Don Bradman's Iconic Baggy Green Fetches AU$460,000 at Auction

Don Bradman's iconic baggy green cap has been sold for a record AU$460,000 at an auction in Gold Coast, Australia. The cap, which was worn by Bradman during the 1947-48 Test series against India, was gifted to Indian cricketer Sriranga Wasudev Sohoni. It's been preserved by Sohoni's family for 75 years and is in remarkable condition, with the names "D.G. Bradman" and "S.W. Sohoni" inscribed on the inside. "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." Though Sohoni played just the first Test of India's 4-0 series defeat, and did not take a wicket in their innings loss, he nevertheless bowled their first ball of the match, and hence the first of the post-colonial era. The inside of the cap is inscribed with the names "D.G. Bradman" and "S.W. Sohoni", while "1947-48" is embroidered beneath the Australia crest. It is one of 11 known Bradman baggy greens, from an era when players wore different caps for each series. The buyer remains anonymous, but the cap will be displayed at an Australian museum. This sale sets a new record for a cap worn by Bradman, surpassing the previous record of AU$311,000 for a sun-faded and insect-damaged cap sold in 2024.