Cricket: Donald Bradman Baggy Green worn during India’s first Australian tour sells at auction

It’s faded and has been nibbled by insects, but that didn’t stop the baggy green cap Don Bradman once wore during India’s first Australian tour fetching a big price.

Don Bradman and the ‘Buggy Green’, the Little Master’s sun-faded, insect-damaged Baggy Green which sold for $390,000.

It was sun faded and had some insect damage but that didn’t stop the baggy green cap Don Bradman once wore against India selling for $390,000.

Bonhams auction house in Sydney knocked down the cap to an Australian bidder in attendance who, after a stirring duel, secured the cap Bradman wore during India’s first Australian tour in 1947-48.

“The interest in the cap was quite extraordinary,’’ said auctioneer Alex Clarke.

“I have had people calling up from all over Australia saying they have an old bat from the 1942 series or whatever but there is nothing like a baggy green.

“It created a lot of publicity, not just around Australia but internationally.’’

A cap worn by Australia's greatest cricket legend Don Bradman on display at auction house Bonhams. Picture: AFP

The price was not the highest for a Bradman Test cap of which there are believed to be nine in circulation.

A just released book, The Baggy Green, lists Bradman’s highest selling cap the $468,000 snared for the cap he wore during Australia’s iconic 1948 tour of England.

Baggy green cap prices have increased substantially since the captaincy eras of Steve Waugh and Mark Taylor celebrated its iconic heritage.

Donald Bradman was the first cricketer to be knighted in 1949 for his services to cricket. Picture: Getty Images

The first time a Bradman cap was auctioned it went for just $7,500 in 1995. Most baggy greens apart from Bradman get a fraction of what his caps command although a Victor Trumper cap sold for $95,000 two decades ago.

The Baggy Green, written by authors Michael Fahey and Mike Coward, claims from 174 sales from 2008 to 2023 the average price was $17,825.

“When you look back, early all of his caps have pulled that sort of price,’’ Coward said to the latest auction. “It is about what would have been expected. It would be a wonderful thing to have. At a time when the game is changing so quickly it is wonderful to see Bradman’s name still resonates so strongly.’’

Originally published as Cricket: Donald Bradman Baggy Green worn during India’s first Australian tour sells at auction