1941 in sports

1941 in sports describes the year's events in world sport.

Note — many sporting events did not take place because of World War II

American football

• Minnesota Golden Gophers National college football champions.
• Chicago Bears win 37–9 over New York Giants for the NFL championship.
• Columbus Bullies win the American Football League championship with a record of 5–1–2.
• Chicago Bears win only meeting vs. Green Bay Packers in the playoffs. On January 23, 2011, they will meet again in the playoffs. It is the biggest rivalry in football.

Australian rules football

• Victorian Football League
  • Melbourne wins the 45th VFL Premiership (Melbourne 19.13 (127) d Essendon 13.20 (98))
  • Brownlow Medal awarded to Norman Ware (Footscray)

Baseball

• New York Yankees win the World Series, beating Brooklyn Dodgers by 4 games to 1
• Ted Williams records a season batting average of .406; it is the last time any major leaguer will hit over .400
• Joe DiMaggio's 56–game hitting streak (May 15 – July 16)

Basketball

NBL Championship

• Oshkosh All-Stars win three games to none over the Sheboygan Redskins

Events

• Ninth South American Basketball Championship in Mendoza is won by Argentina.

Golf

Men's professional

• Masters Tournament – Craig Wood
• U.S. Open – Craig Wood
• British Open – not played due to World War II
• PGA Championship – Vic Ghezzi

Men's amateur

• British Amateur – not played due to World War II
• U.S. Amateur – Bud Ward

Women's professional

• Women's Western Open – Patty Berg
• Titleholders Championship – Dorothy Kirby

Horse racing

Steeplechases

• Cheltenham Gold Cup –
• Grand National –

Flat races

• Australia – Melbourne Cup won by
• Canada – Queen's Plate won by
• France – Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe won by
• Ireland – Irish Derby Stakes won by
• English Triple Crown Races:
  1. 2,000 Guineas Stakes –
  2. Epsom Derby –
  3. St. Leger Stakes –
• United States Triple Crown Races:
  1. Kentucky Derby – Whirlaway
  2. Preakness Stakes –
  3. Belmont Stakes –

Motor racing

• Indianapolis 500 – Floyd Davis and Mauri Rose share the Noc-Out Hose Clamp Special Wetteroth-Offenhauser in the 29th running of the May classic

Rowing

The Boat Race

• Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race is not contested due to World War II

Rugby union

• Five Nations Championship series is not contested due to World War II

Speed skating

Speed Skating World Championships

• not contested due to World War II

Tennis

Australia

• Australian Men's Singles Championship – not contested
• Australian Women's Singles Championship – not contested

England

• Wimbledon Men's Singles Championship – not contested
• Wimbledon Women's Singles Championship – not contested

France

• French Men's Singles Championship – Bernard Destremau (France) defeats Henri Cochet (France) 8–6, 6–2
• French Women's Singles Championship – Alice Weiwers (Luxembourg) † details to be ascertained

USA

• American Men's Singles Championship – Bobby Riggs (USA) defeats Frank Kovacs (USA) 5–7, 6–1, 6–3, 6–3
• American Women's Singles Championship – Sarah Palfrey Cooke (USA) defeats Pauline Betz Addie (USA) 7–5, 6–2

Davis Cup

• 1941 International Lawn Tennis Challenge – not contested

Awards

• Associated Press Male Athlete of the Year – Joe DiMaggio, Major League Baseball
• Associated Press Female Athlete of the Year – Betty Hicks Newell, golf