1918 in sports

[[American football]]

College championship

• College football national championship – Pittsburgh Panthers Professional football
• Most teams shut down due to World War I and the flu pandemic; those that continue play are forced to delay the start of play until the middle of October or later
• Dayton Triangles defeat Detroit Heralds, both of whom continue full operations despite war and flu, to establish themselves as the strongest team in the US
• Buffalo Niagaras sign Tommy Hughitt for play in a citywide league, establishing a trend of expansion of top-level professional competition outside Ohio

[[Association football]]

Europe

• There is no major football in Europe due to World War I

[[Australian rules football]]

VFL Premiership

• South Melbourne wins the 22nd VFL Premiership beating Collingwood 9.8 (62) to 7.15 (57) in the 1918 VFL Grand Final. South Australian Football League:
• not contested due to World War I West Australian Football League:
• 21 September: East Fremantle 11.8 (74) defeat East Perth 8.5 (53) for their tenth WAFL premiership.

[[Bandy]]

Sweden

• Championship final – IFK Uppsala 4–1 IK Sirius (replay following 2–2 draw)

[[Baseball]]

World Series

• 5–11 September — Boston Red Sox (AL) defeats Chicago Cubs (NL) to win the 1918 World Series by 4 games to 2 Events
• Babe Ruth leads the American League in home runs for the first time, hitting 11
• 2 September — professional baseball is curtailed to accelerate mobilisation for war

[[Boxing]]

Events

• No world titles change hands in 1918 but Jack Dempsey, with a series of knockouts including one against Battling Levinsky, is now the main challenger to Jess Willard. Lineal world champions
• World Heavyweight Championship – Jess Willard
• World Light Heavyweight Championship – Battling Levinsky
• World Middleweight Championship – Mike O'Dowd
• World Welterweight Championship – Ted "Kid" Lewis
• World Lightweight Championship – Benny Leonard
• World Featherweight Championship – Johnny Kilbane
• World Bantamweight Championship – Pete Herman
• World Flyweight Championship – Jimmy Wilde

[[Canadian football]]

Grey Cup

• not contested due to World War I

[[Cricket]]

Events

• There is no first-class cricket in England, Australia, South Africa or the West Indies due to World War I. A number of first-class matches are arranged in New Zealand but are not part of any official competition. India
• Bombay Quadrangular – Hindus shared with Parsees New Zealand
• Plunket Shield – not contested

[[Cycle sport|Cycling]]

Tour de France

• not contested due to World War I Giro d'Italia
• not contested due to World War I

[[Figure skating]]

World Figure Skating Championships

• not contested due to World War I

[[Golf]]

Events

• All major championships are cancelled due to World War I

[[Horse racing]]

England

• Grand National – not held due to World War I
• 1,000 Guineas Stakes – Ferry
• 2,000 Guineas Stakes – Gainsborough
• The Derby – Gainsborough
• The Oaks – My Dear
• St. Leger Stakes – Gainsborough Australia
• Melbourne Cup – Night Watch Canada
• King's Plate – Springside Ireland
• Irish Grand National – Ballyboggan
• Irish Derby Stakes – King John USA
• Kentucky Derby – Exterminator
• Preakness Stakes – not contested as a single race
• Belmont Stakes – Johren

[[Ice hockey]]

Stanley Cup

• The temporary Toronto Arenas team defeats the Montreal Canadiens 10–7 to win the inaugural National Hockey League (NHL) championship
• Vancouver Millionaires defeats Seattle Metropolitans 3–2 to win the Pacific Coast Hockey Association championship
• 20–30 March — Toronto Arenas (NHL) defeats Vancouver Millionaires (PCHA) in the 1918 Stanley Cup Finals by 3 games to 2 Events
• 2 January — Montreal Wanderers disbands following destruction of its home venue by fire
• Allan Cup is won by Kitchener Greenshirts

[[Motor racing]]

Events

• No major races are held anywhere worldwide due to World War I

[[Rowing (sport)|Rowing]]

The Boat Race

• Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race – not contested due to World War I

[[Rugby league]]

England

• All first-class competitions are cancelled due to World War I Australia
• NSW Premiership – South Sydney (outright winner) New Zealand
• 1918 New Zealand rugby league season

[[Rugby union]]

Five Nations Championship

• Five Nations Championship series is not contested due to World War I

[[Speed skating]]

Speed Skating World Championships

• not contested due to World War I

[[Tennis]]

Australia

• Australian Men's Singles Championship – not contested due to World War I England
• Wimbledon Men's Singles Championship – not contested due to World War I
• Wimbledon Women's Singles Championship – not contested due to World War I France
• French Men's Singles Championship – not contested due to World War I
• French Women's Singles Championship – not contested due to World War I USA
• American Men's Singles Championship – Lindley Murray (USA) defeats Bill Tilden (USA) 6–3 6–1 7–5
• American Women's Singles Championship – Molla Bjurstedt Mallory (Norway) defeats Eleanor E. Goss (USA) 6–4 6–3 Davis Cup
• 1918 International Lawn Tennis Challenge – not contested

References

References

1. [http://www.cyberboxingzone.com/boxing/pastchp.htm Cyber Boxing Zone]
2. (26 August 2020). "Cycling-Tour de France list of winners".
3. "Epsom Derby {{!}} History, Winners, & Facts {{!}} Britannica".
4. (26 September 2014). "WW1 boat race medal sold at auction".