The Baggy Green cap worn by Don Bradman during the 1946-47 Ashes series has been bought by the National Museum of Australia for a whopping $286,700. The cap was bought by Canberra museum with the federal government paying half of that price.
Considered the greatest cricketer of all time, Bradman wore the cap during the Ashes, which was the first series between the two storied rivals since the World War II ended. Bradman had captained Australia to a 3-0 win in the series, which set the tone for their win in UK a year later, where they were unbeaten. The Ashes series in England in 1948 ended up being Bradman’s last tour with the Oval Test, where he scored a zero that stopped him from averaging 100 being his last match for Australia. He finished with an incredible average of 99.94, a number that continues to have a special place in cricket.
Arts Minister Tony Burke said acquiring the cap safeguards the important piece of national history for the future generations.
“You’d be hard-pressed to meet an Australian that hasn’t heard of the great Donald Bradman, arguably the greatest cricketer of all time,” he said. “Now to have one of his iconic baggy greens in the National Museum of Australia means visitors will have the opportunity to get up close and connect with our sporting and cultural history.”
The Baggy Green occupies a special place in Australia’s cricketing history. Moreover the cap is one of the 11 Baggy Greens worn by Bradman to be known to exist. While one other cap is at the Australian Sports Museum, the location of the remaining nine have been kept private.
National Museum director Katherine McMahon welcomed the iconic cap into the museum collection’s fold. “Sir Donald’s baggy green marks the life of Australia’s most celebrated batsman and reflects a time when sporting heroes gave Australians hope, following the heartbreak and hardship of the Second World War,” she said.
“We are delighted this national treasure has found a home here at the National Museum of Australia for all Australians to enjoy.”
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Bradman played 52 Tests, scored 6996 runs which included 29 centuries and 13 fifties. The 810 runs scored by Bradman in the 1936-37 Ashes in England still remains a record for the most runs made by a captain in a single Test series. India’s current Test captain Shubman Gill is second with 754 runs.
