1918 in sports
# 1918 in sports

    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 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

* 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
