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 Final 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 == References ==