Highlighted Year: Steve Bagarus, 1945

Halfback, Washington Redskins

Age: 26

5^th season in pro football, 1^st in NFL & with Redskins

College: Notre Dame

Height: 6’0”   Weight: 170

Prelude:

Recipient of a basketball scholarship to attend Notre Dame, Bagarus had his biggest football moment when he returned an interception for a touchdown in a 14-0 win over Army in 1939. He went into the military during World War II and also played for the San Diego Bombers of the Pacific Coast Football League from 1941 to ‘44. He led the league in touchdowns three times and scoring twice, with highs of 12 TDs and 72 points in 1943. Bagarus joined the Redskins in 1945 and proved to be an outstanding receiver out of the backfield as well as an excellent open-field runner.

1945 Season Summary

Appeared in all 10 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Rushing

Attempts – 39

Yards – 154

Average gain – 3.9

TDs – 1

Pass Receiving

Receptions – 34 [3]

Yards – 617 [3]

Most yards, game – 162 (on 8 catches) at NY Giants 10/28

Average gain – 18.1 [7]

TDs – 5 [6, tied with John Greene]

Kickoff Returns

Returns – 12 [4]

Yards – 325 [3]

Average per return – 27.1 [2]

TDs – 0

Longest return – 55 yards

Punt Returns

Returns – 21 [1]

Yards – 251 [1]

Average per return – 12.0 [4]

TDs – 0

Longest return – 28 yards

All-Purpose yards – 1347 [2]

Scoring

TDs – 6 [9, tied with Frank Akins, Ken Kavanaugh & Pug Manders]

Points – 36 [13, tied with Frank Akins, Ken Kavanaugh & Pug Manders]

Postseason: 1 G (NFL Championship at Cleveland)

Rushing attempts – 5

Rushing yards – -4

Average gain rushing – -0.8

Rushing TDs – 0

Pass receptions – 3

Receiving yards – 95

Average yards per reception – 31.7

Pass receiving TDs – 1

Kickoff returns – 1

Kickoff return yards – 29

Average yards per return – 29.0

Kickoff return TDs – 0

Punt returns – 4

Punt return yards – 52

Average yards per return – 13.0

Punt return TDs – 0

Awards & Honors:

1^st team All-NFL: AP

2^nd team All-NFL: Chicago Herald-American, NY Daily News

Redskins went 8-2 to finish first in the NFL Eastern Division while leading the league in total yards (3546). Lost NFL Championship to Cleveland Rams (15-14).

Aftermath:

Bagarus gained 771 yards from scrimmage in 1946 and also averaged 10.7 yards on 18 punt returns and 25.5 yards returning 13 kickoffs. He was traded to the Rams in 1947 and broke his leg, sidelining him for most of the season. Waived early in ’48, the Redskins re-signed him for the last five games. He caught 15 passes for 100 yards and a TD and retired, although he did see action with Wilmington and Richmond of the minor league AFL in 1949. Overall in the NFL, Bagarus had 80 pass receptions for 1155 yards (14.4 avg.), ran the ball 98 times for 343 yards (3.5 avg.), returned 41 punts for an 11.2-yard average and 27 kickoffs for an average of 25.3 yards. He also intercepted five passes on defense and scored a total of 10 touchdowns.  

--

Highlighted Years features players who were first-team All-League* selections or league* or conference** leaders in the following statistical categories:

Rushing: Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Passing: Yards, Completion Pct., Yards per Attempt, TDs, Rating

Receiving: Catches, Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Scoring: TDs, Points, Field Goals (min. 5)

All-Purpose: Total Yards

Defense: Interceptions, Sacks

Kickoff Returns: Average

Punt Returns: Average

Punting: Average

*Leagues include NFL (1920 to date), AFL (1926), AFL (1936-37), AAFC (1946-49), AFL (1960-69), WFL (1974-75), USFL (1983-85)

**NFC/AFC since 1970

1945: Rams Edge Redskins Thanks to Odd Safety to Win NFL Championship

The NFL Championship game on December 16, 1945 featured a postseason newcomer, the Cleveland Rams, against the Washington Redskins, a team that regularly contended for the title.

