Evening star., 1952-12-09
16-Year Association
With Redskins 10 Be
Ended Next Sunday
By Lewis F. Atehison

Baugh reach the end of an era
Sunday when the 38-year-old
Singer makes his final appear
ance as player at Griffith Sta
dium after Is years of pro COM
petition. Baugh and the Redskins
have been synonymous ever since
George Marshall brought the
team here from Boston in 1887.
and Sans retirement will be felt
keenly and in many ways.
For Sam won't be back as a
backfield coach either. He plans
to accept a position as assistant
coach at little Hardin-Simmons
College at Abilene, Tex. only IS
miles from his ranch near Rotan.
That's committing distance in
Texas and he can spend lot Of
time on the ranch. He doesn't
want to be a head coach. The
job has too many headaches and
requires too much time away from
home. Marshall, on the other
hand. can't imagine the veteran
passing wizard hanging around,
wasting time" as an assistant.
Changes in Staff Likely.
In addition. there is a suspicion
that Coach Curly Lambeau may
plan some changes in the staff for
1858. Baugh's appointment to
his present dual role was spur
of-the-moment decision made by
Lambeau when Los Angeles re-
porters asked him to pose with
the staff. This was just after
Dick Todd's resignation, and the
press hadn't yet heard that Jerry
Neri also had resigned as backfleld
coach. Sam stepped into the
breach and into the photograph
with alacrity.
It was evident some time ago
that Baugh had had his fill Of
football, but Marshall kept bring
ing him back, even though some
fans were yelling for a change.
Sam is an odd character and
sometimes stubborn, but Marshall
apparently knew how to make the
Texan see things his way.
I've been mad at him at
times" Baugh confesSes. but I
can truthfully say I'd rather be
associated with Mr.. Marshall than
anybody else in pro football"
T Heightened Career.
Sam says his career as player
would have ended seven years
ago if Marshall hadn't insisted
on certain changes, including
adoption of the Information by
the Redskins. It cost the club
several thousand dollars to hire
Clark Shaughnessy to be sure OF
getting the Chicago Bears T. with
which Shaughnessy was thor
oughly conversant.
I'm not built to stand lot of
punlshment-the kind a tailback
takes in the single wing" the
veteran went on. "He has to block
when he doesn't carry the ball.
That's all right for big boys like
Bob Waterf1eld and the others
who weigh around 200 pounds, but
not for me. Sure. a quarterback
gets hit in the T. but he's usually
riding with the blow and doesn't
feel it too much"
Baugh believes Marshall's in
sistence that he quit punting also
helped prolong his career. All
too often Sam made the tackle
and on one occasion he Clipped
a bone in his elbow. Marshall.
fully aware of his aces value,
wanted no more of that nom
sense.
But it seemed to us that the
Redskins president was as much
a Baugh fan as the kids sitting
where the quarter seats used to be.
The pride Marshall shows in the
passer's Sculptured hand, repos-
ing in the Redskins trophy case,
tends to bear this out. Marshall
seemed fully cognizant of Baugh's
ultimate place in sports history
after his first few seasons in
Washington.
Brought Prestige to League.
II think Sammy Baugh did
more for the National Football
League than any player. coach or
club owner in the league" Mar
shall said. "His success had more
to do with keeping the league
going in difficult times than any
other factor.
"Baugh not only was a big
drawing card at the gate" Mar
shall continued. "but he brought
prestige to our league. He en-
couraged youngsters to go into
professional football by proving
that they can play and still con-
tinue their careers in other fields.
The National League owes a tre-
mendous debt to Sam"
Marshall, naturally enough, is
wondering who will look after
Baugh's varied business interests
from now on. The Redskins boss
has been the passer's agent for
years. and financial arrangements
Continued on Page A-19. Col. o.