicago Bears.

Baugh was on the short side of the most lopsided games in NFL history in 1940 as the Bears pummeled the Redskins, 73-0.

He put on a stunning performance on "Sammy Baugh Day" in 1947, throwing for 355 yards and six touchdowns against the Chicago Cardinals.

Baugh won a record-setting six NFL passing titles and earned first-team All-NFL honors seven times. He completed 1,693-of-2,995 passes for 21,886 yards. Baugh set 13 NFL records in three player positions: quarterback, punter and defensive back.

He was inducted with the first NFL Hall of Fame class in 1963.

Baugh led Texas Christian to a 12-1 record and 1935 national championship. The season was capped by a Sugar Bowl victory over Louisiana State and would be the first of two national titles in a four-year period for TCU.

In his final game for the Horned Frogs on New Year's Day 1937, Baugh led TCU to a 16-6 victory over Marquette in the inaugural Cotton Bowl. It capped a 9-2-2 campaign for the Horned Frogs.

"Sam Baugh will always remain an integral part of TCU," TCU athletics director Danny Morrison said. "His accomplishments have left an undeniable impact on our football program and the sport in general."

"TCU is extremely fortunate and honored to call Sam Baugh one of its own. Having his name on our indoor practice facility was just another way to honor his legacy. He will forever be known as one of the greatest Horned Frogs."

Baugh had his high school, collegiate and professional jersey numbers retired by Sweetwater (21), TCU (45) and the Redskins (33).

"The TCU family lost one of its own today," Horned Frogs head coach Gary Patterson said. "Sam Baugh was TCU!"