The Rams had never had a winning season since coming into the league in 1937, but topped the Western Division with a 9-1 record in ’45. Head Coach Adam Walsh implemented the T-formation and had the good fortune of having rookie QB Bob Waterfield  (pictured above) to operate it. The first-year player out of UCLA was the league MVP after performing well not only as a passer, but as a defensive back, kicker, and overall team leader. Halfbacks Fred Gehrke and Jim Gillette and FB Don Greenwood fueled the ground attack while end Jim Benton led the NFL with 1067 yards on his 45 catches.

The Washington Redskins, coached by Dudley DeGroot, topped the Eastern Division for the fourth time in six seasons with an 8-2 tally. QB Sammy Baugh was well-established as the league’s outstanding passer, having set a record with his 70.3 completion percentage during the season, and there were good receivers led by HB Steve Bagarus. However, Baugh had been injured in the season finale against the Giants and was not at his best.

There were 32,178 fans in attendance on a bitterly cold and windy day at Municipal Stadium in Cleveland. The field had been covered with bales of hay in the days leading up to the game, and there were also big piles of snow on the sidelines.

The Redskins had the game’s first possession and punted. Cleveland moved the ball well in its initial series as Fred Gehrke ran for a 16-yard gain and Bob Waterfield completed two passes to Jim Benton, who was covered by rookie HB Bob DeFruiter. The second was good for 30 yards to the Washington 15, but the Redskins held the Rams up at their five yard line, with Jim Gillette stopped short on a fourth down play to regain possession. On second down, Sammy Baugh, dropping back into his end zone and feigning a punt, threw a pass that hit the goal post and bounced back. Under the rules at the time, the play was declared a safety and the home team had an early 2-0 lead.

Baugh was injured shortly thereafter and returned to play for only a few minutes during the second half. Following an interception by Washington LB Ki Aldrich early in the second quarter, QB Frank Filchock, subbing for Baugh, threw long to Steve Bagarus (pictured at left) for a 38-yard touchdown. Joe Aguirre added the extra point and Washington was ahead by 7-2.

With less than four minutes to play in the first half, Waterfield connected with Jim Benton for a 37-yard TD that capped a six-play, 70-yard series in which Gillette had a 19-yard run and Benton caught a pass for 14 yards. Waterfield’s extra point attempt was partially blocked and hit the crossbar, but it bounced over and the Rams took a 9-7 lead.

The Rams had another chance with a minute remaining in the first half when LB Pat West intercepted a pass, but Aldrich picked off another Waterfield throw and the score remained unchanged at halftime.

In the first series of the third quarter, Waterfield threw a long, arching pass that Jim Gillette caught for a 44-yard touchdown that concluded an 81-yard series. This time the extra point attempt failed but the Rams were in front by 15-7.

Late in the period, a Waterfield punt had the Redskins starting from their five yard line, but they moved effectively down the field. Following a 15-yard carry by DeFruiter, Filchock threw to Bagarus for a 50-yard gain that set up an eight-yard TD pass to wide-open FB Bob Seymour. Aguirre added the point after to make it a one-point contest.

Washington had two chances in the fourth quarter, but Aguirre missed field goals from 31 and 44 yards. The first followed a Filchock pass to end Les Dye that gained 44 yards to the Cleveland 31 and three running plays that picked up seven more yards. With time running out, Filchock threw long from deep in his own territory and DB Albie Reisz intercepted to nail down the 15-14 win for the Rams.

Cleveland gained more total yards (372 to 214) and led in first downs as well (14 to 8). The Redskins were held to 35 rushing yards on 34 attempts while the Rams were well balanced with 180 yards on the ground and 192 through the air. Cleveland turned the ball over three times, to two suffered by Washington. But the game came down to two plays involving the goal posts, with one leading to a safety and the other a kick that just made it over the crossbar for an extra point.

Bob Waterfield completed 14 of 27 passes for 192 yards and two touchdowns, giving up two interceptions, and was excellent with his play-calling and punting, too. Jim Gillette (pictured at right) rushed for 101 yards on 17 carries and also caught two passes for 45 yards and a TD. Jim Benton had 9 catches for 125 yards and a score.

