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Don Bradman's 1947 Baggy Green Sells for Record $460,000 at Auction

A Baggy Green cap worn by Sir Don Bradman during the 1947-48 Test series against India has been sold at auction for a record 460,000 Australian dollars. The cap was personally gifted by Bradman to Indian cricketer Sriranga Wasudev Sohoni, whose family preserved it for over 70 years. Its excellent condition helped it surpass the price of another, more worn Bradman cap sold earlier in 2024. The anonymous buyer is expected to place the historic artifact in a museum for public display.

Key Points: Bradman's 1947 Baggy Green Sells for $460k at Auction

  • Sold for 460,000 AUD
  • From 1947-48 India Test series
  • Gifted to Indian cricketer S.W. Sohoni
  • In remarkably good condition
  • To be displayed in a museum
2 min read

Don Bradman's 1947 Baggy Green fetches 460,000 dollars at Gold Coast auction

Sir Don Bradman's 1947 Baggy Green cap, gifted to an Indian cricketer, sets a new auction record at $460,000 on the Gold Coast.

"a gesture that added emotional and historical value to the rare item"

Gold Coast, Jan 26

A prized Baggy Green cap once worn by Australian cricket icon Sir Don Bradman has been sold for an extraordinary 460,000 Australian dollars at an auction on the Gold Coast on Monday, setting a new benchmark for a cap belonging to one of the most celebrated batters of the game.

The cap dates back to the 1947-48 Test series against India and carries a special story beyond its sporting significance. Bradman had personally gifted the cap to Indian cricketer Sriranga Wasudev Sohoni, a gesture that added emotional and historical value to the rare item.

Sohoni's family safeguarded the cap with remarkable care for more than seven decades, preserving it across three generations.

Despite its age, the cap is in notably good condition. This played a major role in pushing its value well beyond another Bradman cap sold in 2024 for AUD 311,000, which showed visible signs of wear, including fading and insect damage. The newly auctioned cap bears the handwritten names "D.G. Bradman" and "S.W. Sohoni" on the inside, further enhancing its authenticity and appeal.

The winning bidder has chosen to remain anonymous. Still, Australian media reports suggest the cap will eventually be displayed at a museum, allowing cricket fans to view one of the sport's most treasured artefacts.

Bradman's legacy in cricket remains unmatched. Often described as the finest Test batter the game has ever known, he played 52 Tests and finished with a staggering career average of 99.94.

He scored 29 Test centuries, including a record 19 against England in Ashes contests, and registered 12 double hundreds, another milestone that still stands.

In one of cricket's most famous moments, Bradman needed just four runs in his final Test innings at The Oval in 1948 to retire with a batting average above 100. However, he was dismissed without scoring, ending his career just short of the three-figure mark.

Sir Don Bradman passed away in 2001 at the age of 92, but his memories remain in the minds of Australian fans.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

S
Sarah B
That's an insane amount of money for a cap! But honestly, for something belonging to The Don, it's probably worth it. The story behind it is priceless. Respect to the Sohoni family for preserving it so well for 70+ years.
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Vikram M
Bradman's average of 99.94 is just mind-boggling. No one will ever come close. This cap is from the 1947 series against India – our team was so new then. It's a tangible link to cricket's earliest days. A true artefact.
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Priya S
While I appreciate the history, part of me feels a bit sad that a personal gift from one cricketer to another is now a high-value auction item. I hope the Sohoni family was compensated fairly and it wasn't just sold off by someone looking to make a quick buck.
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Rohit P
Amazing! The Don is a legend for a reason. That story about him needing 4 runs for a 100 average and getting out for a duck... cricket can be so cruel. This cap is a piece of that legendary career. Hope it comes to India for an exhibition someday!
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Michael C
The condition is what drove the price. No fading, no insect damage? After 70+ years? The Sohoni family deserves a standing ovation for that level of care. Proper preservation of history.

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