Sir Don Bradman’s iconic Baggy Green from Landmark India tour sells for record $460,000 at auction
A historic Baggy Green worn by Sir Don Bradman during Australia’s famous tour of India has been sold for a record $460,000 at auction, underlining the enduring legacy of the cricketing great and the memorabilia’s immense value
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On Monday, a “Baggy Green” cap worn by Sir Donald Bradman for his historic 1947-48 Australian cricket tour of India was sold at a Gold Coast auction for $460,000; establishing a new record auction price for a Bradman-related cricket memorabilia item. The sale amount reflects not only the rarity of this item Barbman, but also the ongoing affection and admiration for this Australian icon, as well as all other aspects of his extraordinary career.
The appealing history related to this hat makes it unique. Sir Donald personally presented it to Sriranga Wasudev Sohoni, an Indian cricketer, during the same series that the hat was worn, and the Sohoni family has kept it in their care for more than 70 years. Although this piece of historical memorabilia has "D.G. Bradman" and "S.W. Sohoni" written in it, it is in stunning condition, clearly visible from the beautiful coat of arms of Australia and the dates embroidered on the hat "1947-48." This piece of history has been described by many as the "holy grail" of cricket because it represents a pivotal moment in cricket history.
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Lee Hames, the chief operating officer of Lloyds Auctioneers and Valuers, noted, “That’s over three generations under lock and key. If you were a family member, you were only allowed to look at it when you were 16 years old for five minutes."
Who bought Sir Don Bradman’s iconic Baggy Green ?
The historic cap was secured by an anonymous buyer and is likely to be showcased in an Australian museum, allowing fans and historians to view this rare piece of cricketing heritage. Sir Don Bradman, universally celebrated as the finest batter the game has ever seen, featured in 52 Test matches for Australia and finished his career with the extraordinary average of 99.94, a figure that continues to define sporting excellence decades later.
Just 11 Baggy Green caps worn by Bradman are known to survive, from an era when players received a fresh cap for every series. His memorabilia has consistently fetched huge sums, including $450,000 for his debut cap in 2020 and $479,700 for a worn version in 2024. The all-time Baggy Green record, however, belongs to Shane Warne’s cap, which raised $1,007,500 for bushfire relief.
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