:Note — many sporting events did not take place because of World War II

1945 in sports describes the year's events in world sport.

American football

  • NFL Championship: the Cleveland Rams won 15–14 over the Washington Redskins at Cleveland Stadium
  • Army Cadets – college football national championship

Association football

England

  • With the end of World War II, the FA Cup is reinstated for the 1945–46 season; played on a two–legged basis. However, clubs are not yet prepared for a full league programme, so the Football League does not resume; regional leagues remain for another year.

France

  • 26 August: French Division 1 football is resumed for the first time since 1938–39.

Germany

  • There is no major football in Germany due to World War II and the Allied occupation.

Portugal

  • Primeira Liga won by S.L. Benfica.

Spain

  • La Liga won by Barcelona.

Italy

  • Serie A – not contested due to World War II.

Yugoslavia (Serbia)

  • Partizan Belgrade was founded in Humska area, Belgrade.
  • Red Star Belgrade was founded in Dedinje area, Belgrade on March 4.

Australian rules football

  • Victorian Football League
  • Carlton wins the 49th VFL Premiership defeating South Melbourne 15.13 (103) to 10.15 (75) in the Grand Final.
  • South Australian National Football League:
  • 29 September: West Torrens win their third SANFL premiership, defeating Port Adelaide 15.25 (115) to 15.12 (102).
  • Western Australian National Football League:
  • 29 March: After three seasons of football limited to players under 18 or 19, and a proposal to limit eligibility to players under 25, the WANFL decides to restore open-age league football.
  • 13 October: East Fremantle 12.15 (87) defeat South Fremantle 7.9 (51) for their nineteenth senior WANFL premiership.

Baseball

  • World Series – Detroit Tigers defeat the Chicago Cubs, 4 games to 3.
  • Negro World Series – Cleveland Buckeyes swept the Homestead Grays, 4 games to 0.
  • A professional baseball league, Tokyo Senators was founded in Japan on November 6, as predecessor of Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters.

Basketball

NBL Championship

  • Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons over Sheboygan Redskins (3–2)

Events

  • The twelfth South American Basketball Championship in Guayaquil is won by Brazil.

Italy

  • Pallacanestro Varese was founded in Lombardy Region.

Serbia

  • KK Crvena zvezda, as known well for professional basketball club of Serbia, officially founded on March 3.

Cricket

England

  • With the end of World War II in Europe, a small number of first-class matches are played for the first time since 1939, but it is not practicable to resume the County Championship or the Minor Counties Championship.
  • Most runs – Len Hutton 782 @ 48.87 (HS 188)
  • Most wickets – Dick Pollard 28 @ 24.25 (BB 6–75)

Australia

  • 23 November – With the lifting of bans on weekday sport at the end of World War II, first-class cricket is played in Australia for the first time since 1 December 1941. The Sheffield Shield, however, is not contested until the following season.

India

  • 4–8 March: Cottari Subbanna Nayudu of Holkar sets two first-class records in the Ranji Trophy final against Bombay, bowling 912 balls and conceding 428 runs in the match.
  • Ranji Trophy – Bombay beat Holkar by 374 runs
  • Bombay Pentangular – Hindus

New Zealand

  • 24 December: The Plunket Shield is resumed after having not been contested, despite a small number of interprovincial first-class matches, since 1939–40.

South Africa

  • 15 December: With the end of World War II, first-class cricket is played in South Africa for the first time since 14 March 1943, though the last regular interprovincial matches had been in 1939–40.

Cycling

Tour de France

  • not contested due to World War II

Giro d'Italia

  • not contested due to World War II

Figure skating

World Figure Skating Championships

  • not contested due to World War II

Golf

Men's professional

  • Masters Tournament – not played due to World War II
  • U.S. Open – not played due to World War II
  • St. Leger Stakes – Chamossaire
  • United States Triple Crown Races:
  • Kentucky Derby – Hoop Jr.
  • Preakness Stakes – Polynesian
  • Belmont Stakes – Pavot

Ice hockey

  • Stanley Cup: Toronto Maple Leafs beat Detroit Red Wings four games to three.

Motor racing

  • Indianapolis 500 – not held due to World War II
  • 9 September – The first European Grand Prix since 1939 is held in Paris, being won by Jean-Pierre Wimille.

Rowing

The Boat Race

  • Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race is not contested due to World War II

Rugby league

  • 1945–46 European Rugby League Championship
  • 1945 New Zealand rugby league season
  • 1945 NSWRFL season
  • 1944–45 Northern Rugby Football League Wartime Emergency League season / 1945–46 Northern Rugby Football League season

Rugby union

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

Speed skating

Speed Skating World Championships

  • not contested due to World War II

Tennis

Australia

  • Australian Men's Singles Championship – not contested
  • Australian Women's Singles Championship – not contested

England

  • Wimbledon Men's Singles Championship – not contested
  • Wimbledon Women's Singles Championship – not contested

France

  • French Men's Singles Championship – Yvon Petra (France) defeats Bernard Destremau (France) 7–5, 6–4, 6–2
  • French Women's Singles Championship – Lolette Payot (Switzerland) defeats Simone Iribarne Lafargue (France) 6–3, 6–4

USA

  • American Men's Singles Championship – Frank Parker (USA) defeats Bill Talbert (USA) 14–12, 6–1, 6–2
  • American Women's Singles Championship – Sarah Palfrey Cooke (USA) defeats Pauline Betz Addie (USA) 3–6, 8–6, 6–4

Davis Cup

  • 1945 International Lawn Tennis Challenge – not contested

References