The cricketing world has witnessed a historic sale, with the iconic baggy green cap worn by Sir Donald Bradman during the legendary 1948 Ashes tour selling for a staggering $1.2 million at auction. The landmark sale took place on Monday, December 30, 2024, conducted by the auction house Lloyds in Sydney.
A Piece of Australian Sporting History
This is not just any piece of cricket memorabilia; it is the cap worn by The Don during the undefeated 'Invincibles' tour of England in 1948. Bradman, who captained that famed side, scored 508 runs in the Test series at an average of 72.57. The cap itself is a size 7 and carries the manufacturer's label of 'Lindsay, 310 George Street, Sydney'. Its provenance is impeccable, having been kept within the Bradman family for over seven decades before this sale.
Lloyds Auctions CEO, Lee Hames, described the item as "the holy grail" of cricket collectables. "This cap represents the pinnacle of Australian sporting achievement," Hames stated. The final hammer price of $1.2 million comfortably exceeded pre-auction estimates and set a new benchmark for cricket heritage items.
The Buyer and The Future of the Cap
The successful bidder was revealed to be the Australian Cricket Society (ACS), a non-profit organisation dedicated to preserving the history of the game. The ACS plans to place the cap on permanent public display, ensuring all Australians and cricket fans worldwide can appreciate this tangible link to the sport's greatest era.
"Our mission is to protect and share cricketing history, and there is no greater artefact than Bradman's baggy green from the Invincibles tour," a spokesperson for the society said. This outcome will be a relief to many fans who feared the cap might disappear into a private overseas collection.
Legacy and Market Value
The sale underscores the immense cultural and financial value placed on items connected to Sir Donald Bradman, who remains a towering figure in global sport. Previous sales of Bradman memorabilia, such as bats and blazers, have fetched significant sums, but this baggy green represents the ultimate personal item for a cricketer.
The auction also highlights the booming market for premium sporting memorabilia, where items of proven provenance and iconic status attract intense competition from institutions and wealthy collectors. The price paid reflects not just the object's physical state, but its powerful symbolism as a relic from Australia's most celebrated sporting team.
With the cap now secured for public enjoyment, its journey from Bradman's head during a triumphant campaign to a museum showcase is complete. It stands as a permanent, powerful reminder of a golden age in Australian cricket and the unparalleled legacy of the man who wore it.
