1948 in sports
1948 in sports describes the year's events in world sport.
[American football]
- Michigan Wolverines – college football national championship
- Cleveland Browns defeated the Buffalo Bills 49–7 in the All-America Football Conference championship game.
- Philadelphia Eagles defeated the Chicago Cardinals 7–0 in the National Football League championship game. The game at Shibe Park was played in a blizzard.
[Association football]
- Liga Aguila, a premier football league of Colombia, first officially game held on August 15.
- A first Egyptian Premier League, officially game held in October 22.
- First Division – Arsenal win the 1947–48 title.
- FA Cup – Manchester United beat Blackpool 4–2.
Athletics">sport of athletics">Athletics
[Australian rules football]
Victorian Football League- Melbourne wins the 52nd VFL Premiership, drawing the 1948 VFL Grand Final with Essendon 10.9 to 7.27, and winning the replay 13.11 to Essendon's 7.8
- Brownlow Medal awarded to Bill Morris
- 2 October – Norwood wins its twenty-first SANFL premiership, defeating West Torrens 15.16 to 7.7
- Magarey Medal awarded to Ron Phillips
- 9 October – South Fremantle wins its fourth premiership and second in succession, defeating West Perth 13.9 to 9.9
- Sandover Medal awarded to Merv McIntosh
[Baseball]
- January 29 – Commissioner Happy Chandler fines the Yankees, Cubs, and Phillies $500 each for signing high school players.
- February 27 – Hall of Fame election – voters select the recently deceased Herb Pennock, and Pie Traynor, as the newest inductees; Traynor is the first third baseman elected by the writers in 9 elections.
- August 16 – death of Babe Ruth
- World Series – Cleveland Indians defeat Boston Braves, 4 games to 2.
- Negro World Series – Homestead Grays defeat the Birmingham Black Barons, 4 games to 1.
- College World Series - University of Southern California defeat Yale in the 2nd 2 games to 1
[Basketball]
- Kentucky beat Baylor 58–42
- Baltimore Bullets win four games to two over the Philadelphia Warriors
- Minneapolis Lakers win three games to one over the Rochester Royals
[Boxing]
- June 25 – At New York's Yankee Stadium – Joe Louis knocked out Jersey Joe Walcott in the 11th round to retain his heavyweight title for the 25th time. Shortly after the bout, Louis announced his retirement from boxing.
[Field hockey]
- Olympic Games in London, Great Britain
- * Gold: India
[Figure skating]
- World Figure Skating Championships
- * Men's champion: Dick Button, United States
- * Ladies' champion: Barbara Ann Scott, Canada
- * Pair skating champions: Micheline Lannoy & Pierre Baugniet, Belgium
[Golf]
- Masters Tournament – Claude Harmon
- PGA Championship – Ben Hogan
- U.S. Open – Ben Hogan
- British Open – Henry Cotton
- British Amateur – Frank Stranahan
- U.S. Amateur – Willie Turnesa
- Women's Western Open – Patty Berg
- U.S. Women's Open – Babe Zaharias
- Titleholders Championship – Patty Berg
[Ice hockey]
- NCAA Men's Ice Hockey Championship – Michigan Wolverines defeat Dartmouth College Big Green 8-4 in Colorado Springs, Colorado to win the first official NCAA championship
- Stanley Cup – Toronto Maple Leafs beat Detroit Red Wings in 4 straight games to win their 5th Stanley Cup title.
[Horse racing]
- Citation becomes the 8th horse to win the US Triple Crown
- Shiela's Cottage becomes the first mare to win the Grand National since 1902 and only the twelfth since the race's inception
- Cheltenham Gold Cup – Cottage Rake
- Grand National – Sheila's Cottage
Flat races
- Australia – Melbourne Cup won by Rimfire
- Canada – Queen's Plate won by Last Mark
- France – Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe won by Migoli
- Ireland – Irish Derby Stakes won by Nathoo
- English Triple Crown Races:
- # 2,000 Guineas Stakes – My Babu
- # The Derby – My Love
- # St. Leger Stakes – Black Tarquin
- United States Triple Crown Races:
- # Kentucky Derby – Citation
- # Preakness Stakes – Citation
- # Belmont Stakes – Citation
[Motorsport]
[Olympic Games]
- 1948 Summer Olympics takes place in London, United Kingdom
- * United States wins the most medals and the most gold medals.
- 1948 Winter Olympics takes place in St. Moritz, Switzerland
- * Norway and Sweden both win the most medals, and the most gold medals.
[Radiosport]
- First held in October and November. This annual event would go on to become the radio contest with the largest participation worldwide.
Rowing">Rowing (sport)">Rowing
- 27 March — Cambridge wins the 94th Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race
[Rugby league]
- 1948 NSWRFL season
- 1947–48 Northern Rugby Football League season/1948–49 Northern Rugby Football League season
[Rugby union]
- 54th Five Nations Championship series is won by Ireland who complete the Grand Slam, their last for 61 years.
[Snooker]
- World Snooker Championship – Fred Davis beats Walter Donaldson 84-61.
[Speed skating]
1948 Winter Olympics
- 500m – gold medal: Finn Helgesen
- 1500m – gold medal: Sverre Farstad
- 5000m – gold medal: Reidar Liaklev
- 10000m – gold medal: Åke Seyffarth
- not contested
[Tennis]
- Australian Men's Singles Championship – Adrian Quist defeats John Bromwich 6–4, 3–6, 6–3, 2–6, 6–3
- Australian Women's Singles Championship – Nancye Wynne Bolton defeats Marie Toomey 6–3, 6–1
- Wimbledon Men's Singles Championship – Bob Falkenburg defeats John Bromwich 7–5, 0–6, 6–2, 3–6, 7–5
- Wimbledon Women's Singles Championship – Louise Brough Clapp defeats Doris Hart 6–3, 8–6
USA
Davis Cup