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Bradman's 1947 Baggy Green Sells for $460K, Hidden 75 Years

A baggy green cap worn by Sir Donald Bradman during Australia's 1947-48 home series against India has been sold at auction for AU$460,000. The cap was gifted by Bradman to Indian opening bowler Sriranga Wasudev Sohoni and remained hidden in the Sohoni family's possession for over seven decades. The historic item, inscribed with both players' names, represents India's first Test series as an independent nation. Bradman's memorabilia continues to fetch high prices, with this being one of only 11 known baggy green caps from his era.

Key Points: Bradman's 1947 Baggy Green Cap Sells for AU$460,000

  • Cap from 1947-48 India series
  • Gifted to Indian bowler Sohoni
  • Anonymous buyer at Gold Coast auction
  • One of only 11 known Bradman caps
  • Preserved privately for over 70 years
2 min read

Don Bradman's baggy green from India's first post-independence series fetches AU$ 460,000 at auction

Sir Donald Bradman's baggy green from India's first post-independence Test series sells for AU$460,000 after being hidden by a family for 75 years.

"It has been hidden for 75 years, that's over three generations under lock and key. - Lee Hames"

Queensland, January 27

A rare baggy green cap worn by Australian cricket legend Sir Donald Bradman during India's maiden Test series as an independent nation has been sold for AU$460,000 at an auction in Queensland.

The iconic cap, dating back to the 1947-48 home series against India, was purchased by an anonymous buyer at a Gold Coast auction conducted by Lloyds Auctions. Bradman had worn the cap in what turned out to be his final home Test series before gifting it to Indian opening bowler Sriranga Wasudev Sohoni. The Sohoni family preserved the historic memorabilia for more than seven decades without ever displaying it publicly.

Lee Hames, chief operating officer of Lloyds Auctions, described the item as a priceless cricket treasure. "It has been hidden for 75 years, that's over three generations under lock and key," he said, adding that family members were allowed to view it only briefly after turning 16, according to ESPNCricinfo.

Although India lost the five-match series 4-0, Sohoni played a symbolic role by delivering the first ball of the opening Test, marking the beginning of India's journey in international cricket as a sovereign nation. While he went wicketless in his lone appearance of the series, the moment remains historically significant.

The cap bears inscriptions of both players' names "D.G. Bradman" and "S.W. Sohoni" along with "1947-48" embroidered beneath the Australian crest. It is one of only 11 known Bradman baggy green caps from an era when players used a new cap for each series.

Bradman's memorabilia continue to command enormous value. His debut cap from 1928 was sold for AU$450,000 in 2020, while Shane Warne's baggy green holds the record after fetching over AU$1 million for Australian Red Cross bushfire appeal in 2020.

Sohoni featured in four Tests for India, taking two wickets, but enjoyed a distinguished first-class career with 232 wickets and over 4,300 runs. Bradman, widely regarded as the greatest batter in cricket history, scored 6,996 Test runs at an unparalleled average of 99.94.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

A
Ananya R
AU$460,000 is a staggering amount! While it's a significant artifact, part of me wishes it could have been acquired by the BCCI or an Indian museum. This cap is as much a part of *our* cricket history as it is Australia's. It symbolizes the start of our post-independence sporting identity.
S
Siddharth J
Respect to the Sohoni family for not commercializing it for generations. The tradition of letting family members view it only after 16 is so touching. It shows they valued the memory and the man (Bradman) more than the money. True custodians of the sport's heritage.
D
David E
The Don's average of 99.94 is just mind-boggling, even today. This sale shows his legend is timeless. Interesting to see the value compared to Warne's cap. Bradman's aura is truly unmatched in any sport.
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Priya S
We lost that series 4-0, but look how far Indian cricket has come! From those humble beginnings to being a world powerhouse. This cap is a reminder of our roots. I hope the anonymous buyer appreciates its deep significance beyond just cricket.
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Vikram M
A small note of respectful criticism: the article focuses a lot on the monetary value (which is huge), but I think the human story is more valuable. Bradman gifting his cap to an opponent, a gesture of sportsmanship, and that family guarding it for decades... that's the real headline for me.

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