Don Bradman’s famous Baggy Green set to go to auction again, but it won’t come near the cash paid for Shane Warne’s cap

The iconic baggy green Test cap, worn by Don Bradman during his final home series in 1947-48, is set to go on sale at auction next week. 

This piece of Australian cricket history will be available through Bonhams’ Sydney office, with an estimated value of $390,000. 

Despite its significance, the valuation falls short of the record-breaking $1,007,500 paid for Shane Warne‘s baggy green in 2020. 

That sale, driven by Warne’s intent to aid bushfire relief efforts, set a new standard for cricket memorabilia.

Bradman’s cap, however, carries a storied history. Worn during a season where Bradman averaged a remarkable 178.75 across six Test innings, including four centuries, it represents one of the cricketing legend’s most productive periods. 

The cap was gifted to Pankaj Gupta, the manager of the Indian cricket team, at the end of the series. 

Gupta later passed it to wicketkeeper PK Sen, and it changed hands again at auction in 2003, fetching $425,000. 

Since then, it has been on loan to the Bradman Museum in Bowral, New South Wales.

The reverence for Bradman’s achievements extends beyond his baggy green. 

In 2021, the cricket bat he used to score a triple century during the 1934 Ashes series sold for more than $245,500. 

Described as ‘one of the rarest pieces of Australian sporting memorabilia’ by Pickles Auctions executive director Gavin Dempsey, the bat remains on display at the Bradman Museum. 

Its significance is enhanced by Bradman’s inscription of his top scores on the back, alongside the words ‘Bradman private,’ distinguishing it as a personal item.

Shane Warne’s baggy green, however, holds its own unique legacy. 

The legendary spinner wore the cap throughout his Test career, only opting for a white floppy hat on the field after the first session of play. 

Warne’s cap was sold in response to the devastating Australian bushfires of 2020. ‘The horrific bushfires in Australia have left us all in disbelief,’ Warne wrote on Instagram. 

‘I hope my baggy green can raise some significant funds to help all those people that are in desperate need.’

The sale of Warne’s cap surpassed all expectations, with Commonwealth Bank CEO Matt Comyn securing it for over $1million. 

Comyn expressed his joy at the acquisition, stating the cap would embark on a national tour to continue raising funds for bushfire-affected communities.