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1959 in sports
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March 2016
1959 in sports describes the year's events in world sport.
1959 sports
American football
NFL Championship: the Baltimore Colts won 31–16 over the New York Giants at Baltimore's Memorial Stadium
August 14 – The American Football League is founded. Play would begin the following year.
Sugar Bowl (1958 season):
The LSU Tigers won, 7–0, over the Clemson Tigers to win the AP and Coaches Poll national championships.
Association football
Brazil
Taca Brasil, as predecessor for Campeonato Brasileiro Serie A, that first officially games held on August 23.December 2016
Turkey
Turkish National League, as predecessor for Super Lig of Turkey, that first officially game held on February 21.February 2017
Athletics
Pan American Games athletics held in Chicago with US sprinter Ray Norton winning three gold medals in the sprint events
Baseball
March 3 – The San Francisco Giants officially name their new stadium Candlestick Park.
May 26 – In what many experts call the greatest pitching performance in history, Harvey Haddix—suffering with a flu and sore throat—hurls a 12 inning perfect game for the Pittsburgh Pirates but loses in the 13th inning 0–1 on a Don Hoak fielding error to the Milwaukee Braves as lightning storms threaten the end of the game.
June 25 - Emperor Hirohito, watched Japanese professional baseball game for first time in Korakuen Baseball Stadium, Tokyo, Japan. At final resulting to Tokyo Giants win over Hanshin Tigers 5 to 4 in a home run by Shigeo Nagashima from Minoru Murayama.
World Series – Los Angeles Dodgers win 4 games to 2 over the Chicago White Sox. The Series MVP is Larry Sherry, Los Angeles
The Havana Sugar Kings defeat the Richmond Virginians to win the International League Governors' Cup.
The Minneapolis Millers win the American Association championship.
Havana wins 4 games to 3 over Minneapolis to win the Junior World Series.
The Salt Lake City Bees win the Pacific Coast League pennant.
The Winnipeg Goldeyes win the Northern League championship.
Basketball
FIBA World Championship
Brazil World Champion
NCAA Men's Basketball Championship –
California wins 71–70 over West Virginia
NBA Finals –
Boston Celtics win 4 games to 0 over the Minneapolis Lakers
Boxing
June 26 – in New York City, Ingemar Johansson scored a 3rd-round TKO over Floyd Patterson to win the World Heavyweight Championship
August 27 to September 7 – Pan American Games held in Chicago, United States
Bowling
Nine-pin bowling
Nine-pin bowling World Championships –
Men's champion: Eberhard Luther, East Germany
Women's champion: Hilde Beljan, East Germany
Men's team champion: Yugoslavia
Women's team champion: East Germany
Canadian football
Grey Cup – Winnipeg Blue Bombers win 21–7 over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats
Cricket
During a Currie Cup match against Natal at the Jan Smuts Ground in East London in December, Border set the record (which still stands) for the lowest aggregate score by a first class side in a match. Border scored 34 runs in the match – 16 in the first innings and 18 in the second innings.Murphy Patrick Fifty Incredible Cricket Matches 1987 Stanley Paul and Co Ltd London, England 0091664705 293 1stBorder v Natal http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Scorecards/23/23864.html CricketArchive.co.uk 24 January 2015
Curling
Inaugural World Curling Championships held in Falkirk and Edinburgh for men only and known as the "Scotch Cup"; it is won by a Canadianteam from Regina, Saskatchewan, skipped by Ernie Richardson
Figure skating
World Figure Skating Championship –
Men's champion: David Jenkins, United States
Ladies' champion: Carol Heiss, United States
Pair skating champion: Barbara Wagner & Robert Paul, Canada
Ice dancing champion: Doreen Denny & Courtney Jones, Great Britain
Golf
Men's professional
Masters Tournament – Art Wall, Jr.
U.S. Open – Billy Casper
British Open – Gary Player
PGA Championship – Bob Rosburg
PGA Tour money leader – Art Wall, Jr. – $53,168
Ryder Cup – United States 8½ to 3½ over Britain in team golf
Men's amateur
British Amateur – Deane Beman
U.S. Amateur – Jack Nicklaus
Women's professional
Women's Western Open – Betsy Rawls
LPGA Championship – Betsy Rawls
U.S. Women's Open – Mickey Wright
Titleholders Championship – Louise Suggs
LPGA Tour money leader – Betsy Rawls – $26,774
Horse racing
Steeplechases
Cheltenham Gold Cup – Roddy Owen
Grand National – Oxo
Flat races
Australia – Melbourne Cup won by Macdougal
Canadian Triple Crown races:
Queen's Plate – New Providence
Prince of Wales Stakes – New Providence
Breeders' Stakes – New Providence
New Providence becomes the first horse ever to win all three races.
France – Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe won by Saint Crespin
Ireland – Irish Derby Stakes won by Fidalgo
English Triple Crown races:
2,000 Guineas Stakes – Taboun
The Derby – ParthiaEpsom Derby History, Winners, & Facts Britannica https://www.britannica.com/sports/Derby-horse-race www.britannica.com 3 January 2022 en
St. Leger Stakes – Cantelo
United States Triple Crown races:
Kentucky Derby – Tomy Lee
Preakness Stakes – Royal Orbit
Belmont Stakes – Sword Dancer
Ice hockey
Art Ross Trophy as the NHL's leading scorer during the regular season: Dickie Moore, Montreal Canadiens
Hart Memorial Trophy for the NHL's Most Valuable Player: Andy Bathgate, New York Rangers
Stanley Cup – Montreal Canadiens win 4 games to 1 over the Toronto Maple Leafs
World Hockey Championship
Men's champion: Belleville McFarlands from Canada
NCAA Men's Ice Hockey Championship – University of North Dakota Fighting Sioux defeat Michigan State University Spartans 4–3 in overtime in Troy, New York
The Hershey Bears defeat the Buffalo Bisons 4 games to 2 to win the AHL Calder Cup.
The Louisville Rebels defeat the Fort Wayne Komets 4 games to 2 to win the IHL Turner Cup.
On November 1, Montreal Canadiens goaltender Jacques Plante was injured when struck in the face by a flying puck. He offers to return to play on the condition that he wears his goalie mask. His example soon leads to the mask becoming standard equipment for goalies and a symbol of the game itself.
The TV-pucken tournament starts.
Motorsport
1959 in motorsport List of 1959 motorsport champions
Rugby league
1959 New Zealand rugby league season
1958–59 Northern Rugby Football League season/1959–60 Northern Rugby Football League season
1959 NSWRFL season
1959–60 Kangaroo tour
Rugby union
65th Five Nations Championship series is won by France, the team's first outright championship title
Swimming
July 11 – US swimmer Michael Troy breaks his own first official world record (2:19.0), set earlier in the day, in the men's 200m butterfly (long course) at a meet in Los Altos, California, clocking 2:16.4.
July 19 – US swimmer Becky Collins breaks the world record in the women's 200m butterfly at a meet in Redding, California, clocking 2:37.0.
Tennis
Australia
Australian Men's Singles Championship – Alex Olmedo (USA) defeats Neale Fraser (Australia) 6–1, 6–2, 3–6, 6–3
Australian Women's Singles Championship – Mary Carter Reitano (Australia) defeats Renee Schuurman Haygarth (South Africa) 6–2, 6–3
England
Wimbledon Men's Singles Championship – Alex Olmedo (USA) defeats Rod Laver (Australia) 6–4, 6–3, 6–4
Wimbledon Women's Singles Championship – Maria Bueno (Brazil) defeats Darlene Hard (USA) 6–4, 6–3
France
French Men's Singles Championship – Nicola Pietrangeli (Italy) defeats Ian Vermaak (South Africa) 3–6, 6–3, 6–4, 6–1
French Women's Singles Championship – Christine Truman (Great Britain) defeats Zsuzsa Körmöczy (Hungary) 6–4, 7–5
USA
American Men's Singles Championship – Neale Fraser (Australia) defeats Alex Olmedo (USA) 6–3, 5–7, 6–2, 6–4
American Women's Singles Championship – Maria Bueno (Brazil) defeats Christine Truman (Great Britain) 6–1, 6–4
Davis Cup
1959 Davis Cup – AUS 3–2 USA 1959 at West Side Tennis Club (grass) New York City, United States
Volleyball
Volleyball at the 1959 Pan American Games in Chicago won by USA (men) and Brazil (women)
Multi-sport events
Central American and Caribbean Games held in Caracas, Venezuela
Third Pan American Games held in Chicago, United StatesPAN AM GAMES LEGACY: 1959 : It's Not Exactly Peace and Harmony https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1987-08-06-sp-1628-story.html Los Angeles Times 3 January 2022 6 August 1987
Third Mediterranean Games held in Beirut, Lebanon
First Summer Universiade held in Turin, Italy
Awards
Associated Press Male Athlete of the Year – Ingemar Johansson, Boxing
Associated Press Female Athlete of the Year – Maria Bueno, Tennis
References
Category:Sports by year