‘Hidden for 75 years’: Bradman baggy sells for mammoth figure after opponent’s ‘dying wish’

Sir Donald Bradman’s baggy green has sold for a mammoth figure, with an anonymous bidder securing the prized possession for $460,000.

The auction ended on Australia Day and the final figure was a record sum for the baggy green worn by the Australian legend during his final home Test series in 1947-48.

Bradman then retired in 1948 with a batting average of 99.94, which has gone down in cricketing folklore with the Aussie considered Test cricket’s finest ever batter.

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This particular cap was gifted by the Test legend to India’s S.W. Sohoni, with his family keeping the momento safe and in immaculate condition.

LLoyds Auctions sold the baggy green on Monday afternoon in the Gold Coast.

According to The Guardian, Lee Hames, the chief operating officer of Lloyds, said Sohoni’s “dying wish was to have the cap return to Australian shores”.

“It has been hidden for 75 years, that’s over three generations under lock and key,” he said.

“If you were a family member you were only allowed to look at it when you were 16 years old for five minutes.”

The baggy green will reportedly be placed in a “prominent museum” within Australia.

Both D.G. Bradman and S.W. Sohoni’s names are visible on the inside of this baggy green, with 11 caps owned by the cricketing legend known to be in existence.

While baggy greens are scarcely given out to players in the modern game, during Bradman’s playing days a new piece of headwear was worn in each fresh series.

His 1928 baggy green, from his debut campaign, sold for $450,000 in 2020 while a worn edition sold for $479,700 in 2024.