Cricket's 'holy grail' fetches a record-breaking $460,000: Don Bradman's iconic baggy green cap sold at auction
The legendary baggy green cap worn by Australian cricket icon Sir Donald Bradman during the 1947-48 series against India has sold for a staggering $460,000 at a Gold Coast auction. This cap, a symbol of cricket's golden age, was a gift from Bradman to Indian cricketer SW Sohoni, and it has now returned to Australia after a 75-year absence.
Bradman's final home Test series before retirement, the 1947-48 tour, saw him dominate with a career-best batting average of 99.94. The cap, carefully preserved by Sohoni's family for generations, was never exhibited publicly, adding to its mystique. It was only recently that the family decided to auction it off, fulfilling Sohoni's dying wish to have it back in Australia.
Lee Hames, the auctioneer, described the cap as a 'holy grail of cricket' before the bidding began. He emphasized its historical significance, stating, 'It has been hidden for 75 years, that's over three generations under lock and key.' The cap's inscription, 'D.G. Bradman' and 'S.W. Sohoni,' adds to its authenticity and emotional value.
The auction attracted significant interest, with bids starting at $1 and ultimately selling for $460,000 plus a 16.5% buyer's premium. The cap's auction description highlighted its connection to Bradman's invincible era and the memorable exchange with the Indian squad, emphasizing the dominance of the Australian team during the post-World War II revival of international cricket.
This cap is one of only 11 known Bradman baggy greens, a unique artifact from an era when Test cricketers wore different caps for each series. The auction's success follows a trend of record-breaking sales for Bradman's caps, with his first cap from 1928 selling for $450,000 in 2020, and his cap from his last tour to England in 1948 fetching $425,000 in 2003. The most expensive Bradman cap sold was in 2024, where a 'sun faded and worn' cap went for a record-breaking $479,700.
The record price for a baggy green, however, still belongs to Shane Warne, who raised $1,007,500 for the Australian Red Cross bushfire appeal in 2020. Despite the impressive sales, the Bradman cap's value lies not only in its monetary worth but also in its historical and emotional significance, making it a true 'holy grail' for cricket enthusiasts.
