Slingin’ Sammy first to have 4-pick game

History Published on : 10/25/2010
Photo: Sammy Baugh (#33) stretches to snag one of his four interceptions against the Lions in a game in 1943.


Washington Redskins cornerback DeAngelo Hall tied an NFL record when he intercepted four passes in his team's 17-14 win over the Chicago Bears on Sunday. He became the 19th player in National Football League history to have four interceptions in the same game.

The first player ever to achieve that feat was another Redskins player, Hall of Famer Sammy Baugh. However, unlike Hall, 'Slingin' Sammy' was the NFL's top passer while also starring at defensive halfback and punter for Washington.

So Baugh's four picks against the Detroit Lions on Nov. 14, 1943, was only part of his big day. The Redskins star led his team to a 42-20 win on a chilly day in Washington by also throwing four touchdown passes and continually pinning the Lions deep in their own end with his quick, accurate punts.

More about the day
Baugh had set the NFL record for TD passes (6) in a game two weeks earlier. The mark did not last as on this day fellow Hall of Fame QB Sid Luckman became the first player to throw 7 TDs in a game as he guided the Chicago Bears to a 56-7 win over the New York Giants.
One of Baugh's punts against the Lions went 81 yards.
His four interceptions were not only an NFL record but gave him 10 for the season which established a new record. He finished the year with a league-leading 11 picks, one of three statistical championships he won that year for a rare "triple crown."

Players with 4 Interceptions in a game
Sammy Baugh, Washington vs. Detroit, Nov. 14, 1943
Dan Sandifer, Washington vs. Boston, Oct. 31, 1948
Don Doll, Detroit vs. Chi. Cardinals, Oct. 23, 1949
Bob Nussbaumer, Chi. Cardinals vs. N.Y. Bulldogs, Nov. 13, 1949
Russ Craft, Philadelphia vs. Chi. Cardinals, Sept. 24, 1950
Bobby Dillon, Green Bay vs. Detroit, Nov. 26, 1953
Jack Butler, Pittsburgh vs. Washington, Dec. 13, 1953
Austin (Goose) Gonsoulin, Denver vs. Buffalo, Sept. 18, 1960
Jerry Norton, St. Louis vs. Washington, Nov. 20, 1960; vs. Pittsburgh, Nov. 26, 1961
Dave Baker, San Francisco vs. L.A. Rams, Dec. 4, 1960
Bobby Ply, Dall. Texans vs. San Diego, Dec. 16, 1962
Bobby Hunt, Kansas City vs. Houston, Oct. 4, 1964
Willie Brown, Denver vs. N.Y. Jets, Nov. 15, 1964
Dick Anderson, Miami vs. Pittsburgh, Dec. 3, 1973
Willie Buchanon, Green Bay vs. San Diego, Sept. 24, 1978
Deron Cherry, Kansas City vs. Seattle, Sept. 29, 1985
Kwamie Lassiter, Arizona vs. San Diego, Dec. 27, 1998
Deltha O'Neal, Denver vs. Kansas City, Oct. 7, 2001
DeAngeleo Hall, Washington vs. Chicago, Oct. 25, 2010