Sammy Baugh ended up completing just one of six throws for seven yards. In his place, Frank Filchock was 8-of-14 for 172 yards and two touchdowns as well as two interceptions. Steve Bagarus caught three passes for 95 yards and a TD. HB Merl Condit led the rushers by gaining 18 yards on 9 attempts.

The Rams, having lost money despite putting together a championship season, left for Los Angeles the following year and placed second to the Bears with a 6-4-1 record. They next reached the Championship game in 1949. Washington went into a long period of decline, dropping to 5-5-1 in 1946 and not reaching the postseason again until 1971.

1945: Baugh Passes Redskins Over Giants

The Washington Redskins had a 2-1 record as they faced their traditional division rivals, the New York Giants, on October 28, 1945. In their second year under Head Coach Dudley DeGroot, the team’s key player was still QB Sammy Baugh (pictured above), who was successfully completing the transition from single-wing tailback to T-formation quarterback. Other formidable weapons on offense were FB Frank Akins, HB Steve Bagarus, and end Joe Aguirre, who also handled the placekicking.

The Giants, in their 15^th year under Head Coach Steve Owen, had topped the Eastern Division in 1944 but had taken a much more significant hit in key personnel lost to the military in the offseason than had Washington. They came into the contest at 1-1-1.

There was a sellout crowd of 55,461 on hand at the Polo Grounds. The Giants scored first when, five minutes into the game, they recovered a Baugh fumble at the Washington 33. After losing ground on a pass attempt, QB Marion Pugh threw for a 39-yard touchdown to end John Weiss, who outmaneuvered Baugh for the score. This was the high point of the contest for the Giants, as well as the nadir for Sammy Baugh.

The Redskins were held on downs in their next possession, but tied the score on a second quarter drive in which Baugh threw to Bagarus for 21 yards, end Doug Turley for 17 more, and then HB Wilbur Moore for a 17-yard touchdown. Joe Aguirre’s successful extra point made it 7-7. Just before the half, the Redskins scored again on an Aguirre field goal from 37 yards.

Washington kept up the momentum on the first series of the third quarter, taking the second half kickoff and driving to another TD. Moore started the possession off with a 27-yard run and Baugh completed a 26-yard throw to Bagarus along the way. Frank Akin plowed into the line for a three-yard touchdown to finish the drive.

Penalties nullified two apparent Washington touchdowns later in the second half as the visitors completely dominated the Giants. Baugh, a fine safety on defense, intercepted a pass and returned it 69 yards to set up the final Washington score. It was Baugh passing to end Wayne Millner for a six-yard TD following the long return.

New York took the ensuing kickoff and scored one last time in the last 30 seconds of the fourth quarter. The Redskins came away with a 24-14 win that was not as close as the tally implied.

Washington was well ahead in total yards (413 to 237) and first downs (18 to 11). The Redskins not only were strong through the air but on the ground, outgaining the Giants in rushing yardage by 182 yards to 30. Each team turned the ball over twice.

Aside from Sammy Baugh, with the two touchdown passes and long interception return, the top performer for Washington was Steve Bagarus, who caught 8 passes for 162 yards.

“That guy (Baugh) is getting better all the time,” said Steve Owen. “And I don’t mean better for us. He’s the best ever.”

The Redskins lost just one of their remaining games to finish atop the Eastern Division with an 8-2 record. They lost a close-fought NFL Championship game by one point to the Cleveland Rams. New York dropped to 3-6-1, the franchise’s first losing record in nine years, to end up tied for third in the division with the Boston Yanks.

Sammy Baugh, in his ninth season with the Redskins, set a league record that lasted until 1982 by completing 70.3 percent of his passes. He led the NFL in pass completions (128), ranked second in yards (1669), and third in touchdown passes (11). “Slingin’ Sammy” was intercepted just four times, thus also giving him the league’s lowest interception percentage among qualifiers (2.2). By today’s passer rating system he registered a 109.9 – a formidable rating by current standards, let alone those of the 1940s.

Frank Akins ran the ball 147 times, more than any other NFL back, and ranked second in rushing with 797 yards (5.4 avg. per attempt). Steve Bagarus (pictured below) was third in pass receptions (34) and receiving yards (617), thus averaging 18.1 yards per catch.