A rare Baggy Green cap worn by Australian cricket icon Sir Donald Bradman has fetched a staggering 460,000 dollars at auction, setting a new record for the highest price ever paid for one of his caps.
The landmark sale was held on Australia Day at Lloyds Auctions on the Gold Coast, underscoring its national significance. The winning bid came from an anonymous Australian collector, who has confirmed that the treasured cap will be displayed in a prominent museum, ensuring it remains accessible to the public.
Bradman had personally gifted the cap to fellow Test cricketer SW Sohoni during the 1947–48 series against India, his final home Test series before retiring in 1948. Bradman bowed out with an unparalleled Test batting average of 99.94, a figure that continues to define his status as the greatest batter the game has known. Remarkably, the cap remained within the same family for more than 75 years and had never previously been publicly exhibited or put up for sale.
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“Unveil a piece of cricketing history with this stunning 1947–48 Australian Baggy Cap, crafted by Farmer’s Sydney and adorned with the Cricket Coat of Arms,” the cap’s Lloyds listing said.
“Cherished in the family collection ever since, this cap links you to Don Bradman’s invincible era and a memorable exchange with the Indian squad.”
Baggy Green caps from Bradman’s era are exceedingly rare, with only a handful known to exist, making them among the most coveted artefacts in cricket memorabilia. The record-breaking sale not only reinforces Bradman’s enduring legacy but also highlights the immense cultural and historical value attached to Australia’s cricketing heritage.
Bradman remains cricket’s greatest icon, defined by numbers that defy belief. In 52 Tests for Australia, he scored 6,996 runs at an average of 99.94, a record unmatched in the sport. Bradman hit 29 Test centuries, including two triple hundreds, and led Australia to dominance between 1928 and 1948, setting the gold standard for batting excellence.
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