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:Note — many sporting events did not take place because of World War I or the 1918 flu pandemic

1918 in sports describes the year's events in world sport.

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

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 Final 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

  • 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