title: 1918 in sports
text: # 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
  