1918 in sports
1918 in sports describes the year's events in world sport.
Note — many sporting events did not take place because of World War I or the 1918 flu pandemic
American football
College championship
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 strongest team in the nation
- Buffalo Niagaras sign Tommy Hughitt for play in a city-wide 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[1]
- 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
Cycling
- not contested due to World War I
- 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
- Epsom Derby – Gainsborough
- Epsom Oaks – My Dear
- St. Leger Stakes – Gainsborough
Australia
- Melbourne Cup – Night Watch
Canada
- Queen'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
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
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
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