Bradman's last Baggy Green fetches big bucks

An anonymous Australian buyer has paid a record Aus$425,000 (US$283,000) for the baggy green cap worn by Donald Bradman when he ended his legendary Test career. Ludgrove's, the auctioneers, announced that it was the highest price fetched for any bit of Bradman memorabilia.

Bradman had worn the cap during the last of his 29 Test centuries, and then during his last Test innings, when he was famously dismissed for a duck. Bradman had then given it to his English godson, who consigned it to Ludgrove's for sale.

Ludgrove's had planned to auction the cap in London next month, but pre-auction offers were so high that it decided on an immediate sale. The price exceeded the previous record for Bradman memorabilia, for a cap that Bradman wore during the 1948 series against India. Ludgrove's, who sold that cap to a private buyer, had never divulged the price paid for it.

This particular Baggy Green has also been bought by an unnamed buyer, who, according to Ludgrove's, intends to bring the cap back from England and put it on display in Australia.