1879 in sports describes the year's events in world sport.

Contents 1 American football 2 Association football 3 Baseball 4 Boxing 5 Cricket 6 Golf 7 Horse racing 8 Hurling 9 Lacrosse 10 Rowing 11 Rugby football 12 Tennis 13 References

[edit] American football

College championship

• College football national championship – Princeton Tigers and Yale Bulldogs (shared)

Events

• Foundation of Michigan Wolverines

[edit] Association football

England

• FA Cup final – Old Etonians 1–0 Clapham Rovers at The Oval
• Sunderland AFC is founded by a meeting of local schoolteachers and originally called Sunderland & District Teachers AFC. Non–teachers are allowed to play the following year when the club's name is changed to Sunderland AFC.

Scotland

• Scottish Cup final – Vale of Leven win by a walkover after Glasgow Rangers refuses to appear in the replay. Rangers is protesting about a disallowed goal in the original match, drawn 1–1.

International

• 5 April — James F. M. Prinsep of Clapham Rovers becomes England's youngest international player at the age of 17 years and 252 when he makes his debut (and only appearance) for England against Scotland. The record stands for more than 123 years until broken by Wayne Rooney in 2003.

[edit] Baseball

National championship

• National League champions – Providence Grays

Events

• The National League agrees that no one else will hire any of five players listed by each club, the first reserve lists.

[edit] Boxing

Events

• John J. Dwyer defeats former champion Jimmy Elliott in 12 rounds at Long Point, Canada, and then claims the Heavyweight Championship of America due to the continued inactivity of current champion Joe Goss and the main challenger Paddy Ryan. His claim is not recognised. Subsequently, Dwyer becomes involved in a bar room brawl with Ryan in New York City.^[1]
• John L. Sullivan turns professional and wins his first five known fights.^[2]

[edit] Cricket

Events

• 2–4 January — Australia defeats England by 10 wickets at Sydney Cricket Ground in the only Test match of the season
• 2 January — Fred Spofforth of Australia claims the first hat-trick in Test cricket
• 25 March — formation of Leicestershire CCC

England

• Champion County^[3] – Lancashire and Nottinghamshire share the title
• Most runs – W G Grace 880 @ 35.20 (HS 123)
• Most wickets – Fred Morley 147 @ 10.70 (BB 8–52)

Australia

• Most runs – George Ulyett 306 @ 34.00 (HS 71)
• Most wickets – Tom Emmett 44 @ 11.63 (BB 8–47)

[edit] Golf

Major tournaments

• British Open – Jamie Anderson

[edit] Horse racing

England

• Grand National – The Liberator
• 1,000 Guineas Stakes – Wheel of Fortune
• 2,000 Guineas Stakes – Charibert
• Epsom Derby – Sir Bevys
• Epsom Oaks – Wheel of Fortune
• St. Leger Stakes – Rayon d'Or

Australia

• Melbourne Cup – Darriwell

Canada

• Queen's Plate – Moss Rose

Ireland

• Irish Grand National – Jupiter Tonans
• Irish Derby Stakes – Soulouque

USA

• Kentucky Derby – Lord Murphy
• Preakness Stakes – Harold
• Belmont Stakes – Spendthrift

[edit] Hurling

Events

• The Irish Hurling Union formalises the sport for the first time.

[edit] Lacrosse

Events

• The U.S. Amateur Lacrosse Association is formed and adopts the Canadian rules.

[edit] Rowing

The Boat Race

• 5 April — Cambridge wins the 36th Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race

[edit] Rugby football

Events

• Foundation of Bramley RLFC, Rosslyn Park F.C. and Warrington RLFC

[edit] Tennis

England

• Wimbledon Men's Singles Championship – John Hartley (GB) defeated Vere St. Leger Goold (GB) 6–2, 6–4, 6–2

[edit] References

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